Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Audrey Chappell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Audrey, thanks for joining us today. So, let’s imagine that you were advising someone who wanted to start something similar to you and they asked you what you would do differently in the startup-process knowing what you know now. How would you respond?
As a freelance videographer reflecting on my journey as a small business owner, I learned invaluable lessons that shaped my approach to my craft and business. If I were go back in time and start this journey anew, I would streamline my efforts to focus on building stronger networks and skills.
I am thankful for the relationships and life lessons I encountered while in college- however, for a videographer, it was the less-efficient route for my future goals. The field of videography relies on practical skills, creativity, and hands-on experience, which can often be acquired through self-learning, mentorships and real-world experience. Additionally, the cost of tuition and the time investment could have been better spent honing my craft and networking within the industry. A vast majority of the skills I learned and contacts acquired were gained outside of my university; through production assistant gigs, relative employment opportunities and (what I like to call) YouTube University.
Formal education is highly beneficial to some in the media field- not to mention, college is a blast! However, with the rapid growth of technology and digital media in our field and the dynamic creativity and practical skills needed to thrive, a college route may set one back on their goals as an aspiring videographer/photographer; as I believe it did for me. For any aspiring videographer/photographer, I recommend saving their time and money on a degree- invest it into their craft, make connections, find mentors in the field and never stop learning!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Hi! My name is Audrey. I am freelance videographer/photographer and a veteran. My passion for visual storytelling ignited during my middle school years, where I found joy behind the lens. What started off in the school’s student-lead news segment soon blossomed into a full-fledged creative career.
As a starting point, I went the college route. I was accepted into Northwest Missouri State University in their broadcast production degree program. Realizing a broke 19-year-old had no possible way to pay tens of thousands of dollars a year, I enlisted into the Missouri Air National Guard in 2015 as a broadcast journalist. In addition to free college, I gained invaluable experience and skills relative to the media field throughout my military service; through the technical schools, extremely helpful contacts and mentors and real-world experience. Finally, during the COVID years, I dived into the preconceived scary world of self-employment and never looked back.
I provide a range of visual content services tailored for a variety of clientele, from beautiful wedding films, to immersive music videos and captivating event coverage. I hold the story-telling aspect in the highest regard when capturing and editing my content. My priority as a digital story teller is to deliver compelling visual narratives that resonate with my clients and their audience, and help them stand out in a crowded digital landscape.
What I believe sets me apart is my unwavering commitment to telling my client’s story, by mapping out their vision and capturing raw human emotion candidly. I pride myself on my ability to convey the essence of a story and translate it into impactful visuals that leave a lasting impression. I’m most proud of the relationships I’ve built with my clients, many of whom became repeat clients and friends. Potential clients can count on me to bring their vision to life with passion, professionalism, and a little magic.
Have you ever had to pivot?
It wasn’t originally my dream to be a self-made videographer. My goal was to be a news journalist.
As a teen, I fell for the “art isn’t a career” narrative. Like many others working in creative fields, I was brainwashed by family and educators to think film was never a realistic career path. Consequently, I perused a career in broadcast journalism to compromise with all the nay-sayers . Only a couple years into my college years, I realized news journalism is boring as hell.
Luckily, throughout my military career, I worked alongside many talented creators who guided me toward the artistic view of the camera. Armed with those rockstar mentors, a college-developed skill to tell a story, and some techniques picked up from YouTube, I pivoted my path toward creative videography. It took a lot of hard work, patience and hustle, but art absolutely CAN be a career.
Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.
Absolutely! Freelance videography began as a side hustle, but it swiftly evolved into my full-time career, unexpectedly.
During the height of COVID, I was freshly graduated from college, serving for the Air Guard’s COVID efforts, and desperately needing a fulltime civilian job for when the pandemic ended. I picked up a contractor gig for the Army, but was looking to get the heck out of that job as soon as I could. (As I’m sure anyone working in the Army can relate to that!)
COVID created a high desire for videography for remote audiences, and was responsible for an abundant of delayed weddings. On the side, I would take on some videography gigs in order to continue learning and create a name for myself- not yet planning on making it a fulltime career.
As they say the universe works in mysterious ways. Unexpectedly, the contract for my job was voided at such a perfect time. The demand for videographers was at an all-time high. As the demand for my services grew, I made the bold decision to dedicate myself fully to freelance videography.
The biggest milestone along the way was becoming completely self-sufficient and marketable- skills I never grasped before. Through perseverance, dedication, and a relentless pursuit of excellence, my side hustle blossomed into a thriving business that continues to exceed my wildest expectations today.
Contact Info:
- Website: arcmediavideo.com
- Instagram: @a.r.c.media
- Facebook: ARC Media LLC
- Youtube: ARC Media LLC
Image Credits
All photos by Audrey Chappell (Air Force Tech. Sgt.)