PHOTOGRAPHY & FILM | Alesia Films

Alesia Films is a wedding photography and videography business based in Portland, Oregon, inspired by intentionally driven love stories—full of unique character, old-world charm, and a spirit of destination adventure. Alesia specializes in using a range of film cameras, including 35mm, medium format, and Super 8, which encourage couples to feel comfortable and fully enjoy their celebration with their loved ones. Alesia Films' philosophy is to capture weddings in their truest form—celebrating each couple exactly as they are.

What would you like couples to know about you?

My entire goal as your wedding photographer/videographer is to give you the opportunity to collaborate with me. I want to know what you don’t want as much as you do want captured. It’s equally important to me that you feel comfortable with me as a person as much as you love my photography style and artistic choices. I want my couples to feel seen and heard every step of the way because weddings are an important event and you should have your full trust in the person in charge of capturing the memories you want to remember most.

Where are you based?

Portland, Oregon.

Do you travel for weddings?

Yes! My favorite destination I’ve captured a wedding so far was Scotland!

How would you describe your style?

If I had to describe it in one word: Fluid. Because every couple I’ve ever worked with has been extremely unique. My style leans on getting to know the love story that brought you two together but also who my clients are as individuals so I may highlight that on the day-of. Capturing my couples essence is what makes my galleries unique and so vastly different from one another. What I capture a lot at one wedding will be totally different than the next one. And that’s what makes me so passionate about this industry and what I do - I love getting to know people, working with them and their vision and how I can craft a gallery that truly resonates with them.

What is your most memorable career moment?

When I showed up to a wedding as a videographer and I found out the morning-of there was no photographer, I was shocked and asked them why they didn’t hire one. The couple said they couldn’t afford one because they wanted me so much as their videographer, I took up the budget they had and they admitted they planned on grabbing screenshots from the video. 

I told them I would take portraits of them as a wedding gift and the portrait of the bride I took with her sleeves in the wind and the sun beaming down on her at the beach was my first viral photo and it landed me my first ad in Vogue and my first European weddings. It just reminded me that when you go above and beyond for your couples, the best karma comes back around and I stand by that in an industry that is so community driven.

What inspires you?

Artistically, I’m really driven by light and the compositions we see in landscapes and nature. When couples choose venues and their other vendors that highlight nature and soft, earthly textures, I find I’m the most creative in blending people with the scenery.

How would you describe your working style?

I would say I’m overall very easy going on the day-of and just a bubbly spirit and excited person. I’m the type of photographer to actively tell the person what my vision is for the photo before I take it and then show them my camera screen after I capture it so they can also provide insight and collaboration. It’s also my way of helping everyone feel comfortable with a camera and that it genuinely feels like we’re just having fun taking pictures. 

Do you shoot digitally, on film or both?

I shoot both! I specialize in 35mm, medium format and super 8.

Do you have custom packages according to individual needs?

I have base packages that my couples and I can customize together on our consult calls if they need to!

What is a favourite product or service that you offer and why?

Super 8 is an add-on for my wedding photography packages but is included in all wedding videography packages because it’s my favorite film medium. It truly provides that nostalgic flair to a wedding film and evokes that same feeling we have when we watch childhood movies or sift through our grandparents photo albums. It’s my favorite camera and service to offer because it’s universally loved by the masses and it’s an incredible medium to use on such a beautiful occasion.

Where would you love to travel to for work?

I would love to capture a wedding in Amsterdam or anywhere in the Netherlands, truly. I love the charming village, cottage core aesthetic full of old wood homes, shutter windows, flower pots, bicycles and bakeries on every corner. It seems so cozy, warm and community driven.

Who is your dream client?

My dream client is someone who wants me involved during their engagement! They send me a picture of their wedding dress as soon as they say yes, show me the necklace their grandma just gifted them and they plan on wearing, someone who wants to go thrifting with me and lets me help them pick out vintage handkerchiefs for the day-of. Someone who genuinely loves film photography and super 8 as much as me. Someone who fully trusts me and my creative eye so when I come up to them and say, “so I have an idea” they immediately get excited with me.

How do you select music for your films?

Firstly, it’s important to know that because I love the spirit of collaborating with my couples, I do allow them the chance to pick out their own music from Musicbed (the subscription company where I get all of my licensed music) if they so please. If they allow me to pick their music for their films, I am heavily driven by ambient, indie songs with strong violin or piano instrumentals.

What is your advice to couples getting married?

Decision fatigue is very real when it comes to wedding planning and that’s why it’s so important to work together as a team for emotional support. Outside factors like difficult family situations, budgeting and more can cause stress for a lot of couples when this should be a very joyous time in your life. Constantly ask yourselves if this is something that you truly want or is it the pressure of social media/others influencing you? And remind yourself your day is going to be beautiful no matter what because you’re getting married to the love of your life.

Alesia Films

Website: alesiafilms.com

Instagram: @alesiafilms