Documentary-Style Video Production That Makes People Feel Something

We create character-driven branded content, mini-documentaries, and video series for brands and agencies who refuse to settle for forgettable. Based in Vancouver, working with clients who value stories over sales pitches.

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Black background with a white Porsche logo and the word 'Porsche' beneath it.
Black background with white circle logo featuring two stylized hands, above the bold text 'THE BODY SHOP'.
Logo for South Africa with the slogan 'Inspiring new ways' beneath.
Black background with the Ritz-Carlton logo, featuring a white lion's head in a crown, and the text 'THE RITZ-CARLTON' below.
Text that reads "essential Costa Rica" in a stylized font.
Logo of Eurail on a black background
Black background with white neon-style text that says "Intelcom".
Logo for YES Theory with black text and a white circle background.
Hogan Lovells logo with black text on a white background
Logo with the text 'Sampa The Great' in bold, white, stylized font on a black background.
Black background with white text that reads "MATADOR network" and a logo above the text with a stylized 'M' inside a circle.
Black background with white logo and text for Vancouver Aquarium, featuring an abstract coral design.

What We Create

BRANDED DOCUMENTARIES

Short-form documentaries that showcase your brand's impact through real people and authentic moments. We uncover the human stories behind your mission — the kind that audiences remember and share.

MINI-DOCS

3-10 minute character-driven films that capture the essence of what you do. Perfect for campaign launches, annual reports, or elevating your brand's storytelling beyond the expected.

VIDEO SERIES

Multi-episode content that builds deeper connections with your audience. From customer stories to behind-the-scenes narratives, we craft serialized content that keeps viewers coming back.

TESTIMONIALS THAT ACTUALLY WORK

Forget stiff, scripted testimonials. We create cinematic customer stories that feel like mini-documentaries—authentic, emotional, and genuinely persuasive.

Our Process to Bring Your Story to Life

  • Great documentaries start with deep research. We conduct pre-interviews, uncover compelling angles, and develop narrative frameworks that ensure your story has emotional impact. You'll see mood boards, story outlines, and a clear creative direction before we ever pick up a camera.

  • We bring cinema-quality gear and a small, experienced crew that moves fast without compromising on craft. Our documentary approach means we're observing, listening, and capturing genuine moments — not just executing a shot list. You get the polish of a large production company with the agility of a boutique studio.

  • This is where the story truly comes together. We edit for emotional arc, not just information. Expect thoughtful pacing, tasteful colour grading, sound design that elevates every moment, and close collaboration through multiple revision rounds. Final deliverables are optimized for your platforms — whether that's a hero piece for your homepage or cutdowns for social.

Tell Us About Your Next Project

You'll hear back within 24 hours. After submitting, you'll be able to schedule your free 30-minute discovery call.

  • Matt, Lonely Planet

    Richard filmed an excellent video about British Columbia for Lonely Planet's Best In Travel. With gorgeous footage of Vancouver and BC's wilderness, engaging stand-ups with our host, and stunning drone shots, the final video was one of the strongest in the campaign. Richard was very professional and thorough. I highly recommend working with him.

  • Daryl, Reliance Foundry

    “Our company had the pleasure of working with Richard on a storytelling-style of video, to celebrate our 100th year anniversary. We wanted someone with a documentary background that could go through the history of our company, our relationship with our customers, and show where we’re headed in the future, with innovation and sustainability.

    Richard was really easy to work with, super chill, and collaborative. He made the whole experience fun, never said no, and took on every challenge and idea that we threw at him. We were very pleased with the final video, and now that we’ve tapped into storytelling as part of our marketing, we’re looking forward to working with Richard again on future projects.

    I would highly recommend his services and expertise.”

  • Lynda, Volentia Healthcare Translation

    “Richard’s work is outstanding—his expertise in filming, video production, and editing is exceptional. He has a remarkable ability to craft a cohesive story that aligns perfectly with our organization's mission and values. Moreover, his patience and commitment to customer satisfaction are truly impressive, and his turnaround times are remarkably fast. Without a doubt, it would be a privilege to work with Richard again.”

  • Magnolia, National Aboriginal Capital Corporations Association

    "We had the pleasure of working with Richard and his team and we are very happy with the results. Not only was Richard and his team incredibly talented, but they were also professional, personable, and easy to work with.

    What really stood out was their ability to capture the vibe of togetherness throughout the event. The photos and video beautifully reflected the connections and atmosphere of the entire event. The attention to detail was fantastic, and they made sure to accommodate all our requests while adding a unique artistic touch.

    Communication was great, and Richard delivered everything much quicker than anticipated. If you're looking for a photographer/videographer who’s not only talented and delivers excellent results but is also approachable and collaborative, we highly recommend Richard! It was a positive experience from beginning to end."

  • Ahmad, Seek Discomfort

    “We couldn’t have asked for a better videographer to work with here at Seek Discomfort. We’re an account with 300k followers on Instagram and Richard made sure to thoroughly execute our vision for the video. He was also incredibly professional and communicative throughout the whole process. We definitely recommend him!”

  • Omar, TutorLyft

    “Richard was fantastic to work with on our ‘Our Story’ video and another content piece for my business! He made the whole process easy, kept things on schedule, and the final video really captured the heart of our brand. Couldn’t recommend him more!”

  • Ava, Encephalitis International

    “I travelled from the UK to Canada and needed a reliable and sensitive videographer to film some stories with me. It meant travelling and bearing witness to some heart-rending material. I found Richard Lam and my goodness I am SO pleased I did! Great work, great company, and great prices. Professional videos delivered on time and with virtually no edits required from me - Richard really got it, making my job so much easier and allowing me to focus on other priorities. Highly recommended! Thank you Richard!”

  • June, Intelcom

    “Richard was wonderful to work with. Trying to coordinate a shoot for a location across the country from where we are based ended up being a breeze thanks to his professionalism and easy communication. Thanks again!”

  • Julie, Designer & Interviewee

    “Richard is the essence of talent and professionalism and I cannot recommend him enough. He shot an interview of myself to be used in a campaign run by the YouTube channel YesTheory and he managed to capture my story and the project so beautifully. It was an absolute pleasure working with him. As someone not comfortable in front of a camera he made me feel completely at ease and relaxed throughout the whole shoot. Thanks so much Richard, I hope we get to work together again!”

  • Jack, Westgate Communications

    “Richard was very professional and pleasant to work with, his focus on customer satisfaction is brilliant. Our clients were also very pleased with him and his team. On top of that, the end product was top-notch, just as we asked for. If another occasion rises in Vancouver, we will reach out again!”

  • Kate, Thin Air Adventures

    “This was my first experience with a professional photographer and Richard has delivered beyond my expectations. He’s an amazing photographer, very professional, and easy to work with. I’ll be working with him in the future and would highly recommend him to anyone for their media needs.”

  • Natalie, Macintyre Communications

    “Richard was so amazing to work with and delivered an AMAZING video. He was responsive, reliable and accommodating to our schedule.”

  • Vanessa, Author & Entrepreneur

    “I have worked with Richard twice already. Both times he went above and beyond to ensure my vision is being brought alive in the most stunning way. His thoughtful and professional approach, coupled with his immense talent make him my number one choice for any photography and videography projects moving forward. I can’t wait to work with him again this summer and beyond.”

  • Trevor, Burnaby Hospital Foundation

    “Richard was fantastic! He was personable and also very professional. We appreciated his attention to detail and the creative direction that he provided! He made the day very easy.”

  • Mark, Rothewood Academy

    “Rothewood Academy had the pleasure of hiring Richard to come to many of the schools to take some amazing photographs of the students. His professionalism and expertise made capturing students at their best come alive through his photographs. We would absolutely hire him back again for future sessions.”

  • Ryan, Roller Hockey Canada

    “Richard is a very creative individual with a knack to capture great moments. He’s got a keen eye for beautiful shots and you can only expect top-notch production output when it comes to his photography and videography skills. On top of this, his professional and friendly demeanour makes him very easy to work with. There’s no question that he comes highly recommended.”

  • Sam, Jane & Co.

    I had the pleasure of working with Richard recently for a special event, and I must say, the experience was nothing short of phenomenal. From start to finish, Richard demonstrated not only immense talent behind the lens but also a deep passion for their craft. The quality of the photographs speaks for itself. Each image was beautifully composed, with stunning clarity and depth. It's evident that Richard takes great pride in their work, and it truly shows in the final product. Overall, I cannot recommend Richard highly enough.

  • Kelly, Encephalitis Patient & Interviewee

    It was a delightful experience to meet Richard who documented a chapter in my life. Through incredible photography, music and editing he illustrated a difficult journey into one of endurance and hope. I was overwhelmed with joy at his finished product. Many thanks Richard!

Why Work With Us?

  • No account managers or middlemen. You get direct access to me throughout the entire process — from first call to final delivery. This means faster decisions, clearer communication, and a final product that actually matches your vision.

  • If you're tired of generic brand videos that feel like everyone else's, we're your team. Our documentary approach prioritizes real people, authentic emotion, and narratives that resonate. We dig deeper in pre-production to find the stories worth telling.

  • We combine the observational, character-driven approach of documentary filmmaking with the production value brands expect. You get content that looks like it belongs at a film festival but works for your marketing goals.

  • Whether you're an in-house marketing leader or an agency producer, you know the difference between good and great. We're meticulous about lighting, composition, sound, and edit — because those details are what separate content that performs from content that gets scrolled past.

  • We've produced everything from intimate single-subject pieces to multi-day location shoots across BC. Our small, nimble teams mean we can adapt quickly, work in challenging environments, and deliver premium results without the overhead of larger production companies.

  • You have deadlines. We respect them. Expect regular updates, quick turnarounds on revisions, and final delivery when promised. We've built our reputation on being the team that just makes it work.

Let’s Create Something Worth Watching

Ready to elevate your brand's storytelling? Whether you're planning a campaign launch, building a video series, or finally creating that mini-doc you've been thinking about — let's talk.

You'll hear back within 24 hours. After submitting, you'll be able to schedule your free 30-minute discovery call.

START YOUR PROJECT

  • We focus on documentary-style content: branded mini-docs, character-driven video series, authentic testimonials, and short-form documentaries. If your project centres on real people and authentic storytelling, we're the right fit.

  • Documentary-style projects typically range from $15,000–$35,000 depending on scope, shoot days, crew size, and deliverables. This includes full creative development, production, and post-production. We'll provide a detailed proposal tailored to your goals and budget after our discovery call.

  • Most projects follow a 4-6 week timeline from kickoff to final delivery. This includes pre-production (research, pre-interviews, planning), production (typically 1-3 shoot days), and post-production (editing, revisions, colour, sound). We can accommodate faster turnarounds when needed.

  • Perfect. We can jump in at whatever stage makes sense — whether that's refining your existing concept, handling production and post, or just providing cinematography and editing services. We're flexible.

  • As involved as you want to be. Some clients prefer a hands-off approach after the initial creative brief, while others want to be in the edit suite. We adapt to your working style and ensure you have input at every major milestone.

  • Absolutely. While we're based in Vancouver, we've produced work throughout BC and are eager to travel for the right projects. If your story takes us somewhere compelling, we're there.

  • Full edit, colour grading, licensed music, professional sound design and mixing, titles and motion graphics (if needed), and multiple revision rounds. We also create additional cutdowns and platform-specific versions (Instagram, LinkedIn, etc.) based on your needs.

  • We're documentarians first. That means we're trained to find and tell compelling human stories, not just execute shot lists. You're hiring someone who thinks like a filmmaker and operates like a professional production company — premium craft with documentary soul.

  • Yes — this is one of our strengths. Through our discovery and pre-production process, we help you identify the most compelling narrative angles, find the right characters, and structure stories that resonate with your audience.

  • Reach out via our contact form or email hello@richardalam.com. We'll schedule a discovery call to discuss your vision, goals, and timeline. From there, we'll create a tailored proposal and production plan. Most clients hear back within 24 hours.