We asked some of the brightest and most thoughtful entrepreneurs, artists and creatives in the community to tell us about something they believe that most people in their space disagree with and we’ve shared highlights below.

Bailey Hill

In the wedding industry as a vendor it is an incredibly personal and difficult decision as to when you’re officially ready to responsibly be apart of someone’s wedding day. I believe that only you can know for yourself when this time comes but most in the industry would probably disagree and say otherwise – or at least that was the case before Covid when “community over competition” wasn’t as prominent as it is now. As if someone else is qualified to tell you what you can do, how soon, and what your path should look like. Our careers are different from other professions because it is not one we have to do but “we get to do.” Determining when you are ready for such a privilege looks different for everyone. Read more>>

Marcus Marcelli

In my particular field, I try to create and produce stories that matter for the big screen. This is something as simple as revolutionary in the times we live in today. We are now used to poor storytelling and endless movie sagas that repeat the same narrative repeatedly. Somehow there is the disbelief that all the stories have been told already and that now we are running out of ideas, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Nowadays there are very few good movies because no one dares to tell fresh stories for many reasons. However, the times are changing fast and soon the audience will be demanding good shows capable of speaking about untold truths. This is my mission and my statement, to bring back the art of storytelling in the movie business. Read more>>

Michael Greenwood

Hard work pays off… No it doesn’t. Work on the right thing, and yes, certainly you’ll get where you want to go. I see too many people, especially in the film industry, burning the candle at both ends – arbitrarily working hours and hours all to collect the accolade of being “busy.” Read more>>

Keri

Weddings are expensive. According to a report by CNN most couples are spending an average of $29,000 per wedding and even more in major cities. A lot of people are looking for ways to save money on their budget – DIY for decorations or flowers, smaller guest lists, or having a friend get ordained to perform your wedding. This last part isn’t just a money-saving tactic; many people think there is no way a total stranger can know them as well as a friend or family member. I am here to prove that wrong. Read more>>

Jen Montgomery

You don’t need to pick a niche unless you want to. While it’s a great strategy for some and can be a fast track to mastery, I have always felt very limited by the idea of picking one customer to create one thing in one style for. After decades of creating various things, I can tell you that you can be successful working on multiple kinds of projects. It might just take longer to achieve traditional ‘success.’ Work for years (even decades) to build proficiency in various related skills, and eventually, with your unique talent stack, YOU become the niche. Having expertise in varied areas helps you stay booked as a freelancer, too. Clients appreciate the ability to collaborate on a wide range of projects. I can create, art direct, or refer out just about anything we dream up. Read more>>

Joy Brooker

That having a college degree is overrated. Unfortunately I know a lot of people who graduated and either ended up in a completely different field altogether, or struggled so much to get a job in their field that they gave up. I have found most of my success through hands-on experience and making the right connections. Read more>>

Dani Guevarez

In the competitive realm of my industry, individuals often pursue fame relentlessly, claiming they wouldn’t compromise their values, yet succumbing if the price is enticing. There’s a pervasive notion known as “selling your soul,” where for the right compensation, one might do anything for fame or wealth. Drawing from my 15 years of experience, I’ve reached a profound realization—an entertainer bears the responsibility of positively influencing others. Personally, I’m committed to influencing towards salvation. While my business isn’t exclusively Christian, I operate it with Christian principles, believing it’s the duty of Christians to radiate their light in ways that can bring about positive change on a grand scale. Read more>>

Vinnie Urdea

I think one thing that makes our video production team at Halteres Associates different is that we don’t believe in making content for the lowest common denominator; my working philosophy is that audiences of any type can sense when they are being talked down to, and by speaking UP to our audience, by not doubting their intelligence or their power of perception, we get that audience ON our side, as equals. That is invaluable in my business of making video content explaining complex technical information, because, in my opinion, when an audience senses they are being talked down to, they instantly become either A) a pupil who is childlike in their desire to be spoonfed the information, and have no desire to “work” to put the pieces together, or B) an adversary, who is growing impatient and must be *convinced* that this is worth their time. Read more>>

Joseph Filer

The subject that landscape photographers have a difference with each other on is the amount of processing that is acceptable with a photograph. In today’s world, the amount of differences has grown even more with the addition of artificial intelligence. I tend to fall somewhere in the middle on this. A raw digital negative can be a dull and lifeless image that no one would want to purchase as artwork for their wall. Read more>>