Local realtor debuts ‘Seriously Sonoma Valley’ video series

'I've always thought it would be so cool to create a video series that highlights the people, places, and events that make Sonoma such a special place to live,' says Compass real-estate agent Tracy Reynes.

Reynes was nervous about being in front of the camera, but early in 2019, she finally got up the courage to move forward, hiring a local production company, Revel Creative, to shoot and edit a series of videos about Sonoma Valley.

'[Revel owner] Pio Valenzuela helped me get organized and focused with not only a shoot schedule but also a social media plan for getting these videos in front of as many people as possible, promoting my own real estate business with them, and also promoting the businesses that we feature in the videos,' Reynes said.

So far, Reynes' videos have featured the Jack London Yacht Club's Jack-to-Jack race, Schermeister Winery, Frenchie food shopo and Sonoma Overlook Trail. Revel Creative has also shot two videos at the Community Center (one for its ceramics studio and one for its fiber arts program), and Benziger Family Winery and McCormick Mercantile in Glen Ellen are on the schedule to shoot this month.

Reynes also gives them free rein to use the videos in any manner they choose at no cost. She pays for all production costs.

'The most rewarding parts of this so far have been getting to know more of the amazing people and businesses in our sweet Valley and the goodwill received from the local businesses - they all appreciate the publicity so much,' she said.

The videos are posted to YouTube, Facebook and Instagram under the name 'Seriously Sonoma Valley.' Reynes also plans to add to them her website: livelovesonoma.com.

Her goal is two per month. 'There are so many amazing things to feature about Sonoma Valley, I'll never have a shortage of topics, people, places to cover,' she said.

Watch the first episode of Seriously Sonoma Valley about the Glen Ellen Jack 2 Jack boat race below: