Meet Matthew Moore of Ampersand Family in Fort Collins

Today we’d like to introduce you to Matthew Moore.

Matthew, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in the heart of Texas. Well, some would call it the armpit…but I think it’s the heart. As a child, I was shockingly bad at typical forms of art. I joined the band, couldn’t hit a note. Dabbled in art, nothing turned right. I even tried fashion…let’s not talk about it. So, I gave up on being creative and went to college for a degree in Psychology.

I finished school and started working for a nonprofit. One year, we needed a video to show at our fundraising banquet, so I borrowed a camera, opened iMovie for the first time, then proceeded to fall in love. I did not realize what was happening at the time, but I just kept making videos.

On my 25th birthday, my wife generously bought me the Canon 7D I had been pining for month (she would call it begging). Shortly after, we moved from Texas to Colorado. After arriving in Colorado, I struggled to find a job. So I figured why not create one for myself. A few weeks into our Colorado adventure, I filmed my first wedding with that Canon 7D, and the rest is history.

I’ve shot over 150 weddings now and each is unique and beautiful. I find the entire process fun and fulfilling. From the moment the lead hits our inbox to the wedding day, to sharing the finished films…it is a fantastic experience that never gets old.

Great, 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?
The journey to this point has been relatively smooth. I took my time and was intentional. I worked freelance for a few years until I felt confident I could make this into a full time career. I took the leap into full time video in 2016 and haven’t looked back.

Ampersand Family – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
Ampersand Family films wedding. We do our best to create a unique video for each couple that captures who they are before and on their wedding day. We like to imagine them watching it with their children and giving them a real sense of who their parents were in that moment.

I started Ampersand Family with a photographer friend of mine back in 2013. We offered photography and film as a package deal, but video is where we found success. After having a baby, our photographer decided to take a step aside and I was left with a choice. Do I hire another photographer or go ahead with just video alone.

I decided to pursue video only and I’m so glad I did. It really challenged me as a business owner and filmmaker.

I’m most proud of our sustainability, consistency, and ability to make our clients happy.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
There are a few things I am really proud of when it comes to Ampersand Family. At the end of each month, I pay myself and my employees. It’s a great feeling being able to do what we love and provide for myself and other families’. I’m really proud of that.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.ampersandfamily.com
• Instagram: @ampersandfamily
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/ampersandfamily

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