Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gary Fields Jr.. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Gary , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
The biggest risk that I have taken so far, was to actually pursue the journey of entrepreneurship. While having a job/career to depend on a steady income, I realized that the only way to guarantee my income was to develop a set of skills that would ensure I would always be able to make a living for myself and my family. I have worked a few jobs in my lifetime, and I have learned that the people who are always guaranteed a reliable income, are the people who create a job or career for themselves. While working for a Fortune 500 company, I became stagnant and unmotivated. The same procedures day in and day out, without being valued as a high performing employee became very frustrating. Along with the racist & ignorant coworkers that I had to try my best to overlook, the effort that I contributed to the company was beginning to be drained severely. My last day working for this particular company, was not all an ideal way to end employment. However like most people, I was pushed to the capacity of disrespect and devaluation. There was a very condescending message that came across my walkie that day. All that I remember thinking was, the nerve of this person talking to me in this manner, when I gave them the knowledge to save their career multiple times. My reaction was not at all mature, and I take full responsibility for the consequences. However, that day I realized it was time for me to do what I loved, and the pursuit of scaling and branding my business had gained my full focus and attention.
Gary , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I was born and raised in West Baltimore, Maryland. I had a two parent household until the age of about four or five. My mother and father were both hard workers. Unfortunately, my father became addicted to narcotics after attempting to become a narcotic dealer himself. My mother decided to leave my father in efforts to obtain a better life for her and myself. Watching my mother work multiple jobs and struggle to take care of me as best as she could, really drove me to always do and reach for more. While my mother did everything she could to get me the best education she could possibly think of, I did my part by taking my education extremely serious. I read countless books each summer break, and had to present my mother with book reports within a certain timeframe. As I progressed throughout middle and high school, I started to consider a career that would bring me happiness in its pursuit. I am a very big fan of art, so I considered becoming an architect after high school and possibly in college. However, I am a very family oriented person, and I have always had a camera or video camera at most of my family functions. Throughout my high school years, I really became passionate about capturing memories and different events. I remember always having a video camera or polaroid camera for class trips and other high school events. When I became a senior, one of the requirements to graduate was to create a business as a senior project. I had already taken an entrepreneurship class, and I was well equipped with knowledge to bring my photography & videography business into fruition. I partnered with one of my closest friends at the time, and in 2003, Enhanced Visions Video & Photography became a legit business. When I attended Morgan State University, I majored in Telecommunications & Mass Media. I was in pursuit to become a television/movie producer, but I still had an itch for photography. I found myself spending lots of time in the fine arts building, and eventually started taking up photography classes. My focus of the business, was to provide photos and videos for all sorts of events and clientele. My aim is to become a global household name, and a one stop shop for all media services. I want to provide a service that each client can be extremely proud of, and can always depend on. Enhanced Visions Video & Photography will be the media company that provides services from family photos to destination weddings, and everything in between. I always strive to over deliver to each client, and I believe that sets us apart from most video & photography companies. We are a family oriented business, so we take pride in quality customer service and hard work. We are planning to extend our family by hiring videographers, photographers, cinematographers, editors, graphic designers, and other media personnel abroad to deliver a very high quality of media services for any request or idea.
During my journey of providing media services to my clients, I became most proud of being able to connect with other entrepreneurs throughout the country. I was privileged to capture an entire red carpet movie premiere, a very influential fashion show, and multiple events out of the country for very popular travel agents and promotors. I am also proud to be featured and published in various magazines, including this one. I have also been honored to meet and learn from other great videographers and photographers locally and nationally as well.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on NFTs. (Note: this is for education/entertainment purposes only, readers should not construe this as advice
I feel that NFT’s are a lucrative way for artists and creatives to have their work in the future of the digital world we are transitioning into. I have not grasped the entire function or process of Non Fungible Tokens just yet, however, I feel that with gaming, streaming, digital content, virtual reality, and the meta verse there are many avenues for creatives to obtain the value of their work without any contest. I understand that blockchain technology and cryptocurrency may be the future of our global economics, and with NFTs, an artist can charge what they really feel their work is worth, and because it is a digital work of art, it will be around forever. Enhanced Visions Video & Photography is definitely looking to have some great shots converted into NFTS very soon as well.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
There is a particular goal and mission that drives my creative journey. I would love to have Enhanced Visions Video & Photography as a global household name. I ultimately would like to develop a business of media experts that would cover every aspect of media creation. I would also like to have an apprenticeship program set up for all media aspects as well. I would love to be able to not only hire different media professions, but also to be able to mentor each individual who would like to start their own media company, in their respected fields. I believe the biggest contribution back to the community would be to put people in positions to create their own businesses, while learning everything they possibly could from the company they already work for.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @Enhanced_Visions
- Facebook: Enhanced Visions
- Linkedin: Enhanced Visions
Image Credits
Gary Fields Jr. Monica Fields