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

Jordan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Looking back, do you think you started your business at the right time? Do you wish you had started sooner or later

After 2 years of nursing school, I realized that path was not for me and decided to pursue a degree in film. While debating between schools in Los Angeles and Nashville, the global pandemic took place, taking those options off the table. During quarantine, I used my free time to make videos for fun or mess around with my cameras. I often wonder what would have happened if I started posting my work online during this time. Amidst the worldwide chaos, this was the rise of TikTok and overnight virality. What would my life look like now if I had taken advantage of that time to share my faith, creativity, and positivity? On another note, what would my life have looked like in 2020 if I had originally pursued film instead of nursing? Over the last few years of running my business, these thoughts would often surface when I was facing a major roadblock. What could I have done differently? Am I even capable of a job like this with no degree? Who do I think I am to be able to pull this off? In times like these, you must refuse to believe it could have happened any other way. You must separate your own perceived reality from the truth and gain control over your thinking process. Anytime you pivot in your business or life, you must remind yourself that you are not starting over from scratch but from experience. We are the sum of all our life experiences, the good and the bad. What a privilege it is to capture, celebrate and share these experiences through a camera lens.

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 often referred to as the designated photographer friend or paparazzi, but my work is not limited to photos. I originally started just doing videography and swore I would never do photography (funny how life works). When I first got started, I had a summer internship doing multimedia for a marketing company and it was a game changer! This opened the door to film, photo, graphic design, and social media marketing, which is the majority of the work I do now. In the last few years, I have added wedding filmmaking, website design, and live music content creation to my list of services. I create films and images that are timeless, candid, and nostalgic. Whether it be weddings or concerts, I never want my shoots to feel like a production but more of a time to highlight and honor the occasion in my client’s life. I often joke that I don’t have much of a left brain because my mind is wired to work creatively, making it hard for me to stick to one form of media. By offering a wide variety of services, it has created an abundance of opportunities for me. This job has taken me to Italy, Croatia, and everywhere in between! I prioritize working with brands and clients that share the same values as me. My Faith in Jesus allows me to hold myself to a higher standard and create work that stands out in this oversaturated industry. I firmly believe I was put on this earth to document it! I’m still amazed to have the opportunity to do this job full-time, and I’ll never take it for granted – it’s truly my dream job!

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Something I had to unlearn in my business and even my personal life was believing the lie that I am limited to only one thing. For the longest time, I swore I would only do video, but look how that turned out! For three years I said no to filming weddings because I was too scared, now that is one of my main income streams. I struggled to decide if I wanted my work to be cinematic, candid, & creative or traditional, bright & structured. I restricted myself and thought I had to pick one and stick with it forever. But in reality, my brand is growing and evolving just as much as I am. My work should be a reflection of myself and my dream client. As a business owner, I can simultaneously be gracious and successful, traditional and distinctive, vulnerable and invincible. I would be doing myself and my clients a disservice if I never tried anything new, stepped out of my comfort zone, or learned new skills. A quote that is the foundation of my business says “A ship in a harbor is safe, but that’s not what ships were made to do”. When you think about it, smooth waters never made a skilled sailor. Stepping out of my comfort zone was not a “one and done” lesson to learn, but the daily action of making conscious decisions that scare me.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I attribute my success to the connections I build with my clients. I want my time with them to feel like we’ve known each other for years, not transactional. From weddings and engagements to first sold-out shows, I get the privilege of being there for all of those moments. Because of my camera, I have had some unforgettable experiences that I wouldn’t have had otherwise. Witnessing my best friend’s engagement and photographing a Kenny Chesney show featuring a surprise appearance by Matthew McConaughey are just a few examples. Maybe it’s my severe FOMO (fear of missing out) for always wanting to be included but I will never take it for granted. When clients could pick anyone in this industry, I never take it lightly when clients choose me to capture their most special and sacred moments. My goal is to honor and celebrate them through my work, as I’m humbled to have a front-row seat to their lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jordanmakenna.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jordanmakennafilmco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jordanmakennafilmco/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jordanmakennafilm
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jordanmakennafilmco

Image Credits

Travis Fuentes Media