Jenna's Journey

Several years ago, I had the honor of getting to participate in a benefit for Jenna Edwards, a young girl who has faced some serious health issues. We could all learn a thing or two from Jenna-- no matter the obstacles in her path, she stays positive and keeps smiling. She takes a bright light wherever she goes, despite some of the dark circumstances along the road. Her journey is far from over, but this is a small piece of her story so far.

Jenna's mom wanted me to post this video for all of you who have been a part of Jenna's journey. So this is for all of Jenna's family and friends, those who helped out with the benefit, and those who have helped the Edwards family over the years. Most of all, Jenna, this is for you. You have been an inspiration to so many people. Thank you for showing us that even a glimmer of hope can light up the dark times in our lives. Keep smiling! :-)

Dani & Curt: Sneak Peek!

Here's a little preview of Dani & Curt's gorgeous outdoor wedding ceremony earlier this summer. It was a beautiful day with a wonderful couple, and I was thrilled to be a small part of it. Curt & Dani, I hope you'll cherish these memories forever!

 Enjoy!

All of the beautiful photos are courtesy of Callie Page and Emily Curtis Photography.

(Note: Due to the sizing restrictions of the video file, picture resolution is best when viewed in the smaller size, not full screen.)

Seasons Change

It has been over a year since the last Smiles Remembered blog post... apparently I am not the best at this social media thing. :-) It's certainly been a year of transition for my husband and I-- we've moved (twice!), had renovations and an addition to our house, started new jobs, and settled into the community of Fulton, MO.

It's been a time of transition for my sister and her family as well-- we were thrilled to welcome Emily Sue Window to the family this April. I wanted to create a video to mark this time of change, from having one daughter to completing their family with a second daughter.... a time of moving from one season to the next.

Hope you enjoy! (And stay tuned... in the coming days and weeks we'll have some highlights from Dani & Curt Felker's beautiful outdoor wedding earlier this summer!)

Culver-Stockton College Graduation Video 2013

It was my pleasure to be the videographer for the 2013 Culver-Stockton College Commencement ceremony this year. As an alum of C-SC myself, it was great to be back on the Hill that served as my home for four years.

To order a copy of the official 2013 C-SC Graduation video, go the the following link:
http://www.myculver.com/ICS/C-SC_Parents/Order_Graduation_Photos.jnz?portlet=Graduation_Photo_Order

(The video includes the commencement ceremony in its entirety, as well as the highlight video.)

Congratulations to the Culver-Stockton College Class of 2013! I wish all of you the best.

Sometimes the "little moments" can mean the most.

In December, my niece (and Goddaughter) turned three-- it seems like just yesterday I was meeting her in the hospital for the first time. It's been a year of changes and she's grown into a pretty amazing little girl! Editing her home videos this year was bittersweet-- I've loved watching her grow and change, but seeing each of her milestones also reminds me of those who won't get to see those same special moments in a child who was taken from this world far too soon. I wish with all my heart that that wasn't so. But one thing that Easton's legacy has taught us is to make the little moments in life count, because once they're gone, you can't get them back.

I've learned that it's so important to truly cherish the memories we make, because you never know when today may be your last. So take pictures and home videos as often as you can-- preserving your precious memories is something you'll never regret! Having the chance to look back on days' past is one of the most wonderful gifts we can give ourselves.



For more information about video transfer or editing services, email me at smilesrememberedvideo@gmail.com. I'd love to help you transform and preserve your memories!

Preview: Brian and Amanda

In a world where true and lasting love becomes more and more rare, Brian and Amanda are a wonderful example of a true love story. The depth of their love is clear in the way they look at each other and the way they treat each other. It was truly a joy to be a small part of their love story.

Hope you enjoy this short preview of their wedding video. Brian and Amanda, I wish you all the best and hope your beautiful family enjoys a long and happy life together.

(Photo courtesy of Callie Page Photography)


Note: Be sure your speakers are turned up to medium/high volume-- the online version of this video caused the volume level on the voice over portions of the video to be fairly quiet.

Derrick and Cary

Here's a small sneak peek at Derrick and Cary's wedding this summer. Enjoy!

Forgotten Memories

When I started this video business, one of the things I really wanted to focus on was taking existing videos and making them new again. Old slides and film reels are often all but forgotten, because so few of us have the ability to enjoy them, since the formats are so outdated. I am so glad to have the opportunity to take these old and forgotten memories, and turn them into something that families can enjoy for years to come.

The Linderer family is very near and dear to my heart, and it meant a lot to me to be able to give some of their long lost memories new light. These video clips were transferred from old 8 mm and 16 mm film reels to DVD, so that the family can enjoy these old videos for generations to come!

Sneak Peek! Casey and Kimberly

It was truly a pleasure to be a part of Casey and Kimberly's special day. They had a beautiful wedding, and, more importantly, I know that their marriage will be just as beautiful. Congratulations, Kim and Casey! I wish you all the best, and hope you enjoy your wedding video for years to come!

Rhylan's First Year

A baby's first year is a very special time for new parents, full of change and new experiences. I love that a part of my job is to take the memories a family makes through pictures and home videos and turn them into a unique keepsake for the family.
Here is a shortened version of the video slideshow from Rhylan's first year. I hope the Zehnle family will enjoy looking back on this video for many years to come!

(Professional photos were taken by KP Photography.)

What are you doing this weekend?

If you are interested in or have ever considered having a custom video created, be it a home video, a slideshow, or a wedding video, now is a great time to take the next step. Smiles Remembered will be at the Home and Living Show in Quincy, IL this weekend (March 2nd through 4th). The show is being held at The Oakley Lindsay Center in downtown Quincy on Friday from 5-9 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 7 pm, and Sunday from noon to 4 pm. So if you are thinking about a particular video project or if you just want to see the kinds of videos we can create, we'd love to see you there! 

If you need an extra incentive to come and see us, we're offering a 10% discount on any order placed during the show. (Even if you can't make it to the show, you can still take advantage of this offer--send me a Facebook message for more details!) We'll also be giving away a $75 gift certificate to one lucky customer! So be sure to come and take advantage of these great opportunities. :-)

If you'd like more information about the show, go to www.wgem.com and click on the "Home and Living Show" tab. We hope to see you at the show! And in the meantime, here's a video highlighting some of the different kinds of videos we can create! 

The Zanger Family

In addition to the video I made telling Easton Zanger's story, I also had the pleasure of editing all of the Zanger family's home videos from 2010 and 2011. Their video slideshow captures bits and pieces from the last two years-- the little moments that help to define a family.

This video serves as a great reminder that, even in the midst of the most difficult of times, there are still beautiful moments in life, and it's up to us to take notice and appreciate those moments.

Enjoy!

**Professional photos are courtesy of Callie Page Photography.**

They grow up so fast...

It's really amazing when you think about how quickly time passes us by, how quickly the little ones we love grow up. It feels like just yesterday I was meeting my niece (and Goddaughter) for the first time, just a few hours after she was born. But she is two years old now, and I can't believe how fast those two years have passed.

Sometimes we don't realize how important and special the "little moments" are in life. But when we look back on our lives, it's those little moments that really mean the most. That's part of the reason I love what I do.  I love editing home videos and turning them into an extra special tribute to life's little moments. And my very favorite part of that is the video slideshow I put together for any home video I edit. The video slideshow is sort of a "Year in Review" montage of highlights from the home video footage. It's a really neat way to see how quickly a child changes and grows in a short amount of time, and it's a unique way to relive those memories.

This is the video slideshow I created for my sister and brother-in-law from their home movies. Every time I watch it, I am amazed at how much my niece has changed in a year. It's such a privilege to watch her grow, and to have the chance to commemorate the little moments in her life.

Superman's Journey-- Chapter One

Many of you are familiar with the story of Easton "Superman" Zanger and his family. This family has faced unbelievable obstacles in the past year. They've been to hell and back, and their journey is far from over. They are truly an amazing family-- they've endured their struggles with such incredible strength and grace.
When Shannon (Easton's mom) approached me with the idea of telling Easton's story through a video, I was beyond excited. The idea of contributing in a small way to such an incredible family was both an honor and a challenge. I had never done a video project quite like this one, and I wanted to give the Zanger family an appropriate tribute to their journey thus far.
One of the songs I used in this video is entitled "Crazy Ride". The song is about the ups and downs in life, and how we all experience both heartbreak and triumph. I can't think of anyone who has experienced a more "crazy ride" in 2011 than Easton and his family. And yet, through it all, they remain an incredibly close-knit and loving family. Each member of the Zanger family is truly a superhero in my book, and it is my pleasure to share a small piece of their story with you.

*This video is about 15 minutes long, so depending on your Internet connection, it may take a few minutes to load. Also note, the first few seconds of the video have no sound- the music will begin after the opening slide.

Welcome to the Smiles Remembered video blog!

My name is Samantha Kerr, and I am the owner of Smiles Remembered Custom Video Productions. While the "Smiles Remembered" business is relatively new, I have been involved in video editing for about eight years. I have worked on video projects for both personal and professional endeavors, and have loved every minute. Video editing is truly a passion of mine. 

When a friend from high school contacted me earlier this year to see if I would be interested in doing the videography for her wedding, I was really excited about the opportunity. While I have found some success in the business world since graduating college, I have never had a job more rewarding and fun than videography and video editing. After some soul searching, I decided to take the plunge and officially go into business on my own as a video editor and videographer. And so, Smiles Remembered was born. 

Since my friend from high school, Kasey, was in part the inspiration to the beginning of my business endeavor, it seems appropriate that her wedding video be the first to be featured on my blog. Tim and Kasey got married on November 12th, and their wedding couldn't have been more beautiful. It was my pleasure to capture the love and joy that they share. I hope that they'll look back on their video for many years to come and remember what a special day it was. 

Enjoy! Be sure to check back for more video posts in 2012. 
Please note: All professional photos are courtesy of Callie Page Photography.