Today we’d like to introduce you to Sydney Clarson
Sydney, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I never thought I would end up owning my own business, truly. As I am from Wisconsin, I was living there during college and received a camera as a gift. During this time I was working for the Nashville Predators and dabbled in taking couple’s photographs as well as taking video for my cousins and family friends weddings.
I always loved the idea of capturing moments, ever since my mom would set up a tripod with a camcorder every single Christmas growing up. I get a lot of my inspiration from the idea of the camcorder footage. I believe weddings and events are not a staged production, and I really push my branding and style to feel like a family home video, even when I am a hired vendor with no personal ties to the couple usually.
I began my business officially in 2020 during COVID. I was working as a Marketing Specialist at a rural hospital in Wisconsin when I had the idea to make a bit more money taking family photos, or even push more into my wedding videography.
Now, Sydney Clarson LLC is a wedding photography and videography business located in Owatonna, Minnesota. I travel mostly back and forth from Wisconsin to Minnesota for my weddings as these are the two states that my business receives most word of mouth referrals, but with that being said, I also take on destination weddings and have captured weddings in Mexico, Dominican Republic, Italy, and many other states in the U.S.
I have loved being an entrepreneur, and building a business built around love, connection, and everlasting memories.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I moved about a year and a half after establishing my business in Madison, Wisconsin. In doing so, the struggle of relocating my home base and pushing more for the twin cities for bookings has taken a couple years. Now for 2025 my bookings are moving more toward the Minneapolis area, which I am ecstatic about.
Otherwise, the vendor connections I have made have been amazing! Sometimes it does get lonely working from home every day and not having coworkers, but having friends in the same industry have helped a lot with being able to connect with others in a similar situation.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a wedding photographer and videographer. I specialize in natural, true to color, with a mix of documentary and modern photographs in digital format and I dabble in point and shoot film photographs to add a fun vintage flair to my clients gallery.
I also am a videographer that specializes in mixed media such as digital, super 8mm film and VHS camcorders.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
My friend Alicia who owns Copper Antler Photography out of Spring Green, WI has been my biggest supporter and mentor in the photography world! She has been helpful in all aspects from client forms, email responses, camera gear, and so much more!
My family as well. My parents have always supported me in my paths when I was in college and wanted to move to different states, move in with them during COVID as well as when I moved in with my now fiancé Corey.
And on that note, Corey. My best friend, my partner in crime and my future husband. Without him and his support, I most likely would not be able to continue the path as I have. Between mental support, he has been so encouraging and does just about everything he can to help me continue my business. As we live different work life times, he being a 9-5 and I working most weekends, we have made a great life of taking every opportunity we can to send quality time with each other when we can.
Or favorite season is my off season in winter, when we get to ice fish on the weekends!
Pricing:
- Starting Price Videography $4500
- Starting Price Photography $4500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sydneyclarson.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sydneyclarsonweddings
