Today we’d like to introduce you to Margrate Selwaness.
Hi Margrate, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After graduating with a degree in Radio and TV in 2015, I landed a job with a company that specialized in covering corporate events. It wasn’t the most exciting work, but it was a steady start. For nearly two years, I filmed conferences, seminars, and training sessions, always behind the camera, always chasing clean shots and tight deadlines.
Then one day, I was assigned to cover a weekend event called “The Father and Child Camp.” This event designed to strengthen the bond between dads and their kids. I didn’t think much of it at first, just another gig. But on the final day, something unexpected happened. Each father stood up to read a personal letter he’d written to his child. I was behind the camera, quietly doing my job, when I felt tears rolling down my face. These were real, raw moments, fathers speaking straight from the heart.
Back at the office, I started editing the footage, and something shifted. This wasn’t like the other projects I had done. I poured myself into that edit, crafting a film that wove together joy, vulnerability, love, and laughter. It was the first time I felt like I was truly telling a story. I wasn’t just cutting clips, I was creating something that made people feel.
Two weeks later, all the kids were brought together to watch the final film. That moment hit differently. I got to sit in the back and see, firsthand, how my work made them feel. There was a grin on every face, followed by quiet tears, then cheers and laughter. It was a wave of emotion, and I realized that this was what I wanted to do.
I didn’t want to just document things, I wanted to move people. I wanted to create films that could make someone tear up, smile, and even laugh, all in the span of a few minutes. And what better way to express feelings and create something that has this blend of emotions than weddings?!
In 2017, I left my job and started my own business. I haven’t looked back since.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When I first moved to Tampa with my husband, I didn’t know a single soul. Unlike many photographers who get their start by shooting a friend’s wedding, I didn’t have that option, I simply didn’t have any friends here yet. Starting from scratch felt daunting, but I was determined.
I began running Facebook ads and sharing my work in local community groups, offering extremely affordable rates just to get my foot in the door. Eventually, a wedding vendor saw one of my posts and reached out on behalf of a couple who needed someone to film their wedding on a tight budget. And that was it, my first wedding booking in Tampa.
From there, things slowly started to build. That first wedding led to my second, and it just so happened to be a dream job, the couple was incredibly sweet, the venue was stunning, and everything came together beautifully. That film helped me land a few more weddings, and little by little, my calendar began to fill up.
Still, that first year wasn’t easy. I only booked four weddings before COVID hit, and the uncertainty that followed was tough. But 2021 brought a turning point. Inquiries started coming more steadily, and the momentum picked up. Since then, I’ve built a team I genuinely love working with, people who share my vision and passion. Honestly, I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We’re a wedding photo/video company that specialize in video, we all started doing video and slowly after few years added photo. We’re all about storytelling, not just pretty poses, we like capturing the little in-between moments that make the day feel real, emotional, and feel more like our couple.
Every couple is different, some couples are silly and giggly other couples are classic and polished, we make sure the photos and video reflect the couple, not a cookie-cutter from a Pinterest board.
Even in photography, our storytelling style is influenced by the way we film weddings, with movement, connection, and meaning always in mind.
How do you think about luck?
I don’t really believe in luck, to be honest. I think determination, God’s blessing and my husband’s support had a much bigger roles in my journey. I kept pushing even when it was slow, even when it felt like nothing was working. But if I had to credit luck for one thing, I’d say I was lucky that my second wedding felt like a dream job at the time. The couple was adorable, the venue was beautiful, it gave me the confidence I needed to keep going.
Funny enough, when I look back now, after filming so many beautiful weddings, I can see it wasn’t as perfect as I thought it was. But that’s part of it. You need those early wins, even the small, imperfect ones to keep pushing forward. So maybe luck gave me the right win at the right time.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://margozproduction.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/margozweddingvideography/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Margoz.MediaProduction
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@margozproduction9606
- Other: https://linktr.ee/margozproduction
