Thank You – A Year in Review

So today is New Year’s Eve and over the past few days I’ve been taking time to reflect on 2009.  So much has happened and it feels like the time has passed in the blink of an eye.  I can recall having the conversation with Emily (my wife) back in mid February as we were packing boxes to move to a new apartment about the idea of starting our own business.  You see, I have always wanted to be an entrepreneur.  I loved building lego when I was a kid, I ‘managed’ my own band in high school including planning concerts and mini tours.  I love the concept of building and creating and I’ve always felt the desire to do that as my job.

So it was Family day (a newly established holiday in Ontario), February 15th, 2009, when Emily and I decided to launch Sorlie Arts.  I had owned a small consumer video camera since I was 15 and I had played with that as well as simple editing software to make short little movies for friends. A few years back, one of our best friends was just giving birth to her second child and I brought my handy camcorder with me as we went to visit her and her new daughter.  I filmed a few shots here and there and didn’t think much about it – but I would later edit the piece and ended up being really satisfied not only with how it came together considering I was self-taught, but with the reaction our friend had after viewing the video.  It has been viewed by hundreds more people now I’m sure and now her daughter is three years old and has seen the video and loves watching it.  I don’t know if that particular event got me going in terms of wanting to do this as a profession, but it didn’t hurt.

Fast forward to Family Day and it just seemed to make sense.  I was actually days away from launching into a career in personal financial advising which seemed to me to be an ok option, but everyone else including family and friends strongly advised me against the idea.  Not that I have a problem with Financial Advisors – but I’m so glad I had people looking out for me because I wouldn’t have enjoyed that as much as I enjoy what Sorlie Arts has grown into.  So, I phoned the financial company and told them I had changed my mind and at that point, Sorlie Arts was born.

That week, and probably many weeks after that, I spent time reading every possible small business book I could find.  I would literally have 40 internet browser tabs open with different resources on each page.  I can recall friends coming over and making fun of me for how many windows I had open.  I was literally a sponge.

I think the thing to do now is list some of the people that I’m incredibly thankful for.  This will be a growing list as more and more people continue to support Sorlie Arts as well as Emily and I personally.  This isn’t the best way to thank people for their support, but it’s a start.

At the top of the list, I’d like to thank Emily for being the most incredible wife a guy could ask for.  Not only does she work along side me on filming weddings and events, but she is my toughest critic and biggest supporter.  Starting this business would not have been possible without her and that’s an understatement.

My parents have supported us both emotionally and financially and for that I’m grateful.

Dave Biesse & Charlotte Leonard (Dave & Charlotte) who are one of the most amazing photographers out there for all of their guidance and encouragement.  Dave photographed our wedding and since then, we’ve developed quite a friendship.  Thank you for all your advice and wisdom guys. I can’t wait to see the photos from their upcoming wedding in Austrailia!

Paul Anderson-Walsh for his mentoring and guidance.

Drew Currie for all the breakfasts and advice.

Donna Douglas for having a fantastic course and teaching Emily and I how to ‘run what we do’.

Josh Muirhead of Muirhead Marketing has quickly become one of my favourite people to work with – he really understands Social Media and we’ll work together a lot in the future.

The people on my BNI Network – if you are new in business – make sure you check out BNI.

Sybil, Julie, Mary & the team at the Barrie Chamber of Commerce.

There are many more people to thank including the entire Event Filmmaker community which is a world-wide network of Cinematographers and Filmmakers, Editors & Videographers.  These people have given me solid advice, critiqued my work and taught me more than I could have ever learned from reading books or teaching myself.

Allen Abbott of Equilease who allowed me to acquire the professional equipment I needed to get Sorlie Arts off the ground.

Patrick, Konrad, Amina & Jessica of StillMotion.ca – I look up to these guys for the art they create.  If Sorlie Arts can one day produce half the quality they do on a regular basis, I would be honoured.

Michael Wong for sitting me down and teaching me how to use my camera properly.  I was so appreciative to have ‘Borat’ show me how my camera worked.

To my 2009 clients who took a chance on me and decided to work with Sorlie Arts in our infancy:

Peter Anderson & Rob Coppard and the entire team from CheckTheTrades.com

Virginia Phillips of DoggieWashExpress.com

Kyle  & Jessica

Norman & Janice

Nanda & Richmond

Jen & Jon

Rob & Alanna

Katie & Brian

Kelly & Matt

Sarah & Garth

Alicja & Ryan

Morgan & Drew

Richard Greenwood of the Oakville Soccer Club

Shaun Beaudry of I.D. Studio – really looking forward to launching IDTV Advertising in 2010!

Cassie Jacklin Images

To the Photographers & other Wedding Vendors I’ve worked with and who have referred me, Thank you:

Taylor Jackson Photography

Marc Douglas Photography

Sheryl Clifford of Wedding Ties

Nat Caron Photography

Ryan & Erika of Rowell Photography

Aaron Sickle of Tier Delight

I’m looking forward to 2010.  There are so many positives ahead.  Thank you everyone.

wickedwedding

Hey Photographers!

Hey Photographers.  So – you’ve got a website. You’ve got a cool song or two that you’ve picked and you’ve got some photos on there.  If you haven’t noticed – so does every other photographer.  So what makes you different?  Sorlie Arts can help.  A promotional video that introduces you and your shooting style, personality & interaction with other clients will help you grow your business.  Check this one out that we just put together for Cassie Jacklin out of Parry Sound, ON.

Photographers in general tend to promote their portfolio well before they promote themselves.  Mind you, there are some exceptions to that rule, but why not have Sorlie Arts create a customized introductory video all about you.  As a wedding photographer, the bride and groom have to feel comfortable with you and be able to rely on you.  If they don’t meet you until the morning of the wedding – that type of relationship could be difficult to establish.

“We just want to thank Andrew Sorlie of Sorlie Arts for all his amazing work putting our promo video together.  His work is just mind-blowing and we are so happy to have him on board with us.” Dave Biesse, Owner of DaveAndCharlotte.com and head instructor of the Wicked Wedding Workshops, Toronto, Ontario

“I’ve worked with Andrew a few times now, and I have nothing but great things to say. As a wedding photographer, he is the best cinematographer I have worked with. He’s professional, courteous, and does a fantastic job.”  Sorlie Arts is currently the only video service that I will refer my couples to if they’re in need”

October 16, 2009 - Taylor Jackson - TaylorJacksonPhoto.com

If you’re interested in having a promotional video for your website, send us an email at info@sorliearts.com.

REALLY strong video!

“REALLY strong video! Nice work guys! Thanks for joining us in the cause!”

Jeremy Cowart, Celebrity Photographer (Britney Spears, Sting) and Founder of Help-Portrait, December 20, 2009

helpportrait

Help Portrait Barrie, Ontario 2009 – Video Recap

A SHIFT IN THINKING…HELP PORTRAIT IS A MOVEMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHERS WHO ARE USING THEIR TIME, EQUIPMENTAND EXPERTISE TO GIVE BACKTO THOSE WHO ARE LESS FORTUNATE.

Founded by celebrity photographer Jeremy Cowart, Help-Portrait is a community of photographers, coming together across the world, to use their photography skills to give back to their local community. On December 12th,  several photographers around the Barrie area took part in the international effort to give back. Here’s a brief look at what happened.  Fore more information, please visit http://www.help-portrait.com.

Thanks for watching – we love comments!

muirhead

What is Social Media and How Can it Help Your Business? – Muirhead Marketing

We all have a facebook account – some of us have joined LinkedIn and are quite familiar with what a ‘Tweet’ is by now. But most of us stop there in terms of combining Social Media with our businesses. This is a short video Sorlie Arts put together for Muirhead Marketing to showcase just how some companies are using Social Media and how you can too! Enjoy.

Thanks for watching. Video is an integral ingredient in successful Social Media Marketing. If you have any questions on how to begin your social media campaign – or to grow it if you already have one going – visit http://www.muirheadmarketing.ca. For more information about adding video to your website/blog/or other social media efforts – contact Sorlie Arts at info@sorliearts.com.

Comments are always welcome!