Storytelling for Social Impact: Behind the Scenes of the Survivor Wealth Summit in DTLA
There are client projects… and then there are career-defining experiences.
In August 2025, I had the honor of serving as the lead Los Angeles nonprofit event videographer for FreeFrom’s Survivor Wealth Summit — a powerful, four-day gathering in the heart of DTLA, designed to support and uplift survivors of gender-based violence.
But to simply call it an “event” doesn’t do it justice.
This was a container for collective healing. For joy. For rest, resistance, entrepreneurship, and legacy-building. And as a team of photographers and videographers, we weren’t just there to document it. We were embedded in the experience, creating in real-time, adapting in real-time, and most importantly, witnessing in real-time.
Creating a Visual Legacy for a Transformational Event
FreeFrom came to me with a vision: capture not only the logistics of the summit, but the soul of it.
The deliverables were ambitious: a sizzle reel, same-day photo galleries, full keynote recordings, and short-form social videos featuring attendee interviews and community reflections. To bring that vision to life, I built a team of storytellers who could move with both speed and sensitivity—and we planned everything with intention.
I created a custom schedule with roles assigned based not just on logistics, but on why each person was the right fit for their station—who would best create safety in interview spaces, who could work invisibly in high-emotion moments, who could capture moments of joy without interruption. And because FreeFrom needed a fast turnaround, we had live editors on-site, working simultaneously to deliver polished content in real-time.
When Nonprofit Videography Becomes a Collaboration, Not Just a Service
Like any large event, the schedule changed. Requests came in last-minute. Ideas evolved on the fly. And rather than viewing that as a problem, my team leaned into it—offering solutions, suggesting new angles, and staying flexible without compromising quality.
What made this project feel different from others I’ve worked on was the trust and collaboration that formed with the FreeFrom team. From pre-event planning to late-night Slack messages, it felt less like a vendor-client relationship and more like a creative partnership.
During a recap call weeks later, one of the FreeFrom team members said something that stuck with me:
“You embedded yourself in our team. It didn’t feel like a checklist. It felt like collaboration. You weren’t just capturing the event—you were co-creating it.”
That’s the kind of impact I want all my nonprofit and mission-aligned clients to feel.
The Kind of Work That Shifts You
As a storytelling nonprofit videographer in Los Angeles, I’ve had the privilege of working on many meaningful projects, but this one stays with me. Not just because of the visuals we captured, but because of how it made me feel.
This was more than a job. It was a turning point.
Being creative director for the Survivor Wealth Summit deepened my belief in what this work can be. It reminded me that event photography and videography in Los Angeles doesn’t have to be transactional.
It can be transformational. It can create visibility, validate stories, and carry a message far beyond a single event.
FreeFrom’s entire summit, from its vibe, its people, to its radical care, gave me more than beautiful footage. It gave me clarity about the kind of impact I want to make moving forward.
This work is my “why.” And this project helped me say it out loud.
Why This Work Matters
When organizations invest in meaningful event storytelling, they’re not just hiring a videographer — they’re choosing to document impact.
A well-crafted event video extends the life of the experience. It captures emotion, builds trust, and helps funders, partners, and audiences feel the momentum long after the event ends. It’s a legacy tool that continues serving your mission well beyond the final standing ovation
Nonprofit event video from the Survivor Wealth Summit in downtown Los Angeles.
Looking for a Nonprofit Event Videographer in Los Angeles?
If you're a purpose-driven organization planning a gathering, summit, or story-led initiative and want a creative partner who can think strategically and move sensitively, let’s talk.
Whether you're based in DTLA, West LA, or anywhere else in Southern California, I bring a trauma-informed, collaborative approach to every project.
Because your stories matter, and how they're told matters just as much.
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MEET BERNADETTE
Hi! I'm Bernadette Marciniak, founder of Solhaus Media, specializing in strategic photo and video production for purpose-driven organizations, brands, and non-profits.
With roots in journalism and marketing, I help mission-focused leaders turn their work into powerful, story-driven media that builds trust, inspires donors, and drives impact. From event coverage to brand storytelling, I bring both a journalist's eye for narrative and a strategist's understanding of how content actually gets used.
When I'm not behind the camera, I'm a cat mom of two who loves good pizza, red wine, and way too many true crime documentaries.
Based in Los Angeles, working nationwide.
See how Solhaus Media captured the Survivor Wealth Summit in DTLA through nonprofit event videography rooted in storytelling and social impact.