meet: Lilli Summers

It occurred to me when creating Summers’ Media in 2023 that there’s a through line in my passions as a creative:

STORYTELLING.

Photography, film, art, writing…all methods of storytelling with people in my focus, designed & created with varying tools.

Characters, composition, faces, colors, voices, accents, background, lighting: all pieces in the puzzle of telling the story of you, of me, of all of us. We’re connected by the stories we make & the stories we tell, reflections of everyone & everything inside of us. All art, & therefore all stories, are our attempts to understand better…whether that’s to understand a concept, to understand others, or to better understand yourself.

So when I’m asked, “What do you do?” I can offer my most simplified, yet most complex, descriptive & self-representative answer: a storyteller.

I’m an artist based out of Wilmington, NC with over ten years of experience in the visual media field, specializing in creative & commercial photo-videography & visual media. I received my BA in Film & Photography from UNCW in 2024 & worked independently as a cinematographer on several narrative & documentary projects throughout my academic career. Since founding Summers’ Media in 2023, I’ve routinely worked with local businesses in Wilmington on visual content creation, branding & marketing.

I grew up as a military brat, moving 12 times over 7 states before settling in North Carolina in 2019. The experience gave me an eye for observation, so when I was gifted a camera at age twelve, it was love at first click.

I created Summers' Media with the belief that film & photography have the unique ability to timestamp & preserve moments in our lives. My focus is capturing those exceptional moments & authentically representing people through high-quality imagery.

Pretty much anything visual…I offer it. Here’s the comprehensive list:
Photography, videography, graphic design, website design, newsletters, social media management, social media content creation, marketing & marketing assistance.
If you’re curious about a more specific visual media niche, feel to ask!
Both! My clientele is diverse, ranging from an individual looking for headshots to a local business wanting a a full brand makeover.
Absolutely! I can offer (& often do) bundled services…it can look like a two-hour shoot that includes a few headshots, a video interview & an entertaining social media video. I’m flexible with you!
It starts with a consultation. Free of charge, via video chat or in-person. We’ll discuss what your deliverable needs are, & I’ll pitch my idea & proposed plan. If you wish to proceed, we’ll discuss pricing & scheduling. Once booked with a deposit, we’ll pre-plan the shoot, which can range from a Pinterest board to an extensive creative brief & shot list. On shoot day, we’ll go at your pace within the time frame & execute the vision. After the shoot, depending on the type of media, you’ll expect a turnaround time of 1-3 weeks. Upon completion, you’ll be sent an invoice via email. And that’s all she wrote!
Free cancellations are allowed regardless of the timing, but the initial deposit of the shoot is nonrefundable.

FAQs!

Absolutely!
Hourly is my base to give clients maximum flexibility, but I can bundle or consolidate into flat rates if desired.
It’s a busy time of the season, but availability can be flexible! Of course, I still encourage scheduling at least a month in advance to ensure availability.
It varies depending on media type, deliverable & deliverable quantity. Turnaround can range from 1 week to up to 4 weeks.
Of course. Although not encouraged since the magic can happen in the editing process, I am more than happy to provide raw files if desired.
Yes! Although I mostly serve New Hanover, I’ve travelled to other major cities in North/South Carolina & Virginia.

For videography, I use professional, film-grade equipment, offering 6k footage + high-fidelity audio. This option is best for interviews, brand videos, commercials, website imagery & advertising.
For content creation, I film with the iPhone 13 Pro, which still offers great quality footage, but is best for more quick social media videos.
Yes & no; I oftentimes require a deposit, but this does vary from project to project.
Feel free to email me at lilsummersmedia@gmail.com for any additional questions!