We recently connected with Jeremy Paredes and have shared our conversation below.

Jeremy, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about the best boss, mentor, or leader you’ve ever worked with.

I would not be the creative I am today without the support from friends, family, and mentors that have helped shape my journey thus far. Specifically in the sports media industry, my coworkers and bosses have been extremely supportive in guiding and critiquing my work, helping me get better as a content creator and as a person.

Glenn Ingram is a Creative Video Director at Georgia Tech Football, and was the person who recruited me out of high school to join GT Football’s Creative Team. He has been a great mentor and friend, showing me how to balance academics and work, helping me navigate the technicalities of collegiate athletics, and teaching me new film and editing skills to add to my creative arsenal.

Katie Meyers is my other current boss at GTFB. She is a photographer and graphic design, and is in charge of us student interns on the creative team. She is an amazing leader for the student interns, always checking in on us, giving us direct and honest feedback, and looking for projects to challenge us and help us get better. Without a video director for much of this past season, Katie gave me lots of creative freedom for all of our video content being produced throughout the season, allowing me to work on hype videos, recap videos, and our Season Intro Video.

My prior bosses at Georgia Tech Football (Patrick Clancy, Ian McFarland, & Alex Brizendine) have also been great role models for me. Their experience in the industry and the way they hold themselves accountable as creatives is something I strive to match.

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 a content creator who films, edits, and produces videos, covering mainly sports but also a range of community events. As a self taught photographer and videographer, I also run my own media brand, Jdopefx Productions. My most recent works include covering the SEC College Football Championship, working on the production crew for ESPN 3 Day Weekend Atlanta, and as a Digital Production Assistant for the NBC Sports 2022 Winter Olympics. 

My photography/videography journey began my freshman year of high school when I joined the school’s video and media program, borrowed a school camera, and shot my first FNL football game. From there my passion grew; throughout my four years at Johns Creek High School, I continued to film, edit and produce sports hype videos featuring our school’s football, basketball and soccer teams. I loved the fast pace and intensity of trying to capture that perfect play. In addition, I especially enjoyed getting to know the athletes, hearing their challenges and successes and telling their stories through video. I continued to learn, develop, and hone my skills. My videos gained traction on social media and I branded myself and my work with @jdopefx. As I grew a following online, schools, athletes, and teams across Georgia reached out asking me to shoot their games and events, which enabled me to develop numerous connections and opportunities. 

During my high school senior year, Georgia Tech Football’s Creative Director (Glenn Ingram) reached out and offered me a spot on the GT Football Creative Media Team. Being able to film a big D1 sports program like Georgia Tech was a dream come true, and I enthusiastically accepted the position. I am currently a sophomore at Georgia Tech, and just wrapped up my second football season with the Yellow Jackets. From traveling to ACC Media Day to producing the Season Intro Video, I’ve had an amazing experience producing a variety of content for Georgia Tech’s football program and athletes for use across multiple social media platforms, while building relationships with other creatives across the ACC.  

I go where my passion leads me. As someone who has lived with severe atopic dermatitis (eczema) all my life, a very personal initiative is my effort to raise awareness and foster understanding of the debilitating emotional and physical impact eczema has. Through sharing my personal journey with eczema on my social media platforms, I’ve been able to connect with and support other teens and young adults dealing with eczema. 

Is there mission driving your creative journey?

I believe God gifted me the passion for filmmaking to draw attention to the people and stories that need to be heard. My goal in telling these stories is to make a positive impact. Whether that’s spotlighting athletes as individuals with incredible backstories, giving voice to those that are underserved or highlighting a cause, the power of story-telling and social media allow me to reach multitudes of people to increase understanding, compassion, and open hearts. 

As an Ambassador for the National Eczema Association, I use my videography to raise awareness of eczema and share the stories of those afflicted, with the goal of helping others, particularly teens and young adults, struggling with eczema. I recently directed and produced a short documentary called the Eczema Warrior, featuring Abby Cramond, a fellow Eczema Ambassador and good friend. Abby is an actress, pageant girl, model, and influencer, who is affected by severe atopic dermatitis. Hearing how she battles eczema everyday while still being the outgoing, on-stage and on-camera presence is amazing. Similarly I have captured my own eczema journey, sharing my challenges and victories. My family, friends, and faith sustained me through the worst times. Eczema doesn’t define who I am and as I’ve become more successful in managing it, I’ve gained the courage and confidence to share my story. My hope is that stories like mine and Abby’s will provide hope for the 31 million plus in the US with eczema.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

For me, the community of creatives and paying it forward are the most rewarding aspects of my profession. Fostering friendships with creatives in the Metro Atlanta area, at other colleges, and even across the country has helped me become a better professional and person. Whether it’s working on a large-scale creative project together, hearing other people’s ideas, or giving constructive feedback on each others’ work, being a part of a community that wants to see each other succeed is extremely fulfilling.

Mentoring younger creatives is something I take pride in. I have the honor of mentoring several photographers/videographers at my alma mater (Johns Creek High School); I try to be a good role model and strive to be the best creative I can be, paving the way for others following in my footsteps. It’s very gratifying to see young creatives grow and thrive in their creative journeys. 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jeremy-paredes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jdopefx/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremy-paredes/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/jdopefx
• Other: TikTok: @jdopefx