Case Study for Sam Starns Adventure Elopement Photographer
Discover how Caravan Content created a branded content library with an Oregon-based adventure elopement photographer.
The Goal: Create High-Impact Content
High-energy brands require high-impact visuals. We partnered with Sam Starns, a Pacific Northwest adventure elopement photographer to refresh her branded content through strategic video production and brand portraits across a duration of four months. Sam is an authority in adventure elopements, having been featured in various news and travel publications, and needed a visual suite of brand videos and brand portraits that didn't just show her work, but communicated her process, personality, and real-world energy.
The Strategy: Increase Brand Awareness & Lead Generation
The primary goals were to increase awareness and leads while being aligned and authentic to her brand: real, free-spirited, and inclusive. These are the qualities that draw in her intentional elopement couples who resonate with these values.
PROJECT SCOPE
Plan, produce, and edit multiple brand videos and portraits for Sam Starns to attract her ideal elopement couples before her busiest summer sessions.
4 CONTENT SESSIONS
Every half-day and full-day session included both videography and portraits to maximize the output across four months. This gave flexibility for ideal weather conditions.
7 OREGON LOCATIONS
The seven Douglas County locations included: The Loft, Cultivate Creative Space, Umpqua's Last Resort, Quartz Mountain, Proxy Falls, Watson Falls, and the lava fields near Dee Wright Observatory.
HUGE MEDIA LIBRARY
Between the multiple video production sessions and the final output, Sam received 150 pieces total of brand photos and brand videos from Caravan Content.
The Final Adventure Brand Videos
The Journey: From Concept to Completion
Pre-production is always essential, and this entailed: a collaborative Milanote mood board, coordinated script development, shot lists, location and logistics planning, competitor analysis, and multiple project calls directly with Sam. All of this was done to ensure we understand her vision, and that we aligned on the plan to bring her vision and branding goals to reality.
The production plan included seven locations and four content sessions, with critical scenes including Sam during elopement sessions at Umpqua's last Resort (a glamping area), Proxy Falls, Quartz Mountain, the lava fields off the Mckenzie Byway, and Watson Falls. Other must-have scenes were Sam working at her office, direct-to-camera footage at Tioga Bridge, and b-roll of every moment in-between to create the ultimate behind the scenes video.
Between the diversity in rugged locations, on top of the existing footage Sam already possessed, we combined and color-matched her prior elopement footage to what we captured during our production sessions.
The Deliverables & Purpose
After working with us, Sam now has multiple high-impact brand videos and a large perpetual-use content library that reflects her bold personal brand.
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Lead confirmation video to warm up cold inquiries before the first connection call.
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Brand anthem to humanize the photographer and attract ideal clients.
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Elopement album showcase video to showcase and sell premium photo albums.
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Three couple highlight reels to deliver as add-ons to her elopement couples.
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Behind the scenes video as an ad to increase brand awareness and leads.
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Website banner video to add market differentiation to Sam's About webpage.
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A visual suite of over 40 cinematic b-roll footage and drone footage clips.
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One hundred brand portraits at multiple elopement locations.
The Impact: Follower Growth & Leads
PERFORMANCE
The behind-the-scenes video ran as a high-performing Instagram ad for 3+ months, driving a significant surge in top of funnel awareness.
SOCIAL GROWTH
The video content resulted in several thousand new, intentional followers and a direct increase in high-tier elopement inquires.
IDENTITY
Three of the videos were pinned to the top of her Instagram and TikTok. The remaining content was used strategically on her website.
Behind the Scenes: Key Project Moments
Capturing the Unscripted
We had prepared shot lists for each location and scene, yet we expected spontaneous moments that needed capturing. Sam frequently joked and shared stories, so we kept the mics on at all times. It was more beneficial to have cameras and mics running constantly to ensure nothing important was missed. This approach also allowed us to capture genuine interactions between her and real elopement couples, including the moment she played the Jurassic Park soundtrack under Proxy Falls to energize her elopers.
Integrating Client Footage With Our Footage
We typically encourage the creation of 100% new footage, since combining existing client content with our own footage tends to complicate post-production. However, for this project, it was the perfect approach. By integrating our video content with Sam's earlier behind-the-scenes footage, we could better showcase her elopement locations, helicopter journeys, and global adventures. Although aligning the colors and pacing required additional time, it resulted in a well-balanced blend of the spontaneity in her elopement sessions with the intentionality of our scenes.
Unfiltered Voice Memos
Authenticity cannot be manufactured. To capture the true impact of Sam's work we privately interviewed her past elopement couples, recording unscripted audio reflections of their experiences. While many modern productions might turn to AI for convenience, we believe that real-world emotion and language is irreplaceable.
These authentic voice memos were included in the narrative of her brand anthem, providing warmth and further social proof. In a world of AI shortcuts, we chose human depth and connection.
Director's Note: Sam Starns, the Catalyst
Beyond the deliverables, this project holds a significant place in our company's history. Every great brand has a 'North Star' project that changes everything. For us, that was Sam Starns. Sam wasn't just a client; she was the inspiration that pushed us to specialize, leaving behind Matriarch Marketing to become Caravan Content. Her trust in our video team acted as definitive turning point, shifting us from generalist marketing, to the niche of adventure-focused travel and tourism video marketing. This partnership didn't just refresh her content, it helped define our identity. We are grateful to Sam.
