Conversations with Jake Goodman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jake Goodman.

Hi Jake, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
For Keeps Film Co. started with my own wedding back in 2022. I realized I wanted a wedding film that felt like an old home-movie, not a cinematic highlight video which was basically all I could find in my search. I wanted it to feel authentic and tell the whole story of my wedding day. Like a documentary mixed with the the vintage style from my parents’ wedding.

I searched all over and but nothing like this existed, especially in the Atlanta area. So as a filmmaker, I decided to make it myself. I hired a trusted team to capture the entire day on camcorders and edit it into a documentary, full of interviews and all of our moments. The finished film was everything I hoped for – emotional, nostalgic, and real. Once I saw it, I knew other couples must want the same thing.

So For Keeps Film Co. was born. A home-movie-inspired wedding documentary experience crafted for people who value memory over spectacle. Today, we create honest, long-form films that feel like reliving your wedding day from the inside out. Our films aren’t made to be boosted on social media. They are made to be shared with your favorite people, in-person on the couch, and held close like an old heirloom.

Our films are made for keeps.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting attention from the right couples has been our biggest challenge.

Our films are a little niche. They might not be for everyone. Some couples want a highly produced, cinematic montage of their wedding day. There’s no shame in that. It’s just not what we offer.

Explaining that we don’t use drones, gimbals, high frame rate footage or montage editing might sound like a foreign language to some couples. Sometimes we get – “Oh! Like The Office!” which isn’t actually too far off. Describing what makes us different takes a lot of words and examples, so getting the vision across online has been quite the challenge, especially since our films are meant to be experienced personally, not posted publicly.

Still, we’ve learned that the right couples get it instantly. A lot of times they set out looking for exactly what we offer and they find us very quickly. Other times, I’ve found it’s the couples who don’t want video at all that realized they want to work with us, because what we offer wasn’t even on their radar.

I think if we can communicate our values and show off our style, the rest will come naturally.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We create true-to-life wedding documentaries inspired by the nostalgia of home movies. Our films preserve the full story – the voices, the quiet details, and the magic of the day – so couples can relive their day just as it happened.

We specialize in long-form, documentary-style films (usually 1.5–2.5 hours), captured on a mix of vintage and modern camcorders. From interviews to full ceremony and speeches, nothing is staged or rushed. We film the day as it naturally unfolds.

We believe the biggest regret couples have is not having enough of their wedding day preserved on video. Most videographers offer only a short highlight or maybe a film up to 20 minutes. We’re proud to deliver keepsake films that include the moments they’ll want years from now – sweet moments with grandparents, new family meeting for the first time, or simply the way your loved ones looked at you and their messages to you.

For couples that do want short-form videos, we include shareable pieces like highlight films and micro documentaries as extras in our packages. These are great for sharing online or sending to close family, but having that long-form film is the core of what we offer and what we believe every couple deserves.

What makes me proudest about what we are doing is the work that has gone into each film and developing our unique product. Making long form documentaries for each couple is a very involved process and takes a lot of effort and time to create with intention and attention to detail. We’ve worked hard developing our process and our style, and now we’ve reached the point where we’ve really locked in the foundation of what we do. Now we have the ability to build upon that which is where we can get really creative. The vision is truly coming to a reality.

What makes you happy?
I love spending time with my friends and family. I spend most of my time with my wife and toddler, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

In my free time I love playing ice hockey and playing the drums.

I love traveling new places, eating great food, and shooting photography – all 3 things go hand in hand very well.

I love that I get to create art and capture stories for a living. It’s rewarding and makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

I’d say I’m a pretty happy person.

Pricing:

• Documentaries – Starting at $3600
• Elopements/ Micro Weddings – Starting at $2500

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.forkeepsfilmco.com/
• Instagram: @forkeepsfilmco
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/forkeepsfilmco/