The grind and passion of being a student-entrepreneur

In this episode of Beyond the Bell, we sit down with junior Graham Farrar, who has made a name for himself as a professional photographer and film producer. From balancing classwork and business, to handling and communicating with people, Graham gives us his expertise and personal perspective to inform, and perhaps motivate others to start their own business.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:08

You're listening to Beyond the Bell, a student-produced podcast from Mount Pisgah Christian School. I'm Parker Sue, and this podcast is a space where students, teachers, and the whole community can connect. Here, we believe that every person has a story to tell, and we want to bring those stories to life. Today's guest will be our own Grand Perrar, who has made a name and a profit for himself with the Sports Photography and Video Production Company. He started this business three years ago, and we will be doing a deep dive in what it takes to start up and well as maintain your own business, as well as the aspects of hard work, passion, and dedication that are included as well. Without further ado, let's get into it. What first pulled you toward photography and video work, and when did you realize it could become more than just like a hobby?

SPEAKER_00 0:49

Yeah, so I started doing I'd say what really pulled me in is I used to do a lot of like acting in front of the camera. So I was on a Hulu TV show probably around like eighth grade year, and I literally seeing the cameras behind the scenes was so cool because these are huge like IMAX cameras, and I was fascinated by them. And obviously, you know, I have a I have a job to do. I have to obviously you know act, but I was like, I kinda wanna like be behind the cameras, and I think my love for um love for being in front of the camera really wanted me to also kind of explore what it was like to be behind the camera and actually like capture the content.

SPEAKER_01 1:26

Was there like a specific moment where you decided, look, I'm gonna do this like photography stuff and video stuff on my own?

SPEAKER_00 1:33

Yeah, um I I mean it was probably after I bought my first camera and I made like a really good connection. I got to film a NBA player, and I was like, I kind of realized at that moment I was like, this is not just a hobby, like this is turning into a business.

SPEAKER_01 1:54

What did the early days of building your business look like? Like the good, the chaotic, and the kind of unexpected aspect of it?

SPEAKER_00 2:00

Yeah, I mean it there was a lot of like ups and downs, especially because you know, doing something you haven't really done, you have to learn how to obviously with photography, like you know, how to edit photos and make them like look good, how to and for videos, you know, how to actually edit a video. And I I think something that I struggled with really early on was um how long my videos were because I I look back at my page and I'm like, why did I upload a 10-minute hype video? Like I that's looking at myself now, I was like, I would I would never post something like that long, but it's like learning the process of like how to build my company was it's it's incredible.

SPEAKER_01 2:42

What were the biggest challenges you faced when transitioning from creative talent to your own business owner?

SPEAKER_00 2:49

Probably um biggest challenges. I mean, obviously, you know, building business, there's obviously so many challenges that you have to face. I think a big one for me was figuring out my worth. Because I mean, all photographers have different prices, they have different packages, you have different things you could buy, you could get video and photo, and like figuring figuring out where my part in this, like where I value myself and say, Hey, I know my worth with my quality, um, how much you're getting, and figuring out how to say, okay, yeah, this is what you're getting for X price.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

How did you learn to like balance the artistics out of your work with like the business side, like price pricing, marketing, and client management?

SPEAKER_00 3:38

Yeah, um it's hard to balance it. You know, there's so many things because you have to make yourself available to everyone. Because let's say, for example, I'm sick a week and I had two people reach out, those are two clients that I can't, I won't be able to use anymore. Yeah, so it's like my job is solely to work for the person I'm I'm shooting or I'm videoing, and it's interesting to see like the relationships I've built over time. Because it I mean, if I look at like when I first started, I mean I knew our head coach for basketball, and that was like my best connection, but now I know the head of um like the head of media at Georgia Tech. It's like you over the course of like years learning how to manage the relationships I've built has really elevated my business.

SPEAKER_01 4:31

Are there any skills that you had to develop that you didn't expect to need when you started your business?

SPEAKER_00 4:37

There's a couple. Obviously, like with videography, learning how to use like editing software is probably the key to like how I kept my business or how I keep my business going is like always trying something new and like finding more ways to not be like everyone else. Um that that was a big thing. And the second one was saying no, like telling myself, hey, like there's I I put way too much stress on me, I have to say no to some clients. And it's not because I don't want to be like, I'm not trying to be rude or anything, but it's like I have to keep my sanity in order because I don't want to have a burnout, and having a burnout like and doing a creative business is probably one of the hardest things you can come back from.

SPEAKER_01 5:20

How do you maintain your creative voice while still delivering what clients need?

SPEAKER_00 5:26

One thing that I really love with my clients is obviously like let's say I'm I'm filming a video, I say, Hey, do you have like a specific song that you want? And nine times out of ten, they're like, No, man, like do do whatever you want. And then when I like before I even go to a shoot, I'm thinking of ideas, I'm thinking of songs, how I want the video to look. This recent project that I did for Elevate the City, the it was a huge Christian event for like teens, and I was talking to the owner, and he was like, You guys have full creative liberty to like do whatever you want, and immediately I was like, I just started thinking, Oh, I have songs I can use from this playlist, I have editing styles I can do, and it's like being able to have the full creative control about what I want to film, but also at the same time knowing, hey, if the client wants this, I have to adhere to that, or it becomes a messy relationship.

SPEAKER_01 6:23

What does your process look like from the moment a client reaches out to the final delivery of a project?

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Yeah, so the like moment someone asks me or like DMs me, hey, can I get a video? I am like I try to respond as soon as possible because deals don't last forever. And you can have someone reach out, say, I don't know, you can have like a 30-minute window, and in that 30 minutes, you know, you don't get a response back. They can find someone else who's doing it for maybe the same quality for cheaper. So it's like I have to be on top of things, and then obviously finding out what sport it is, um, what you know music they want, where it is, all these different things, and like uh let's after like I film their sport, their event, whatever is really on the table, and then sitting down and saying, Okay, here is what I thought of, here is what I can use, and then like combing through everything, finding the right clips to use, editing, adding the effects, the whole transitions, the cool stuff you see on Instagram, that's like okay, that's a cool video. And then the moment I get to that delivery is like that's like the make or break point. So if they like the product and then they're like perfect, we're gonna use this, my job is finished. If they don't like the product, then you know I have to go back, re-revise some things, change some things up, and you know that always usually happens. I mean, it's probably like a 50-50 shot I have to change something, but and then the moment that we were able to post it, my my job's finished. And then that's that's like my entire process.

SPEAKER_01 8:00

I'm kind of curious about this, but are there any like certain projects in particular to push to creatively or taught you something new about your craft that you didn't know?

SPEAKER_00 8:09

Ooh, probably well, I have two. One of them was probably when I shot at overtime, because it's a it's a whole it's a different environment being there. Um, you know, it's a obviously, you know, it's a it's a huge, it's a it's a decent sized arena, and knowing my boundaries, where I can be and where I can't be, and trying to find those creative mixes, because anyone can really get into overtime, it's super easy to apply and get in. But trying to make my video different, that's where like I really had to sit down and think where what can I do different? Where can I stand to make a uh a cool effect, things like that. And then the second one was probably when I was at Georgia Tech when they played Virginia Tech, because college is a whole different world than high school football. I mean, obviously, like with the talent, the size, the coaching, and even the environment is completely different, but there's a lot of limitations. Like, I can't be behind the players, I have to be on literally one side of the field, there's a small barrier to cross, and I'm on the other side, and like trying to figure out okay, I can be on the field for this part, but after that, you have to haul back to the sidelines. And learning how to like make a video from probably four different spots and how to make it different and make and keep like the viewer entertained, that really taught me how to change my workflow.

SPEAKER_01 9:36

So, could you kind of elaborate on overtime and what that is? Is it for the listeners that don't know?

SPEAKER_00 9:42

Yeah, so Overtime, which that is a parent, that's a parent company. Overtime is a huge sports, um, sports broadcasting, sports media, kind of like it's literally sports everything. They're they're high school sports. They that's probably like one of the top prop like places you can play as a high school basketball player. So they're they're located in Atlanta, Georgia, and Atlantic Station, and they have a huge arena. I mean, this is like where kids who go to the NBA play. But literally, that's like the top echelon of high school basketball, and it's all spec'd out. Literally, it looks like a small Division I arena.

SPEAKER_01 10:22

What's something people misunderstand about being a self-employed photographer and video producer?

SPEAKER_00 10:28

It's not just clicking buttons, it's there's so much that has to go on behind the scenes to try and make myself different from other, like from other creatives, because there's a lot of people who could pick up the camera and say, Okay, yeah, I'm gonna go take a photo of this sport, and boom, that's it. But being a creative and understanding like this is a business, and I have to make myself different to continue keeping clients and continue making a re like making a revenue, it's a whole different game because I have to be different than everyone else. And I think with creativity, it's almost subjective to you as a person because I have different thoughts than you, and when it comes to like videography and photography, I have a different shot list, I have a different um way I like to edit my photos, and it's making myself different that really makes the difference.

SPEAKER_01 11:26

Yeah, it's about standing out, right? Yeah. How do you handle slow seasons, creative burnout, or the pressure to constantly find new clients?

SPEAKER_00 11:34

Uh creative burnout's a hard one. Because I I've had one time where I had a real bad creative burnout, and I didn't pick up my camera for around a month, and I mean I was I I couldn't think of any ideas, and it's just like you don't get excited about doing what you love, and I I think that's what hurts a lot of people, and that's what kind of make her makes her break like an amateur from a professional. And I mean, it was for a month. I I didn't pick up the camera, I didn't open premiere, didn't edit photos, didn't really respond to anyone on Instagram, and then I think what was really cool is I I literally called on God and I was like, I don't know what to do. I I feel so burnt out, and I asked for you know moments where I could find myself creative again and like you know, say this is what I want to do. And literally that's what he did, you know, he gave me an opportunity at Georgia Tech, and that's kind of when I was like, I kind of I found that spark again, and I was excited to be back doing what I love. I mean with slow and then like for slow seasons like where you don't really get anyone. Um I usually always have something deep in the GF media files. There's so much stuff that I haven't posted. Like old clips, I could really make like a I think I have overtime clips I just haven't used since like I don't know, like early February. And it's like I can always do something behind the scenes to try and keep my viewership up because if my viewership is down on my like Instagram page, it will it'll it really affects everything. It'll take me off the for you page, it'll not elevate my page to a bunch of other people.

SPEAKER_01 13:26

Are there any systems or habits that you have to help you stay organized and consistent in your work?

SPEAKER_00 13:32

Yeah, um, you know, I I it probably goes down to editing. Like, obviously, like with my laptop, I could really edit anywhere I want, but I find that I do my best work when I'm sitting at my desk locked in, and it's usually I mean, I I could probably sit at my desk for eight hours a day just trying to edit, trying to find something new, compared to like let's say I'm sitting outside trying to just like get it done. Like the thing that really has helped me is like just staying focused and staying locked into like editing, and it always it always helps from there.

SPEAKER_01 14:12

What do you like call growth? Like, what does it look for like for you, like creatively, financially, or just personally?

SPEAKER_00 14:19

Creatively is like finding a new style or finding something that makes my profile different. Um, and having people say, Oh yeah, that's the this guy. He does X thing, like he does the 0.5 photos, he does the super cool low shutter like photos where it looks like it's in motion. Like that's what I think growth is for me, is like also having a good clientele where like they want to continue to come back, and then personally, you know, if I feel proud of my work, like if I can look back and say, I don't know, in six months, look back at today, like something, and I was like, you know what, I'm different from how I was six months ago. Like, I feel like I've improved. That's what I call growth.

SPEAKER_01 15:08

If someone listening wanted to start their own creative business, what would be the first step you would tell them to take?

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Don't sell yourself short. You know, know your worth. There was a huge time where I let a lot of people take advantage of me and my business, and looking back, I would I would say you have to know your worth. And like, don't give up when like it gets hard, because there's gonna be so many times, even outside of like photography and creative and business where things are gonna get hard and you're gonna want to quit, but in my words, my mom didn't raise a quitter. Like, I'm I'm gonna fight for everything that I love, I'm gonna fight for the things that I find true value in. And it's like just don't give up. Like, it's gonna be hard, but you know, you have to you have to go through the valleys to get to the mountains.

SPEAKER_01 16:00

If you could tell yourself one thing that you when you started your photography career, what would you tell them?

SPEAKER_00 16:07

Make connections everywhere you go. Like, I think that's something I really like missed out on my first year of doing like photography and videography, because I was like so in my head, I like, and actually I probably would have told myself to lower my ego. Like, I was so in my head thinking I was the best, and then I would like watch another person, and I would be like, Oh, yeah, I'm better than them. But in reality, like the key to be successful is lowering your ego in like this business, because there's always, and this isn't like me trying to like shoot anyone down, but there's always gonna be someone who is better than you who you're going to look up to, and being able to like make those connections and reach out and say, Hey, like, I wanna be like, I want to have my business like yours. I want to know how that edit like you can you like help me out, teach me, and building those connections, those can set you up for life.

SPEAKER_01 17:02

Would you say that's your biggest lesson that entrepreneurship has taught you?

SPEAKER_00 17:08

Biggest lesson. Um, yeah, making connections literally everywhere you go. I have a great story about I was at Georgia Tech and I was in the I was in the press box. They whenever you're at a like college game and you're in the press box, they always make food for everyone there. So there's always sports writers there, there's like ESPN, CBS, they're always there, you know, they have their whole setup, you know, the announcer. So they have they have food for everyone. And I'm I was the youngest person at that game in the press box because it's a it's uncommon to it's very unlikely to see like a 16-year-old like in a college football press box, let alone a top 25 team, which still is insane. And I sat down, I was at this table. I was thinking about myself because I was so nervous, I was like, I don't want to say anything like too weird, I want to get kicked out, and these two guys sat down, and you know, I was having a conversation with them, and I was like, hey, um, do you have like a LinkedIn to like so we can stay connected? And they were like, Yeah, and I typed in their LinkedIn, and the guy was the head announcer for the Virginia Tech News, the other guy was working for um, I think K dudes, and I was like, What? Like, you just casually meet like these people, and I'm like, I just see them as people, not like some crazy elevated people. And I was like, that's great. And I'm walking down to go get my media vest in the elevator, and this guy walks in, and he's like, Oh, you going to get a media vest? I was like, Yeah, and he's like, he looked at me a little, he looked at me like a little like strange, and I was like, he was like, What's your name? And I was like, Oh, I'm I'm I'm Graham. He's like, Graham Ferrar. That moment I'm thinking, oh, I'm I'm screwed. Like, they're they they let me in, guys. They let me in. I don't know. Like they they messed something up. And he was like, You're the kid that applied for to like be on the field, and I was like, Yeah, and he was like, I'm surprised you he was like, I'm happy you got in, and I was like, Yeah. And he was like, I he was like, Oh, I probably didn't introduce myself, and I don't remember his name off the top of my head, but he runs all like the media. He he's probably like I think he's the head media director for Georgia Tech. And he remembered me by name, and I was like, that is a connection that I'm going to like save for life. And I applied for another game, but I didn't get in, and he actually emailed me privately. He was like, Hey, like, we have a lot of people on our field, and I just want to make sure we can we're not breaking any NCAA rules. He's like, Next year, when you like, if you apply next year, I will definitely be able to like let you in for a couple more games. And I was like, I now have an in at Georgia Tech because I just said hi. And obviously because I was 16 and Georgia Tech, but still, and it like looking back at it, I called my mom and I was like, I just made this really cool connection, and she was like, You can't lose sight of that connection. She and she explained, she was like, that connection is probably gonna be worth more than my entire business, and it's like I rat I would rather have my connections to like NBA, NFL, college over the qual, like how much gear I have, or the newest camera. Literally, I think the biggest lesson I think I've learned in this business is just to say hi to people. Because you never know where that's gonna take you.

SPEAKER_01 20:35

Definitely, that's super cool. How has entrepreneurship shaped who you are today?

SPEAKER_00 20:41

Um, it's made me more mature. Um you know, it's obviously running a business. There's if you you're put under a lot of stress, and you know, I'm obviously not running like a huge like multi-million dollar business, but I'm still running a business where I have to like talk to people and I have to say, this is my work. I I literally have to almost sell myself, sell my sell my brand, sell my products to a person. Because what's a made me a really good salesman, because you know, I'm able to convince, hey, you know, you're doing photos, why not add like a video on top to try a and get a more better profit, but b also it makes me more mature because I have to like talk to people, and you know, talking to people out of the blue is it's something, you know, because you don't know the person, you're trying to get to know them, form a connection, but you have like a motive behind that because you want to be able to say, Hey, it's great to meet you, I'm a videographer, let's get working. So I think being more mature and understanding how to talk to adults, how to talk to kids, how to sell my brand, that's really like the most important part that I've like learned from running my business.

SPEAKER_01 21:54

Is there anything in the future that you're like seriously looking forward to? Any like events or like growing your company further something like that?

SPEAKER_00 22:02

Yeah definitely. I think the biggest thing for me is like college. That's obviously where you're gonna meet like a lot of people and you can have a huge um you can have a huge make or break. And with the schools that I'm choosing, I'm really like trying to get connected with like some of these creatives. For well my top school right now is like Ohio State and Indiana. So I'm really trying to stay connected with people from Ohio State and Indiana because I want to be able to say hey I get it I got in like I want to intern at the athletic facility. Like I want to help make the content and it's like I think I'm ready for to experience my business and take it to where I'm shooting college games every every Saturday like traveling with the team making content. I think that's what I'm really just like looking forward to in the future. What would you say was your most memorable or like your coolest experience you'd like to share like any cool people popular names you met any Yeah um this past week I got to film for a company called Elevate the City and there was a huge Christian youth night and being able to a have creative freedom but B also glorify God's name in my work I mean and that I think that was probably my favorite experience just because I got to do something I love while literally proclaiming the name of Jesus in my work and it was just so so special.

SPEAKER_01 23:31

Where can listeners find your work or connect with you if they want to see your content?

SPEAKER_00 23:36

You can you know find me on Instagram GF Media find me on TikTok I think that's still G4 Productions LinkedIn if you guys want my LinkedIn I'm almost at a thousand connections we're gonna get that up to a thousand soon Facebook or you know you can really talk to me because I'm always open open to work but um yeah GF Media on Instagram Graham thank you for your time and your expertise with entrepreneurship and hopefully to our listeners perhaps you can be interested in starting your own company and taking some inspiration