We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dominic Cappelletti. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dominic below.

Dominic , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

Yeah, I’ve been able to make a full-time living from my creative work, but it was nowhere near that from day one. Early on it was pure grind! Late nights…. I mean walking in the door at 10am from a shoot that started at 6pm the day before. Saying yes to anything that kept the lights on, and constantly reinvesting every dollar back into the business.

The real shift came when I started locking in big clients, building relationships that turned into repeat work, and learning how to properly price for the value we bring. That’s when things stopped feeling like a hustle and started feeling like a career.

One of the biggest challenges in our industry, especially in concert videography and photography is the flood of uneducated creatives who undervalue their work. It drives rates down and hurts everybody. But we stayed firm. We kept believing in the quality of what we do, held the line on pricing, and pushed to deliver at a level that couldn’t be ignored. That’s how we persevered and came out on top.

If I could do it faster? I’d have started saying “no” to the wrong jobs sooner and focused earlier on building those high-value relationships. That’s the real shortcut.

Dominic , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I run Nightmode Video, a New York–based video production company that lives and breathes concerts and live events. When I started, it was just me with a camera, hustling to shoot maybe 20 shows a year. fast forward, and now we’re covering 20 shows a week and over 400 events a year. It’s been a f**ckin wild ride.

Over the years, we’ve worked with everyone from Slayer to Taylor Swift, plus some of the biggest names in electronic music. We’ve been right in the middle of it all. Helping shape how the scene looks and feels, both on stage and online.

We handle everything from multi-cam concert coverage and live streaming to photography, BTS, and high-impact event edits. But what really sets us apart isn’t just the gear or the scale—it’s how we make these shows feel as big online as they do in person. That’s what drives excitement, sells tickets, and builds lasting brands.

This industry has its challenges. It’s full of talented but unseasoned creatives who undervalue their work, and that race to the bottom hurts everyone. We refused to play that game. We believed in the quality of what we do, stayed committed to our value, and kept delivering at a level that couldn’t be ignored. That’s how we went from scraping by to being trusted with the biggest shows in the world.

What I’m most proud of? We never lost the spark that got us here. We still get fired up before every shoot, we still chase those “holy sh*t” moments, and we still care about telling the story of every show like it actually matters, because it does.

If there’s one thing I want people to know about us, it’s this: when you work with Nightmode, you’re not hiring a vendor. You’re getting a crew that’s lived this grind, grown with the culture, and knows exactly how to turn your event into something unforgettable.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

Absolutely… retainers!!

Early on, I was living project to project, constantly chasing the next gig just to keep things moving. If I had understood the power of retainers sooner. Locking in steady work and predictable cash flow. It would’ve taken so much pressure off.

It’s a game-changer for creatives: instead of scrambling, you can focus on doing your best work and building real relationships with clients who stick around.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, it’s all about reach and impact. Even in the darkest times, we get to bring something positive into the world. Through music and the experiences we help create, we’re giving people a chance to feel something real. Moments they might not have been able to access without our work.

That’s the reward: knowing we’re not just capturing shows. We’re amplifying them, turning them into something that can move people everywhere, long after the lights go down.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Nightmodevideo.com
• Instagram: nightmodevideo
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightmodevideo/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/nightmode