We are storytellers, filmmakers and very big film fans
Our passion is helping individuals, families, businesses, charities and communities share the stories that matter.
We bring professional cameras, lighting and sound, but more importantly, we bring curiosity, patience and a genuine interest in people. We believe everyone has a story worth sharing, and our job is to help you feel comfortable enough to tell it.
Derek Abel
Derek is a trained cinematographer and documentary filmmaker with more than 15 years of experience in film and video production.
After studying cinematography in London, he worked around the world as a cinematographer, director, producer, editor and scriptwriter. He is also a drone operator, live-streaming specialist and the person we call when something technical needs solving.
Calm under pressure and naturally reassuring, Derek has a remarkable ability to help people relax, open up and feel genuinely heard, even when sharing something difficult or deeply personal.
Derek’s real passion is using storytelling to help people. His documentaries about homelessness in London and Australia have been shown to politicians, discussed in Parliament and helped people featured in them receive housing and support. He believes stories can deepen understanding, change perspectives and inspire action, whether he is filming a documentary, a personal life story or the work of a charity.
Outside filmmaking, Derek is usually watching a film, reading a book or testing new equipment. His tastes range from classic cinema to 1980s action films, because every serious filmmaker needs room for an unnecessarily large explosion.
MICHELLE MACHADO
Michelle is a producer who looks after Client and Story Partnerships at Your Story, helping guide each project from the earliest conversations through to filming day.
With years of experience working closely with people, she makes sure the right plans, information and people are in place while helping clients feel supported throughout the process. Her calm, friendly approach and sense of humour help people relax, forget about the camera and focus on what they really want to say.
Passionate about giving people a voice, particularly those who may not always feel seen or heard, Michelle loves working with charities, community organisations and people doing incredible work behind the scenes. She believes that sharing personal stories helps others understand experiences in a more meaningful way.
She is also a lifelong reader and film fan, and always happy to talk about stories, books and films, especially anything involving Mel Brooks. Mention Young Frankenstein and there is a good chance the meeting will briefly go off track.
Henry
Henry oversees operations at Your Story.
Cool, calm and collected, he specialises in keeping the team grounded and reminding everyone when it is time to stop working.
Henry has an exceptional ability to win people over within seconds, with clients, crew members and visitors regularly find themselves having long chats with him (he is a great listener!).
He is friendly, charming and always available to supervise a meeting, provided the meeting takes place somewhere comfortable.
As Pawject Manager, Henry’s responsibilities include monitoring team morale, welcoming visitors and ensuring no snacks are left unattended.
He is a loyal colleague, and the most popular member of the Your Story team.
We could not ask for a better colleague, and he would probably say the same about us.
Probably.
A small team with a big network
Every story and every production is different. Sometimes, all a project needs is Derek, a camera and a great conversation. At other times, it may call for cinematographers, photographers, producers, camera assistants, sound recordists, drone operators, live-streaming technicians, hair and makeup artists, editors or a much larger production crew.
Your Story works with an incredible network of trusted professionals, allowing us to keep a project small, personal and unobtrusive or scale up for complex productions, large events, documentaries and multi-camera live broadcasts. The team may change depending on the project, but the approach remains the same: working with talented, professional and friendly people who understand that the person in front of the camera always comes first.
Henry the Dog
Pawject Manager
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The people behind the cameras
When sharing a personal story, the people behind the cameras matter. We listen, treat your story with respect and help you feel comfortable being yourself, combining professional filmmaking and thoughtful storytelling with a relaxed, down-to-earth approach.