This video is the result of a creative idea hatched by bride Casey Wilson as a surprise gift for her mom. Casey contacted me last winter after seeing my Surviving Siblings personal documentary project. She hired me to do a documentary wedding video and asked if I’d be willing to also do a short family documentary video about her relationship with her mom, a stage-four breast cancer survivor who also happens to be her best friend. The deal was we’d keep it a secret for months and then Casey would give the final video to her mom the day before her wedding. We had to be pretty crafty about the whole thing, sneaking away home videos and convincing Casey’s parents that the early shoots I did were all part of her wedding video, but I think we’d both agree it was worth it.

I don’t think I can ever thank Casey enough for trusting me with this story, and for giving me such creative freedom to capture the beautiful relationship she has with her mom.