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

Ben, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

As a young boy I was always captivated by the “magic” of cinema. Having experienced trauma at a young age, it was often my escape; a time when my mind would leave our reality for an hour or two. Beautiful portraits or cinematic shots would remind me of the beauty in life. The dream was always to be in the film industry i guess, but as i grew up that dream would take on new forms. The fact that a movie could make me feel sadness, joy, anger, ect. all while sitting in a theatre or on my couch at home blew my mind. The storytelling one could do just from changing the framing of a scene, moving objects around, or merely getting a new angle started to fascinate me. I wanted to make people experience these emotions through my work. Whether it be a portrait or video, I wanted my work to captivate. I want my work to offer the same escape I found as a young boy. There is so much beauty around us that so easily gets corrupted. The joy of a bride on her wedding day, an artist in their element, an athlete leaving it all on the field. There is so much to show in the world and i get to choose how I want to display it. Maybe one project will make people smile and bubble up with joy, and the next will create a sense of awe and wonder. All that to say is, my mission is to bring passion back to people’s lives through my work, because i pour all of my passion into what i do. As a Videographer, a Photographer, and this year moving into acting and directing, I want my work to inspire people to keep going. Life is too short to focus on the ugly, instead find the beauty.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I started off as a photographer, doing landscapes, portraits and the likes. Originally I had the idea of capturing what i saw life to be; what it was to me. I took photos of the things around me; the cityscapes, the people, the views. Photos captured memories and feelings for me, and i wanted to do that for others. I did senior photos, weddings, headshots, and my own creative shoots. I still offer photography packages. My next endeavor was getting into videography. After getting my feet wet by offering a few free gigs to build up the portfolio, I found my love for getting the shot. I pride myself in delivering the final product you, as my client, fully loves, while still staying true to my creative style. I offer wedding packages, business interview setups, drone coverage, sports highlights, music videos, and really anything you need filmed. I offer fair pricing and always deliver. I really emphasize “collaborating” with my clients, as we mix my service with your ideas. For example, with a wedding package I love spending time with the couple to really get to know them. That way, I can best capture their love story in a way that shows who they are together. I love mixing my style with the qualities that represent you, your brand, or your company.
This year I am also moving into more film work; becoming a gaffer, camera operator, and pursuing acting. We actually just finished the filming stages of a short film I had a leading role in and helped produce. I am currently writing a script that i will be directing this Summer/Fall with our amazing crew. I am always looking to get people who are interested in the film industry onto real sets, as I remember the opportunity I had that lead me down this path.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

The book that really started me on this path was Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki. It opened my mind to the world of finance and opportunity. We are taught growing up to go to school so we can get a good job. A job, however, not working for yourself. School isn’t a bad thing, but it really only prepares you how to work for someone else. It prepares you to be an employee, not an owner. I picked up this book at seventeen, and i was never the same. I wanted to learn. I wanted to know everything there was to know about being an entrepreneur. I started taking every chance i got to do a photo or video gig, whether free or paid. At the time, I was working as a crew lead for a landscape company, and while I loved my job, it wasn’t my passion. I would wake up early and stay up late to work on my own projects, knowing that I was only sacrificing sleep temporarily for a better pay off. I found mentors to learn under, all who had built their own businesses up from the ground. I would listen to podcasts, watch youtube videos of videographers and photographers i admired, and read. I was always reading. I read a lot of books at that time, a few standouts would be: Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, The Seven Decisions by Andy Andrews, Extreme Ownership by Jocko Wilink & Leif Babin, and The Go-Giver by Bob Burg & John Mann.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I used what I had at the time. I wanted to push myself to be creative with what was available to me. I bought my first camera at sixteen and learned the ins and outs of it. It was the Canon m50. Free gigs turned into paid. I would save up the money made from my side hustle to buy new gear: lights, better audio equipment, new lenses, etc. Instead of jumping right into needing the best, I got jobs using the equipment I had until my business was able to pay for new gear. In the early stages I was working full time in landscaping, five days a week. I eventually quit and took the leap of faith out on my own when I had enough experience under my belt.

Contact Info:

• Website: Versatilevisuals.com
• Instagram: benjamin.t.gilmour
• Facebook: Thomas Benjamin

Image Credits
photo of me on stairs: credit to Allen Wilson