Welcome to Soulful Storytellers

Our story in a nutshell

With over 30 years of combined documentary filmmaking experience, award-winning birth videographer Dania Lauren and her husband, Andrew Douglas, bring a fresh, creative approach to birth and lifestyle storytelling. Known for their unique, emotionally-driven filmmaking style, this husband-and-wife duo has become a go-to source of mentorship for industry-leading birth photographers transitioning into videography.

With a history of coaching talented storytellers, Dania and Andrew specialize in unlocking the creative process, helping artists elevate their work into true story-driven art. Their passion for storytelling led to the creation of Soulful Storytellers—a space where like-minded creatives can connect, learn, and grow.

The SSBV course and community memberships were born out of this vision, offering the perfect platform to fast-track your keepsake filmmaking journey. Whether you’re looking for expert training, personalized mentorship, or just want to be part of a supportive community of creatives, Soulful Storytellers is here to help you unlock your filmmaking potential.

Ready to elevate your craft?
Learn more about our memberships

Create Engaging Films With Confidence

Want to add breathtaking birth films to your photography portfolio?

In Soulful Storytelling for Birth Videographers (SSBV), you’ll gain the skills to craft emotive, cinematic birth films that families will treasure forever. This course tackles filmmaking challenges and delves deep into the art of soulful storytelling.

Led by award-winning filmmakers with over 30 years of combined experience, SSBV provides step-by-step guidance through the filmmaking process—from pre-production to editing—so you can create high-quality, impactful films without spending years at film school.

With hands-on, project-based learning and expert mentorship, you’ll develop your filmmaking techniques, refine your creative style, and gain the confidence to deliver exceptional films to your clients.

Don't just take our word for it—check out the success story from Heidi of DC Birth Photography after completing the course!

Student Testimonial

Heidi Daniels—SSBV 2023 Student

Thank you for such a great course. It was so thorough and the content you created was so in-depth, but also your availability to us throughout to talk over whatever questions came up. That level of availability, I don't think I've ever had with any other online course, and I've done a lot. So I feel like that was a big differentiator.

I knew that this was the year I wanted to take my films to the next level. My husband watched something of mine just recently, and he was like, "Wow, this is so different than it used to be like a year ago—you've really done it. You've accomplished your goal of moving to this new level." And I feel that way too. I feel like I know, as I'm filming, how I'm going to be putting this story together. Instead of just hoping that I get enough footage to make a cohesive story later—now I see it unfolding in my mind.

My organisation and editing process is much more streamlined now, which is great because I have four films in my queue. And I feel like I can get through them and I know what I'm doing. It's all really exciting. So thank you!
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July Intake Coming Soon!

Sign up to keep up on the latest and receive priority access when our next VIP sale goes live!

  • 91 Days
  • 03 Hours
  • 44 Minutes
  • 17 Seconds
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Mentorship for Aspiring Birth Videographers

Fast-Track Your Filmmaking Journey with Expert Coaching

Ready to elevate your birth videography and keepsake filmmaking? If you're eager to improve your skills but can’t commit to the full SSBV course, personalized coaching and mentorship are the perfect solution. Get one-on-one guidance from award-winning filmmaker Dania Lauren tailored to your needs.

Whether you need feedback on your current project, tips on shooting techniques, or advice on editing to create emotionally impactful keepsake films, we’ll focus on what matters most to you. Fast-track your filmmaking skills and get the support you need to create powerful birth films and family keepsakes.
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Community Values

The Heart of Soulful Storytellers

  • Community & Collaboration

    At the heart of Soulful Storytellers is a thriving community where filmmakers come together to share ideas, offer support, and elevate each other’s work. Through collaboration, we encourage experimentation and risk-taking, creating an environment where creativity can flourish and storytelling can evolve.

  • Story-Driven Craftsmanship

    We believe great storytelling is the foundation of every powerful keepsake film. Our coaching empowers filmmakers to uncover the essence of their stories, focusing on authentic, documentary-style filmmaking. By honing the art of storytelling, we help you create films that deeply resonate with your audience and leave a lasting emotional impact.

  • Pioneering Spirit

    Documentary-style birth and lifestyle filmmaking is a growing niche, and we’re excited to be at the forefront of this movement. We encourage filmmakers to break new ground, think outside the box, and push creative boundaries. By embracing innovation, we aim to shape the future of keepsake filmmaking and inspire others to do the same.

Student Project Showcase

SSBV Film Fest Celebration

Part SSBV graduation, part storytelling showcase, our biannual Film-Fest is a celebration—an opportunity for members to connect and celebrate the completion of storytelling projects and reimagining of keepsake filmmaking that has taken place within the community.

SSBV Film Fest

Real Stories, Real Impact

See How Our Coaching and Community Transforms Filmmakers

“I sent off both of the films that you guys helped me with that I am forever indebted for. The mom that I was so worried about said that she has not stopped crying and that everything was such a blur after it happened and that it was exactly what she needed to relive what happened, that it filled in so many gaps for her that she didn't realize had happened. So big sigh of relief there. I'm super excited. I am definitely going to go through the course again and rewatch everything. So I'm going to be also hanging in here with you guys again.”

SSBV July 2024 Student

Sarah Romero

“It’s been incredible. I felt like I was doing the same thing over and over again, telling the same story. And doing this course has helped me to think outside the box—tell stories in a unique way. You really did not leave any stone unturned. There was just so much information. If we had questions, you guys were happy to answer them. I loved that. We had that group chat and we could flick you a message and everybody was able to help out and I had a real sense of community. I loved every part of the course.”

SSBV July 2023 Student

Martha Kong

“I knew that this was the year I wanted to take my films to the next level. My husband watched something of mine just recently, and he was like, wow, this is so different compared to your films a year ago—you’ve really done it! You’ve accomplished your goal of moving to this new level. And I feel that way too. I feel like I know as I’m filming how I’m going to be putting this story together. Instead of just sort of hoping that I get enough footage to make a cohesive story later, now I see it unfolding in my mind.”

SSBV July 2023 Student

Heidi Daniels

“This has been an absolutely incredible transformation for me as far as technique goes. I’ve had three births since I started this course with you guys and have been able to feel such a difference in my technique. I really feel like my ability to convey the story that I’m seeing… that the families are experiencing has transformed and become much more of an art for me instead of a desire to be able to convey a story. Now I feel like I actually can. I've been able to take something that was just a desire and turn it into an actual ability.”

SSBV July 2023 Student

Ashley Diaz

“Dania and Andrew are incredibly knowledgeable, creative, and giving of their time and energy. They don't hold anything back, and genuinely want you to succeed. The real diamond is in the editing - Dania is an incredibly skilful storyteller and watching her create in real time, and work with footage that was captured in challenging, unpredictable low-light settings was completely eye opening. I can't say enough good things. If you're thinking about elevating your films to story-driven art - this is the course for you.”

SSBV Beta Student

Ebony Allen-Ankins

“The Soulful Storytellers for Birth Videographers beta course has been everything I had hoped for and more! I knew I wanted to delve deeper into filmmaking with my somewhat limited videography skills. Seeing Dania’s films always gave me the chills and made me want to create films like that! The course has been so immersive and so full. I am excited to start putting my new skills to the test and to continue my learning as I go through the modules again and dive into film making with a completely new perspective. Thank you so much guys for this experience.”

SSBV Beta Student

Hannah Palamara