We were lucky to catch up with Susan Gomez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Susan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the story of how you went from this being just an idea to making it into something real.

I’ve had this idea of starting my own business for a long time. Back in middle school, I was determined to become a YouTube content creator. I recorded weekly videos and was consistently posting on my channel until my senior year of high school. Unfortunately, I had to stop when I got a serving job and began applying to colleges. While that dream was put on hold, I’ve always been driven to find a way to keep creating.

It wasn’t until July 2023 where I took it upon myself to create a email, website, and Instagram page to show off what I’m capable of. The one challenge I faced was owning an industry professional camera. At the time, I only had an old Canon DSLR and digital camera. Although they were decent, my old cameras didn’t inspire me to create, so I decided to start fresh. Thankfully, I saved up for new equipment and purchased the Sony A7IV with a Sigma 24-70mm lens. Buying my first professional camera finally gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams of being a digital creator.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

My name is Susan Gomez and my business is SusanGomezMedia (SG MEDIA for short). I am a photographer, videographer, editor, and digital creator. I recently graduated this year, 2024, with my AS Degree in Digital Media: Video Production! I strive to produce high-quality visual content across a range of industries including graduation, events, festivals, artists, concerts, and brands. Having launched my business in 2023, I’ve had the opportunity to work with talented artists like Ian Asher, Flux Pavilion, BIJOU, and MADGRRL.

I actually started out as a news anchor at my elementary school and continued to pursue TV Production classes throughout middle and high school. Not only did I love being in front of the camera, but I also discovered my love for all things digital media. From editing YouTube videos, to recording my vacation trips, to photographing graduation photos for friends, I’ve found a genuine passion for capturing and sharing moments that one can look back on forever. Digital media has always been relevant in my life and will continue as I pursue this dream.

I’m really proud of how far I’ve come. What started as a school and Summer hobby, quickly turned into a career. Building relationships in the industry and meeting other creatives has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally while expanding my network and opportunities. The journey seemed impossible at first, but once you execute those ideas into reality it will all fall into place.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I built my social media presence by being myself and interacting with my audience. In 2023, I started my Instagram from scratch, knowing no one in the industry and having no followers. It wasn’t until I followed festivals, concerts, and music artists that I started discovering the creators behind the posts and following them because of their talent. Interacting with creators by liking their posts and commenting on their page can go a long way. I love showing support to other creatives and who knows? The person you connect with on social media could help you land a gig or teach you something new!

My biggest advice would be to get involved in your community. Whether that’s through Instagram, Discord, TikTok, or YouTube, there are so many talented people to discover and learn from. Getting to know the people in your industry can build relationships and form connections that will grow your social media presence!

Are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I found out about NTA (No Travel Agency) in 2023 when I was just starting out my business. “NTA” is a community for artists, management, crew, and creatives working together in the music industry. There is a Discord server with a bunch of channels to browse and talk to other like-minded people who are also pursuing media. I gained a lot of knowledge, formed strong relationships, and secured work opportunities through them. I am forever grateful to Matt Cary (Lead of NTA) for providing this space. Another Discord server that I recommend is RYW Worldwide (Respectable Young Woman). This was created by @amandabfilms on Instagram for woman in the creative space industry. Two amazing communities that I’m so glad to be a part of in my creative journey!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://susangomezmedia.myportfolio.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/susangomezmedia?igsh=MTI1ajZyc3BxNzc5OA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-gomez-521aa92b5?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Image Credits

@hxphy
@eemyaj.visuals
@proxymatter