Docu-Style Event Coverage
Overview
I’m a NYC-based filmmaker and photographer specializing in documentary-style storytelling for events, nonprofits, and brands. My work is natural, authentic, and emotional. I love documenting your key moments, but I live for the moments in between. From intimate gatherings to large-scale galas, I create visuals that are authentic, energized, and connected.
Reviews
3 reviews
Michael W.
October 17, 2025Talented and Reliable
Tess was excellent to work with. She’s is communicative, and was so easy to work with on the day. I love the footage she got and the final product! Can’t wait to use her again
Hired as: Video Services, Videographer
Olivia L. S.
October 10, 2025Highly Reccomend Tess Forestieri
Tess helped me film an acting reel. Not only did she help me shape the text, but she directed, produced, and organized the shoot. She carefully chose the shots, and orchestrated the flow of the day. She is professional and above all else, fun to work with. The energy she brings to a set is a unique one: you feel like you’re creating something that is organic but it’s also tactfully shot with a keen eye. Her knowledge of visual storytelling is excellent. Cannot reccomend her enough!
Hired as: Video Services
Eileen L.
October 10, 2025Tess is an absolute dream!
Working with Tess was an absolute dream. She was so easy to work with from start to finish! She was kind, patient, and incredibly professional. She really listened to what I wanted and took the time to understand my vision. Her creativity and attention to detail elevated everything, and the final product completely blew me away. It was beyond what I could have imagined! I can’t recommend her highly enough!
Hired as: Video Services, Videographer
Booking information
Price range: $500 and up
Languages: English
Gig length: 20 - 480 minutes
What to expect
When you work with me, you can expect a highly competent, organized presence and a creative partner who genuinely cares about telling your story well. I approach every project with a mix of warmth and precision — creating a comfortable environment where people feel at ease on camera and authentic moments can unfold naturally.
Whether I’m filming a community event or a personal milestone, I focus on capturing the atmosphere, emotion, and energy that make your event unique. I bring high-quality cinema cameras, professional lenses, and a lightweight setup that allows me to move seamlessly through your space without being intrusive.
You’ll receive documentary-style visuals that reflect the heart of your event: real people, real connection, and real joy. My goal is always to deliver polished, heartfelt work that makes you feel proud to share your story.
Here are (some) of the services and deliverables I offer:
- An impact video (5-10 mins) with testimonials and interview setups — ideal for fundraising, donor outreach, or board presentations
- A highlight reel (1-3 mins) for sharing on social media
- A video (3-5 mins) capturing an event or program
- A curated photo gallery of 75–150 edited images (depending on scope)
- Short, social media–ready clips formatted for Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn
About
I’m a NYC-based filmmaker and photographer specializing in documentary-style storytelling for nonprofits and mission-driven brands. My work focuses on the spaces where connection, community, and emotion meet - capturing moments that feel both cinematic and human.
I began my career working in film, commercials, and later produced large-scale social campaigns for Fortune 500 brands (Pepsi, Cheetos, Cisco, etc.) before transitioning to end-to-end independent filmmaking.
Since then, I’ve worked on video projects where I’ve met some of the most amazing people, visited incredible places, and solved problems I never imagined I could. Creating work that makes my clients happy brings me so much joy, and working end-to-end — from concept to final cut — continues to challenge, motivate, and inspire me every single day.
I’m a warm, kind soul with a type-A edge — creative but grounded, always chasing the story while keeping track of the details. Reach out anytime; I’d love to hear how I can help you with your next project :)
Additional booking notes
I shoot on professional Sony cinema cameras with full audio, lighting, and stabilization gear. For most events, I just need a small, secure space to store equipment and, when possible, a quiet area for interviews or testimonials. I travel fully self-contained and can adapt to nearly any environment.
Owned Gear:
- Sony FX3 Full-Frame Cinema Camera
- Sony A7 IV Mirrorless Camera
- Godox Portraiture Flash Kit
- DJI RS 4 Pro Gimbal Stabilizer Combo
- Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8
- Sony FE 50mm f/1.8 Lens with UV Filter Kit
- Sennheiser G4 Wireless Lavalier Mic System
- Sennheiser Shotgun Microphone
- Light stands & tripods
- Reflector
- Amaran LED Monolight
- SmallRig Softbox
- Memory cards & hard drives
Services offered
Influences and inspiration
A few films that I love:
We the Animals - the light, texture, and camera movement; everything that Jeremiah Zagar does is filled with humanity and beauty.
Birdman - the rhythm, creativity, and that feeling of being inside the moment while also aware of the camera.
The Royal Tenenbaums changed my life when I saw it. I can rewatch that movie anytime.
Filmmakers:
Ari Aster for his ability to explore the human condition while still keeping a story gripping and cinematic.
Reed Morano for her stunning, cinematic frames in all her work, especially The Handmaid’s Tale and Meadowland.
Kirsten Johnson - my favorite documentary filmmaker.
Brett Morgen - for the way he seamlessly recreates his subjects’ inner lives on screen.
Alan Berliner - a documentarian whose films feel like a song as much as an excavation of memory and archive.
Setup requirements
N/A