Welcome to Folklore Studio Collective
A creative media collective dedicated to telling inspiring visual stories through photography and film.
Folklore Studio captures the essence of people, places, and purpose. Rooted in documentary-style storytelling, we work with artists, musicians, environmentalists, and organizations to create films and images that inspire, and connect. We share the stories of the Southern Gulf Islands, Vancouver Island and beyond.
With a focus on authenticity and artistry, we blend cinematic filmmaking with compelling narratives—bringing meaningful projects to life through visual storytelling.
What We Offer
Documentary & Short Films – Showcasing the work and stories of creative individuals, grassroots organizations, and changemakers.
Brand & Business Storytelling – Helping businesses and nonprofits tell their story through compelling, cinematic visuals. We also can help with your release strategies.
Creative Portraits & Photography – Capturing the essence of individuals and their work in an artful, documentary style.
Music & Arts Media – Crafting engaging visual narratives and documenting performances for musicians, performers, and cultural creators.
Our Creative Space
Folklore Studio Collective is based on Salt Spring Island, where we share a collaborative studio space with a collective of local artists. This space serves as the home base for our production company and a creative hub for photographers, filmmakers, and makers who share our passion for storytelling. In addition to studio work, our space features a storefront showcasing the work of artists and creatives from across the West Coast.
By fostering a space where creativity thrives, we aim to build a community that supports artists, storytellers, and those working to create meaningful work. Whether you’re visiting our studio, exploring our storefront, or collaborating with us on a film or photography project, we invite you to be part of the Folklore Studio Collective.
Meet the Team
Folklore Studio Company is led by Sydney Woodward and Alex Harris, longtime creative collaborators with a shared passion for documentary filmmaking and storytelling.
Sydney Woodward
Sydney Woodward is a filmmaker, photographer, and storyteller with a deep passion for documenting human connection, environmental narratives, and cultural stories. Throughout his 20s and early 30s, he traveled the world working on documentary films, focusing on food security, regenerative agriculture, and environmental activism. His work led to the creation of Over Grow the System, a media platform exploring sustainable food systems, and later a collaboration with Guayakí Yerba Mate to develop a similar storytelling network highlighting environmental and community-driven initiatives. These projects took him across continents, capturing the work of farmers, activists, and changemakers striving for a more sustainable future.
As his life shifted toward family and community, so did his focus—turning his lens toward the Southern Gulf Islands and South Vancouver Island, where he is now dedicated to telling the stories of the region’s creative communities, environmental efforts, and unique cultural landscapes. His passion for analog photography led him to embrace the historic tintype photography process, creating heirloom-quality portraits that blend artistry with history. This love for storytelling and timeless imagery also led to the launch of Folklore Wedding Company with his partner, offering couples a distinctive approach to wedding photography and film that merges digital, film, and Super 8mm formats.
With the creation of Folklore Studio Collective, Sydney returns to his documentary roots, bringing together his expertise in film, photography, and storytelling to produce meaningful media. Whether capturing the work of artists, musicians, environmentalists, or community-driven initiatives, he is committed to telling stories that inspire, inform, and connect.
Alex Harris
Alex was born and raised by the Salish Sea where she developed a profound connection and responsibility to the environment from an early age. She first picked up a camera at the age of nine, photographing wildlife and friends and started a Shutterbug Club in highschool. She went on to study Geography at the University of British Columbia where her interests in photography and filmmaking blossomed. Alex went on to carve out a unique niche in environmental and social justice storytelling, blending her creative skills with her commitment to making a difference.
Her career has taken her and her camera many places from Africa to Alaska documenting a wide range of social and environmental issues and topics. She has collaborated with organizations such as the David Suzuki Foundation, Amnesty International, and Stqeeye' Learning Society, as well as companies like Patagonia Provisions, the University of British Columbia, and Vancity Credit Union. Additionally, Alex serves as a board member for the Salt Spring Conservancy.
Alex views media as a critical tool to uplift voices, elicit empathy, inspire action, and create change. She values ongoing community relationships and is humbled to work alongside dedicated environmental stewards and community leaders.
In her free time, Alex enjoys weaving baskets from locally sourced materials finding joy in their functional beauty. As a craftsperson at heart, she appreciates blending traditional techniques with modern media.
