We recently connected with Brendan Williams and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Brendan, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

No matter what industry you’re in, I believe there is only one guaranteed way to find success: authentic value.

Especially in the world of online business, it’s extremely hard for customers to tell, at first glance, the difference between someone who deeply cares about their company and customers versus a simple cash grab following a boom and bust ethos.

Therefore I believe it’s more important than ever to be able to prove your unique authenticity in your industry. What are your unique experiences that help you relate to your target customer in a way that builds trust despite a digital wall between you? What is your real human story that screams authenticity and credibility for anyone who comes across your brand?

By steering your business through authenticity that your customers can feel the moment they enter your world, it’s much easier to offer value that truly impacts them. When they know you’re authentic to yourself and you want the best for them, they’re going to trust you, and truly make the most of the value you have to offer.

Authentic value is the cornerstone to building a loyal customer base that recommends you whenever they can.

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

I was a freelance photographer, photo retoucher, and camera assistant for many years, working long hours on set and generally feeling unfulfilled in my regular career. In my pastime, I would create digital art in Photoshop as a creative outlet from long days on set to supplement my burnout. Although I loved what I did, the lifestyle was something I struggled to see myself fitting in long term.

As I was sharing my photos and digital art online, I got questions from people asking how I created certain editing effects. What started as back-and-forth comments on a social media post or a DM conversation sparked the idea of creating Youtube videos to better explain what I was talking about.

So on the side of everything else, I decided to make the occasional Youtube tutorial explaining different editing effects I found interesting or that people had asked me about. As someone who genuinely loves teaching, this turned out to be an enjoyable hobby that I found immense satisfaction from.

Slowly I created more videos, which led me to get more questions, meet more people, and snowball from there over a few years. Eventually, through mutual connections, I met a food and travel blogger named Bella Bucchiotti, who I began editing photos for and eventually shooting. This was the first time I began to understand the world of online marketing as a viable career path.

With the inspiration of seeing Bella’s website over the years, I decided to create my own website (www.bwillcreative.com) as a supplement to my Youtube videos. At first, my goal was simply to create written versions of my video tutorials for those who preferred reading.

Although this idea came to be long before I actually found success, I largely neglected video creation and written content for a few years while I was busy working.

That all changed in 2020 when Covid hit.

Suddenly all my work had vanished, and I was stuck at home with nothing to do. So I decided there was no better time to fire up the website and Youtube channel again and get back to a regular posting schedule.

To make a long story short, I began creating content, whether written or video, nearly every day for two years straight. I enjoyed it, even if only a handful of people were watching.

By the time photo and film work came back to life, I was fortunate to have built enough of an audience that I no longer needed to spend the long days on set. I could sustain myself just by focusing on helping people improve in one of the areas I am most passionate about, photo editing and Photoshop.

Coming full circle, I used Photoshop as a creative pastime to escape burnout on set. Now I share my passion for Photoshop and photo editing with others to improve their own creative abilities. All while choosing my own schedule and remaining location-independent.

These days I offer free content across my website and Youtube channel with the goal of offering no-fluff and easy-to-follow tutorials that I wish I had earlier in my journey.

Alongside these channels, I create paid courses to better assist students looking to progress their skills in Photoshop and photo editing. These courses help students get a comprehensive guide to a specific area of photo editing that is often overwhelming and difficult to piece together through DIY learning.

Now I’ve been full-time for nearly 3 years, and I am immensely proud of the resources I have to offer and the people I am able to help. Through my courses and email list I regularly hear from people how my tutorials have helped them to create something they were stuck on or felt limited by. By helping them to master the tools at their disposal, I feel I am helping them to reach their full creative potential.

It’s extremely satisfying, and I love that I am able to share my passion with others in a way that elevates their creative abilities too.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

Youtube.

The vast majority of course students I survey and speak to always say that they first found me through YouTube.

Although video is a mental block for many entrepreneurs, it’s the easiest medium to build a relationship and trust with your audience. There’s no faking video. It shows who you are, what you offer, and makes it easy for people to see for themselves why you’re different than others in your space.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

The most rewarding part of being an artist/creative is sharing creative possibilities with others. As someone who teaches photo editing for a living, sharing skills is where I get the most satisfaction. Whether that be showing people a particular technique or a specific tool, it’s these skills that move others in their journeys too.

With creativity, I believe the goal is to share and grow together, not hoard knowledge for yourself. By sharing what you know you not only gain a deeper understanding of your own knowledge, but it challenges you in ways that push your artistic boundaries in unique ways. All the while, everyone around you grows as well.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bwillcreative.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brnwills/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brnwills
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendan-williams-230456169/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/brendanwilliamstutorials