Meet Someone New: Lee Thomas Films

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Lee Thomas Films Demo Reel 2010 from Lee Thomas on Vimeo.

That awesome demo reel was from the super talented Lee Thomas of Lee Thomas Films.  Lee is probably one of the most laid back guys that I know – he makes you want to sit and chat with him for hours.  I really enjoy working alongside Lee (and his cool wife!) and can’t wait for the next opportunity to collaborate together.  Enjoy reading a bit more about Lee… and check the bottom of the post for another short trailer.

Tell me the basics – who are you, what do you do, and why do you do it!

Hi!  I’m Lee Thomas and I produce wedding films.  Why do I do it…?  Because I love it!  I don’t think there are many other careers in the world as cool as mine.  OK, maybe that’s a stretch… but I do get to hang out with amazing couples on one of the most important days of their lives and capture it all using really neat gear!  I think that’s pretty cool.

When did you decide that this was the industry you wanted to work in?

I was doing freelance corporate work for a Metro Detroit video studio but, creatively, it wasn’t very satisfying.  A colleague asked me to film a wedding with him and I think I fell in love with it almost immediately.  There was just this excitement + energy about the day that got me hooked.  That, plus the fact that I knew I could produce WAY better wedding videos than what I was seeing out there, prompted me to open my own studio.

What is your favorite part about your job?

Well, for one thing, everyone is always in a great mood when I go to work I love the storytelling aspect of what I do and getting to know the bride + groom and their families.  When I first started, I never really expected to become friends with my clients but that has been a pleasant surprise, to say the least.  There’s nothing like getting a phone call from a past client saying “hey, we’re expecting an addition to the family…”.  I also tend to receive quite a few Christmas cards each year, which is cool, too.

How far in advance do most of your clients secure your services?

On average, most couples book anywhere from 6-12 months in advance.  To produce the best films I can, I only accept a limited number of bookings each year (15-18).

Why do you think videography should be a high priority for brides and grooms?

Video is really the closet thing to being there, or going back again.  It not only captures the moment, it brings it to life.  You see the gestures and expressions of people, hear their voices, their laughter…  Take the vows and toasts, for instance, without sound, they’re gone forever – to never be heard again.  When you combine visuals with audio like that, it draws you in creating a very emotional experience like no other.

How are you unique or different than all the other videographers out there?

I think I’m one of the best at capturing the emotion and “story” of the wedding day.  It almost sounds cliché “the story of the wedding day”, but it’s true.  Every wedding is a story.  My job is to capture it and present it in a way that’s honest + true to that couple.  No two weddings are ever the same.  Because of that, my wedding films are all different as well.  Some can be very emotional, some more light-hearted and upbeat.  It depends on the couple and their day.  I don’t go into the wedding day with pre-conceived notions about what I’m going to film.  Rather, I let the day come to me.  The end result is a film that more honestly reflects the day rather than me trying to make it something it’s not just to fit into a formula or package.  While my films are definitely modern-minded, they also have a timeless appeal to them.

When you’re not working what do you enjoy doing?

I enjoy watching movies and TV, I’m a music lover (my iPod is almost full), and I’m a big hockey fan (both playing and watching.  Go Wings!).  More than anything, though, I just enjoy hanging with my wife and kids.

What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?

My son got me hooked on Moose Tracks a few years ago.  Pretty much anything with chocolate is good by me.

Anything else cool you want potential clients to know about you?

There’s nothing more rewarding than having a bride + groom, after viewing their wedding film, call or write expressing how grateful they are that I’ve captured so many great memories for them.  I recently had a bride write to tell me that 2 of her closest friends – her mom and one of her bridesmaids – had passed since her wedding.  With her film, she can see, hear, and be with them again whenever she wants.  When I hear something like that, it makes me realize just how much my work touches people’s lives.  It’s truly an amazing thing.

Jessica + Paul: the Wedding Trailer from Lee Thomas on Vimeo.