We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bobby Garner a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Bobby, 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?

Fortunately, I’ve been able to turn my creative work into a full-time career—but it didn’t start out that way.

Right out of college, I worked in the marketing departments of a few small businesses. That season was huge for me. I was able to sharpen my craft in photography and videography, but I also picked up skills in design, branding, and strategy. I wasn’t just creating — I was learning how businesses think and how marketing actually drives results. That foundation has been invaluable.

I knew early on that I wanted to build something of my own in the creative space — offering photo, video, and design for brands and businesses. While working my full-time marketing job, I began filming weddings on the weekends. At the time, weddings were a great way to build experience, confidence, and cash flow. As my skills and interests evolved, that work gradually transitioned into more corporate and commercial projects.

I put in the grind — late nights, early mornings — until I built enough consistent bookings and relationships to take the leap into running my business full time. From there, it became about connection: meeting local business owners, delivering great work, and building long-term partnerships. By the grace of God, I’ve been able to turn what I love into my livelihood.

Looking back, I don’t think I would speed up the process even if I could. At the time, I thought I was ready for certain opportunities that, honestly, I wasn’t prepared for yet. The slower growth forced me to refine my skills, learn from mistakes, and mature as both a creative and a business owner. The journey shaped me just as much as the success did.

And I’m so grateful for that!

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?

I’m a St. Louis–based creative and the owner of True Creative. Funny enough, this all started as a hobby—skateboarding. I picked up a camera just to make cool videos with my friends. That was it. No big vision—just filming tricks and putting together edits for fun.

Somewhere along the way, though, that shifted. What started as fun turned into a real passion for storytelling. I realized I didn’t just enjoy filming—I loved shaping a story and getting better with every project. It wasn’t until my junior year of college that I started to see this as a real career path. At first, I thought I’d probably work for a company doing something creative but I didn’t know exactly what that would be. Over time, that shifted into wanting to build something of my own.

Today, through True Creative, I partner with brands and businesses across St. Louis to deliver high-impact video production, commercial photography, and design. We work with both startups and established companies to create strategic visual content—from brand films and corporate videos to marketing assets and social media campaigns. A large part of my work now is built around ongoing monthly partnerships, helping local businesses consistently show up online with strong, intentional photo and video content. Recently, I’ve also had the opportunity to work with St. Louis City SC—filming matches and creating hype content for the team—which has been an incredible experience.

What clients often tell me — and what means the most — is that I listen. I take the time to understand their vision and then help bring it to life in a way that feels authentic. Whether it’s capturing the joy of an early learning school, the emotion of a live sporting event, or the professionalism of a corporate brand, I want the work to feel real. Not forced. Not overproduced. Just honest and impactful.

At the end of the day, I want clients to feel confident when they hire me. Confident that I’ll show up prepared. Confident that I’ll care about their project like it’s my own. And confident that they’re getting my full effort every single time. I think what sets us apart is that we offer a full scope of creative services under one roof, but also that we value relationships just as much as the final product. Many of my clients turn into long-term partners, and that trust means everything.

What I’m most proud of isn’t just the projects — it’s the fact that I’ve been able to build something that supports my growing family. That’s a blessing I don’t take lightly. I’m also proud of the relationships and connections I’ve made along the way. This business has introduced me to so many incredible people in our city.

My faith is a huge part of who I am and how I operate. There have definitely been moments of uncertainty — wondering if the work will keep coming or if I’m making the right decisions — but God has always provided. I believe the abilities I have are gifts, and I try to steward them well. One thing I won’t compromise on is integrity. I won’t cut corners, misrepresent a brand, or deliver something I’m not proud of just to get the job done faster.

I want people to know that I’m passionate about what I do. No matter the size of the project, I’m going to give it everything I have. At the end of the day, my goal is simple: deliver the best work I’m capable of and build something meaningful while doing it.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My goal is to continue growing True Creative into a small, tight-knit team and to work with national commercial and sports brands. I want to build something sustainable — not just for myself, but for the people I bring alongside me — where we can consistently create meaningful, high-quality work.

At the core of it, my mission is to tell stories that feel real and impactful while maintaining integrity in how we work. I want to collaborate with brands that value creativity, trust the process, and care about the people behind the camera just as much as the final product. Whether it’s commercial work or sports storytelling, the goal is always the same: create work we’re proud of, build strong relationships, and continue growing without losing sight of why we started in the first place.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Networking has been the most effective strategy for growing my clientele — simply getting out there, meeting people, and building genuine relationships. A lot of opportunities have come from being present, having conversations, and staying connected within the local business and creative community.

At the same time, consistently creating work has been just as important. Early on, not everything I made was perfect — and that’s okay. Building a portfolio is about showing progression, not perfection. The more you create, the more you learn, and the stronger your work becomes over time. Momentum builds naturally when you stay active, keep putting your work out there, and let the growth happen as it’s supposed to.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://truecreativestl.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecreativestl/