Today we’d like to introduce you to Emma Burke.
Hi Emma, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started Emma K Films in 2019, when I was 19 years old, while at Oregon State University, where I was pursuing my Bachelor’s degree in Accounting. After switching majors from Pharmacy to Accounting, I remember thinking, I need a ‘hobby’, a creative outlet. I didn’t want to be a photographer — I wanted to try something different — so I turned to video. I drove to Best Buy, put a Sony a7S III and a DJI drone on a credit card (probably not my smartest move as a broke college student), and dove headfirst into learning everything I could about wedding filmmaking.
Shortly after, a friend asked me to film their wedding and paid me $400. I gave them everything I possibly could — and from that one wedding, I knew I was hooked. It felt like the dream job. I’ve always had a strong business mindset, and with the foundation of my accounting degree, I focused on building a sustainable, scalable business. What began as $400 bookings has since grown into filming luxury destination weddings worldwide, now booking events with clients in a niche luxury market, working regularly with NDAs and private events.
I’ve invested in mentorships, workshops, online courses — anything I could to fast-track my growth while staying committed to producing high-quality work. In 2023, I moved from this small town in Oregon to Los Angeles, where the opportunities felt limitless. Since starting, I’ve had the honor of filming over 100 exclusive love stories and have been featured in People, Brides, Elle, ESPN, The Wed, and more, as well as being named Top 20 Wedding Videographers In The US by The Wed. In 2025, I signed with LUÁGO Agency, who now manages all of my client bookings. This partnership has been an incredible extension of my brand and a pivotal step in scaling my business at a much higher level.
Today, I intentionally take on only 12 to 15 weddings per year, allowing me to offer my clients a tailored, high-touch experience. I lead larger production teams for multi-day events and specialize in creating next-day edits that elevate the luxury experience even further.
In 2021, I also founded The Wedding Filmmaker Workshop — a multi-day, in-person experience designed to help fellow filmmakers grow through hands-on styled shoots, education led by top industry leaders, and an inspiring community of creatives.
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?
From the outside, it’s easy to assume the path has been smooth — but like most entrepreneurial journeys, mine has been anything but. It’s taken years of grit, late nights, early flights, and countless personal sacrifices. I’ve poured everything I have into building this career — investing not just financially, but emotionally and mentally, too. And while it hasn’t always been easy, I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
In the early years, one of my biggest challenges was battling the noise — the pressure to compare, to keep up, to fit into someone else’s idea of success. I let comparison syndrome influence decisions more than I’d like to admit. It took time to learn to trust my own creative voice and lean into what made my work and approach unique.
Even now, imposter syndrome can creep in — that inner voice questioning if I’m qualified to be in the rooms I’ve worked so hard to enter. It’s a constant practice to remind myself of the years of dedication, the long hours, and the intention and work I’ve put in to get where I am today.
As a solo female wedding videographer, that feeling was amplified. The film industry is still largely male-dominated, and I often felt like I didn’t quite belong — especially when it came to the technical side of things. I didn’t grow up around cameras or gear, and at times, I felt like I was constantly trying to “catch up” to an industry that didn’t feel made for me. But instead of letting that hold me back, it became my fuel.
Since stepping into education, my mission has been to become one of the leading solo female wedding videographers and educators in the world — not just to create space for myself, but to empower other women who feel the same. I want them to know you can thrive in this space without fitting the mold, without knowing everything about gear, and without sacrificing your identity.
The journey hasn’t been perfect, but it’s been deeply worth it. Every challenge I’ve faced, I wouldn’t take back. It’s shaped every experience of where I am today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m a luxury destination wedding filmmaker based in Los Angeles, and I specialize in documenting high-end, multi-day wedding weekends around the world. Through Emma K Films, I craft cinematic, emotionally-driven wedding films that feel both deeply personal and visually elevated.
I now take on only 12 to 15 weddings per year, and I specialize in next-day edits and leading larger production teams for multi-day events, ensuring my clients receive a seamless, high-touch experience from start to finish.
What sets my work apart is my positive work ethic and my drive to create films that feel like ‘movies’ both dramatic and hype-infused. I am a perfectionist, so you’ll find that I am fully committed to producing polished films that leave my clients and planners over the moon happy. My background in business has also helped me build a company rooted in strategy, client experience, and long-term sustainability.
I’ve had the honor of capturing over 100 wedding stories across the globe and have been featured in People, Brides, Elle, ESPN, The Wed, and more, and would say one of my most proud moments has been given the opportunities to travel the world at such a young age to film multi-million dollar weddings and be trusted to work with few of the most talented industry vendors and high-profile clients across the globe. Those feelings are indescribable and remind me how hard I’ve worked to live in a career I truly love. Of course, with traveling comes many stories I’ll live to tell my future kids forever.
I’m also incredibly proud of the work I do through The Wedding Filmmaker Workshop, an in-person, multi-day educational experience I created to support fellow filmmakers in elevating their craft and building meaningful careers. As a solo female filmmaker, I’ve always been passionate about creating more room at the table — especially for female wedding videographers.
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
My biggest piece of advice for anyone just starting out is to tune out the noise. It’s so easy to get caught up in what people are saying in Facebook groups or on social media — to let strong opinions make you second-guess your next move. But the truth is, there’s no single “right” path to success in this industry. There are multiple ways to climb the mountain of your career, and your journey doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s to be valid or successful.
One thing I wish I had learned earlier is how important it is to take risks. If you’re truly committed to building a sustainable, long-term business, you can’t always play it safe. That means investing in education, mentorship, resources — and most importantly, putting yourself in rooms with people who challenge and inspire you. Growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone.
Trust your instincts, stay curious, and don’t let comparison rob you of your momentum.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://emmakfilms.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/emmak_films
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@emmak_films
- Other: https://emmakfilms.com/shop
Image Credits
All images are video stills by @emmak_films
Professional Headshots are by: @laurenscotti
