Voices Behind the Choices

” The stronger the why, the easier the how becomes”

– Jim Rohn

So here it is, an idea I have been pondering for some time! Introducing the “Voices behind the Choices” a series that will bring attention to inspiring individuals and small businesses that have chosen not to let their circumstances define them.

As the reality of the Covid-crisis sets in, it forces all of us to re-examine our day-to-days. It affects how we interact, how we educate our children, and for many how we conduct business; which provides for our families.

I was laying in bed scrolling through instagram, which I have to admit does not happen often. (I am one of those who charges their phones in the bathroom so it doesn’t distract during the night. ) Regardless this particular morning was ideal for snuggling into our cozy comforter and mindlessly scrolling through social media. Mid-swipe I came across Bowen Films; a company with a passion for storytelling that specializes in creating one of a kind wedding films. When I looked at the post I could see that this time, this post was different. I wasn’t being asked to focus on a happy newlywed couple, instead it was a venue. A venue that due to social distancing restrictions was not open for events, or even able to be toured for future events. I sat right up and messaged Bowen Films. It was clear they had made a shift, a pivot, a choice and it was going to have a major impact on so many in their industry.

Meet Whitney Bowen, a filmmaker and editor for Bowen Films. Whitney was so gracious with her time as she walked me through their “why” to “how” journey. When it comes to carving out new paths I find that if you are clear on your “why” the rest just naturally follows; and that rang so true in this interview.

M: Tell us why you got into this business and what makes your company unique?

W: “Bowen Films is a family business, founded by my father, Tom Bowen. The business has always been a big part of my life. I developed a love for the art of filmmaking while assisting at weddings after graduating from college in 2013, and the rest is history. In my opinion, what makes us unique is our quality of work and ability to capture energy and emotion in an unobtrusive way.”

M: How has the Covid-19 Crisis impacted your business?

W: “Covid-19 has had a profound impact on our business. Due to the fact that we are not able to gather in groups, weddings for the foreseeable future have been postponed or canceled. This has left us without events to film.”

M: What made you decide to start looking at your business in a new way?

W: “As the postponements for weddings started to roll in, we quickly realized we would be out of work for quite some time. At that point, we started to think about how we could use our resources and skills to pivot our business.”

M: After analyzing the market and your business did you come to any new decisions?

W: “On Instagram, I saw one venue try to give a virtual tour of their property (with their phone’s camera). The audio was poor because it was windy, so I couldn’t really understand what was being said. When they panned the property to give a visual, it was pixilated due to a bad connection. Simply put, this tour was not doing their venue justice. It was in that moment that I realized we could help these venues by creating a professional, polished virtual tour of their property that would persuade clients to book. To make the video even more dimensional, we would add room shots of previous weddings we have filmed at that venue. That way, prospective clients could see a blank canvas and executed event to help them envision what their wedding could really look like in that space. Voice over or titles would also be added to give pertinent facts about the venue. This virtual tour could then be enjoyed from the comforts of home.”

M: How do you anticipate these new decisions/ choices will change your business?

W: “We have seen incredible demand for this new service and it has been wonderful to be able to help venues during this time. Without a venue and date, planning the rest of your wedding is pretty much impossible. By helping these venues secure new bookings, we are propelling the entire wedding planning process.”

M: Have you had any big a-ha moments or takeaways since COVID; regarding your business?

W: “It is important to diversify and get creative. Don’t be afraid of taking risks. People will always remember how you helped them in their time of crisis. The fact that we can be that helping hand means everything to us!”

M:What gave you the confidence to choose to head into new directions?

W: “We will certainly continue to specialize in wedding filmmaking, once weddings return. But what gave us the confidence to offer and promote this new service was the potential to really help venues.”

Whitney was so gracious with her time and her energy just bubbled through the phone as we chatted. I asked Whitney if you had to choose a word, to represent your goals for your company what would it be? Whitney’s choice was pure perfection. ” We Choose Legacy” For this family-owned business their “why” is clearly to continue to protect their art form, serve their community, diversify their offerings and continue to evolve. Forever building something that could be shared with not only each other, but the entire events community for years to come. Thank you Whitney and the entire Bowen Films family! – Megan