Eric, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. To kick things off, we’d love to hear about things you or your brand do that diverge from the industry standard.

We see too many businesses with underperforming video content. The industry standard has videographers creating videos for companies without a marketing strategy, which means the business owner pays for a quality video that no one will ever see. We aim to change that. Each video should not only have a specific purpose within the company but should also speak directly to their ideal customer. Most business owners don’t know how to properly use video which is why a Video Strategist has a broad view of the company they are working with so they can spot the gaps in communication.

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?

Camera Clay was founded in 2009 as a collaborative effort among our core group of friends. We wanted to share ideas and create films without any obstacles. By 2012, we had created a handful of award-winning short films and were inspired to venture out into the world of advertising. We began producing commercials, quickly learning the ropes of advertising from some of the best strategic thinkers in the industry. In a few short years, our client work went from local broadcast to the jumbotrons of Times Square, creating several nationally-awarded campaigns along the way. After 3 years of dedicated agency work, we decided to venture out on our own and return to our roots in Texas. Since 2016, we continue to create impactful, branded content with destinations and businesses alike. We’ve developed a process that supports our clients goals by speaking directly to their audience, giving voice to their cause, and bringing about change.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I graduated in 2002 with an AA in Recording Arts and my dream of becoming a music producer was at full-steam. In a few short years I cut my teeth in Nashville and Florida, working with chart-topping artists and producers. It was an incredible ride that came to an abrupt end in 2008 when the record label I was working for had a major downsizing, leaving me without a job. That left me with 2 choices; pack up my apartment and head to the next large hub (Atlanta, Miami, New York, LA), or find the next local opportunity.

In the meantime, I began playing open mics with a friend. After our set, I was chatting with a musician from another band and shared my situation, He immediately asked if I knew how to edit video and, without hesitation, I said yes. I didn’t, but I knew it was close enough to editing music that I could figure it out (fixing a bad drummer is like surgery). I started a week later at $8hr. That simple and naive “yes” completely changed my life.

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

A close friend once said that a camera is “like a skeleton key to the world.” A camera puts us face-to-face with some of the most interesting people and places. We meet people on a mission to change the world who need our help to amplify their message. We meet highly-skilled artisans who invite us into their private studio to film their process. We get private tours, special clearances, front row seats, and decadent meals prepared by 4-star chefs. We get all-expense paid trips to beautiful destinations with comped rooms and private beaches. It has been an incredible experience with many perks, to say the least. While the creature comforts are great and all, what drives me is the opportunity to join someone on their mission. I get to create a video that captures their story and passion and then share it with the world. Also, it’s inspiring to work with business owners whom constantly strive for self-development.

Contact Info:

• Website: cameraclay.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/cameraclay
• Facebook: facebook.com/cameraclay
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/cameraclay
• Youtube: youtube.com/cameraclay