We were lucky to catch up with Jamil Farrar Jr recently and have shared our conversation below.
Jamil, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
My mission for Farrar Media Productions (FMP) is to artistically capture the beauty and emotion of moments through photography and cinematography, delivering timeless memories. My parents had so many photo albums dating back to times of my great grandparents. Those albums not only told stories, but held so much history. It’s amazing to be brought right back to a specific time and remember every detail about that moment from the look of a photo. I was not only able to hear and learn about my history, but I was able to see and feel it sometimes as if I was there. Having a camera in my hand gives me my own superpower of freezing time and giving special memories that will live on forever. I love helping others create their history by visually capturing their story one moment at a time.
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?
I am an outgoing individual who loves meeting new people and connecting with different artists. Growing up, I’ve always loved watching movies. My favorite genre was action, however I’ve grown to enjoy all genres with a captivating story. Because of my love for film, I pursued acting in my first year of college. After watching a few scenes I was in during post production (editing phase) of a few projects I was in, I was drawn to the creativity of what went into putting multiple shots together. That is where my passion of being behind the camera sparked. In 2010 I picked up a camera, and I dove into the world of creating film. What I love most about cinematography, is being able to bring a script to life visually. I’ve worked with multiple writers, directors, and producers throughout the years and have been blessed to work on films that are on multiple platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Lifetime, just to name a few. My. I bring the same zeal when it comes to photography! Being able to capture moments in time, whether it’s a wedding, a birthday party, family outing, or even a business event, I go above and beyond giving high quality work that exceed my clients’ expectations. I’m always taking time to learn new things and educate myself to constantly grow in this field and become better. I aim to be the trusted storyteller of your most cherished memories, recognized by my exceptional craftsmanship, personalized approach, and my commitment to excellence in every frame and photo I capture.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Having the freedom to express myself without limitations. I love the idea of letting my imagination run wild and being able to act on it and or put it together exactly how I see it in my mind. It allows me to bring others into my world. As a creative, I am hired for my artistic eye, whether they are drawn to me by the way I direct, shoot or edit. Knowing that I am brought onto projects to give a piece of my mind and use the talent that God blessed me with to make others happy is one the most rewarding aspects of being a creative. I love seeing the smiles of others from work I’ve done for them. Seeing how much a photo means to someone knowing that it will live on with them forever makes my heart full.
Do you think there is something that non-creatives might struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can shed some light?
Taking the leap of faith and going after your dream. Beside the fact that it’s very tough to do, it’s also very tough to understand. I could never fathom the thought of waking up everyday being unhappy about the life you live regarding your everyday routine. You have the power to change that and work towards our dream. And trust me, I definitely understand not being able to jump all in, but I believe you can be doing something everyday that will get you closer to doing what you love. It took me years to finally make my decision to jump all in so I know it’s not an easy task. I just want others to know it’s not impossible, and that’s where the work begins. I know that looks different for everyone. Before I was able to go full entrepreneurship, I worked in education. I took advantage of weekends and summer breaks to work my production business. Evaluate your schedule and see what works for you. It could be weekends, it may have to be a few hours after work, it may have to be on your off days, but there will always be time for you to work your dream, even if it’s for a few hours a week. I also want to let you know that entrepreneurship isn’t easy and that you can still be an entrepreneur with a 9 to 5. Everyone’s journey looks different. I also fully understand that entrepreneurship isn’t for everyone, but happiness is. So if you don’t understand this journey and you are happy with yours, don’t bring down others going after theirs. Sometimes it can be a lonely road, and during the journey support and encouragement is highly needed.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @farrarmediaproductions
- Facebook: Jamil Farrar Jr.
- Other: IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm7252763/
