ADVANCED

STORYTELLING

A filmmaking course designed to help you master cinematic storytelling and create emotionally compelling films that elevate your photography business.

Discover the secrets of emotionally powerful storytelling and transform your family films into cinematic masterpieces that captivate, inspire, and leave a lasting impact.

FilmingLife® Course

Transform the way you tell stories through film and create family films that resonate with deep emotion and authenticity. This in-depth course is designed for family filmmakers and photographers looking to create films that evoke deep emotion and meaning. Through a structured, hands-on approach, you’ll gain the skills to craft powerful narratives that capture the essence of real-life family moments.

From understanding advanced storytelling frameworks to mastering the nuances of pacing, music selection, and visual continuity, this course will take your filmmaking from good to unforgettable. You’ll explore how to blend video and still images seamlessly, use sound design for emotional impact, and refine your color grading techniques for a polished, cohesive look.

Advanced Storytelling

Next Live Run Starts: May 5, 2025. Join the Waitlist Below.

Who This Course Is For:

  • Family photographers, experienced with video, who want to elevate their work with stronger storytelling

  • Filmmakers seeking deeper emotional impact and narrative strength in their films

  • Creatives looking to refine their editing techniques for seamless, compelling stories

  • Anyone ready to move beyond capturing moments and into crafting cinematic experiences

Pre-Requisites:

  • A solid understanding of filmmaking fundamentals is required

  • A camera that shoots video

  • A computer capable of editing video, with Premiere Pro installed (other software is welcome but not covered)

How Much Does it Cost?

This course is exclusively available to FilmingLife® members and is included in the monthly membership fee of $75/m along with all of our other courses, workshops, mentoring, live run small groups, and 1:1 Film Critiques. The course, if it was available to purchase on it’s own, would be valued at $1200 USD.

  • Unpacking storytelling: emotional arcs vs. structural frameworks

    Understanding story structures for family films

    The Three-Act, Five-Act, and Seven-Act structures in family films

    Conflict, tension, and resolution in storytelling

    Mastering pacing for emotional impact

    Assignment 1: Film study

    BTS footage: Watch Courtney film a family and break down the process

  • Finding the right family for your final project

    Uncovering the emotional core of your film

    Behind the edit: crafting the story through photos

    Culling and organizing footage for stronger storytelling

    Assignment 2: Build a nonlinear narrative from everyday moments

  • Choosing the perfect song to match the mood

    Song mapping for seamless storytelling

    Crafting dynamic openings with double exposure and music

    Fine-tuning transitions for seamless flow

    Assignment 3: Building tension and release challenge

  • Quick and effective sound design

    Enhancing audio with subtle layers to elevate the film

    Color grading for family films: matching video and photos for cohesion

    Fine-tuning shadows, highlights, and color balance for polished final edits

    Adding finishing touches: titles, logos, and light leaks

    Assignment 4: The soundscape storytelling challenge

Course Modules & Lessons:

Why join this course?

This isn’t just about learning technical skills—it’s about making films that truly mean something. You’ll learn how to craft stories that feel real and raw, films that pull at the heartstrings and make people feel something long after they’ve watched. We’ll dive deep into narrative structures, pacing, music, and editing techniques that will elevate your storytelling. You’ll get to see my real, unfiltered behind-the-scenes process, take on hands-on assignments that push your creativity, and be surrounded by a supportive community of filmmakers who get it. If you’re ready to create family films that go beyond just “pretty footage” and truly capture the essence of a moment, this course is for you.

By the end of this course:

You’ll have crafted a final family film that showcases everything you've learned—capturing heartfelt moments, structuring a compelling narrative, and fine-tuning the edit for maximum emotional impact. 

How To Join:

Choose Your Path: Self-Study or Live Run?

You have two options to begin your journey:

  • Click Here Start Now with Self-Study – Get instant access to the full course and work through it at your own pace.

  • Join the Waitlist Below for the Live Run – Prefer guided support and real-time interaction? Join the waitlist for our next live run, where you'll get direct feedback, group discussions, and additional insights to refine your storytelling skills. Choose the option that works best for you and start creating compelling, emotionally-driven family films today!

Exclusive Perks for the Live Run

If you join the live run, you'll have the opportunity to submit your final project and get a $75 credit (equivalent to one free month) towards your FilmingLife Academy membership! Plus, the best submission, as chosen by Courtney & Kylie, will win a 12-month membership to FilmingLife Academy!