We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Jerell Bernard a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Jerell, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.

I got into videography two years after college, once I realized the corporate world wasn’t where I could thrive creatively. I needed something that let me fully tap into my creativity, and with my passion for sports, sports videography became a natural fit. I started out under Mikey Elliot, who really laid the foundation for me. He taught me everything from the basics of video and editing to how to position myself for the best shots during games and adjust my settings in different environments.

After 10 months of working with him, I felt ready to step out on my own and carve my own path. That’s when I really dove deep into the craft, spending long hours studying and experimenting, and it was during this time I started to develop my own filming and editing style. I’ve kept that hunger to learn alive because this field is always evolving, and you can never stop growing.

If I could go back, I’d definitely set up the business side of things to look more professional from the start—building a strong brand image early on is so important. I’d also push myself to be more extroverted with my camera, getting comfortable shooting a wide range of projects right away. Having that range in your portfolio early really makes a difference in expanding your opportunities.

The most essential skills I’ve learned are not just storytelling and capturing the emotions behind an event, but also having strong people skills and being a good person overall. Building genuine relationships has been crucial to my success.

The biggest obstacles were learning on the fly and troubleshooting camera issues in real-time, but overcoming those challenges has only made me better at what I dio.

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’m a full-time videographer who found my way into this field after realizing that the corporate world didn’t give me the creative freedom I needed. About two years after college, I decided to dive into something I was truly passionate about—videography, specifically sports videography. I got my start under Mikey Elliot, who taught me the fundamentals of filming and editing. Those early lessons in capturing the best angles during games and adjusting my camera settings for different environments were invaluable to my growth. After 10 months, I stepped out on my own, and that’s when I really began to develop my own style and techniques.

Now, I offer a range of videography services, from sports highlights and event recaps to promotional videos and reels. My focus is always on telling a story and capturing the emotion behind the moments I film, whether it’s a high-energy sports event or a client’s personal brand story. I’m proud of the relationships I’ve built along the way, and I believe what sets me apart is not just my technical skills, but my professionalism, ability to connect with people, and my commitment to capturing their vision.

I help my clients by bringing their stories to life. Whether they need a video for social media to engage their audience or a personal highlight reel that captures their passion, I focus on delivering high-quality, content that reflects our vision for the brand.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the growth I’ve seen in my work, and how I’ve continued to evolve as a videographer. From the early days of learning the craft to now working with bigger brands and organizations, I’ve made it a priority to keep pushing myself and honing my skills.

If there’s one thing I want potential clients and followers to know, it’s that my goal is to always put out the best possible work and to build strong, lasting relationships along the way. My business isn’t just about the videos I create; it’s about helping people and organizations tell their stories in a meaningful and impactful way.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In November of 2023, just before Thanksgiving, I returned home for the funeral of my aunt. I had to finish some work obligations before getting on the road that afternoon, heading straight into what I knew would be a tough time. I arrived late the night before the funeral, bringing nothing into the house except my suitcase with clothes for the next morning. Everything else stayed in the rental car.

After getting up early for the funeral, I still hadn’t unpacked the car. We gathered for the service, and then during the repast with my family, something unimaginable happened—my rental car was stolen, with almost all of my belongings inside. The only thing left was one small bag of clothes I had with me. In that moment, after losing so much, both personally and physically, I felt like quitting. It was one of those moments where you feel like life is just too much.

But after a day or two of sitting with those emotions and consoling myself, something shifted. Instead of quitting, the situation lit a fire inside of me. I knew I couldn’t let this loss be the thing that held me back. I decided to turn that frustration into fuel. By January, I was back in full swing, filming events with even more drive and determination.

That experience, as difficult as it was, taught me something valuable: no matter what life throws your way, you can’t let it stop you. You have to take those moments of adversity and use them to push yourself further. In the end, it’s about resilience and finding the strength to keep moving forward, even when everything seems to be against you.

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

Yes, my creative journey is driven by two key goals. As a videographer, my mission is to capture what I see through my lens and the unique experiences at each event, portraying them as aesthetically beautiful content. I aim to showcase the emotion and energy of every moment in the most visually compelling way. Additionally, as a sports videographer, I feel a personal obligation to help athletes grow, especially high school players aspiring to reach college. This stems from my own experience as an athlete, where I felt I lacked those opportunities, so now I use my platform to help others achieve what I didn’t.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jerell_weston
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@shotbyrelly?si=bvmXeh4X1vZ4F8NF