Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dirk Fenstermacher Jr.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Dirk thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

As an actor, I always knew I was destined to be in Los Angeles. It was never a city I longed to live in. It was part of some pilgrimage that I could not avoid. It would of course require me to uproot my life from my home state of Arizona. It never struck me as something that was risky or sacrificial, in part due to my naivety. Though I never really felt completely at home Arizona, it was familiarity and security. The plan was to leave after me and my friend Eric Williams graduated so we could live together in the city. The plans fell apart when it came to light that I needed to graduate early. I had no job at the time and no real prosects left in Arizona. So, with $175 to my name and a help from my mom I took the leap. I risked complete and utter failure to chase a career that leaves many high and dry. I’ve gained much more than I have ever lost in that choice I made 7 years back and I have become a better artist, son, friend and a man for doing so. I have built a space for my work in this city, and I continue to peruse my goals with the utmost tenacity.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I am an actor primarily but my day to day consists of my photography and videography work as well as influencer marketing via Instagram. I have been lucky enough to carve out my own little corner of this highly competitive market which has allowed me to have a sort of security blanket when it comes lulls in the film industry. I will typically work with brands to help curate content as well as market said content to help the brand reach a wider audience. I do all video and photo work in house (shooting, editing) which allows for less middlemen when it comes to project turn around. I create bespoke projects at a high quality that reflects my own artistic flair whilst also submitting desired deliverables to the client. When it comes to portraitures, I enjoy the dance of shooting for my portfolio as well as giving the client something to be proud of.
In less formal words, I like to make people feel seen and heard when it comes to them spending money on photo or video work. I send out final projects much quicker than most people in this filed while also keeping the quality high and unique. Since it is me that people speak with directly, they can air out any and all grievances or doubts, if any, and I can remedy them with haste.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I believe all artists are entertainers in some aspect. That means we are individuals of society that provide a service. That service to me is the most rewarding part of doing what I do. I have the opportunity to affect someone, to truly touch them with the abstract. That person in turn will walk differently through life having been affected by my work. Now this only happens if I imbue my work with all of myself. My work is only as valuable as the time and energy spent crafting it, not by the dollar amount placed on it. Of course, having patrons to help sustain my delusions are welcomed and necessary but the reward to me is a smile, a tear, anger, or laughter.

Any insights you can share with us about how you built up your social media presence?

I describe social media using the cosmos. You are a planet, and your niche is your star. The other celestial bodies in your solar system are other creators, some as big as Jupiter and some as small as the moon. Once a planet takes notice of you then there is potential for follows, engagement and collaboration. Now if you were to send probes to an alien celestial body and said destination had probes from other solar systems on them now you can cross engage with people from other niches that may share similar interests.
Social media only works if you are social. I grew my following by engaging with people in my niche as well as others. I lived on the explore page, I kept an open mind, I left valuable engagement in the form of comments and DM’s. How can I demand to have people engage with my work when I do not engage with anyone else’s. It is the people first mindset that helped me create a community and content second that help me grow out of my solar system.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirkfensty/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqOUQCsmgbpRpWNcBb61i5w

Image Credits

I Dirk Fenstermacher shot and own all rights to the photos.