We were lucky to catch up with Joshua Lynch recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Joshua thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?

I’m fortunate to make a comfortable living as a creative, but it took determination. People often say, “You can’t get paid doing that!”—a lack of imagination that can be discouraging.

Challenges like unreliable transportation and working 60-hour weeks kept me from finishing community college at first. Fifteen years later, while freelancing in photography and videography, I finally committed to college with my wife and family’s support.

I networked relentlessly—asking classmates about job openings. A video classmate led me to my first broadcast job as a camera operator, and I was quickly promoted to technical director. My photography teacher connected me with a minor league baseball team, where I became the team photographer. One opportunity led to another and I was making animations for Yamaha Golf Cars and the electrical company.

Surround yourself with those who understand and believe in you—these connections are key to paving your path.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

The first time I picked up a black-and-white camera at eight years old, it just felt natural—like I was meant to capture the world through a lens. By thirteen, I was sneaking out my family’s video camera, staging elaborate war films with tiny green army men, dousing the scene with fire (sorry mom) and pure childhood imagination. My best friend and I would transform our living rooms into makeshift talk shows, channeling Geraldo Rivera as we interviewed guests with shrunken heads (don’t ask how we got those).

I’ve grown up a little since then, but I’ve never lost that playful perspective.

Today, I’m a media production specialist, deeply involved in every step of the creative process—from concept to completion. Writing, directing, casting, lighting, cinematography, editing, and even composing music—I love bringing stories to life in every way possible. Some of my favorite techniques involve practical effects like forced perspective, object manipulation, and puppetry, blending old-school magic with modern storytelling.

My career in video started with passion projects and a deep love for cinematography. I built a name for myself photographing vibrant costume events, comedy shows, theater productions, and weddings—capturing moments that felt larger than life. Encouraged by my wife and family, I went back to school for advertising and graphic design, where I met fellow creatives who helped open doors to live broadcasting, sports photography, and videography gigs.

Eventually, my journey led me to an agency working with top-tier clients—the kind whose names you’d recognize unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last 75 years. From there, I found my way to a government job in media production, where I get to do what I love every day while maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Looking back, my path has never been traditional, but it’s been fueled by creativity, curiosity, and a refusal to let go of the fun. If there’s one thing I hope other creatives take away from my journey, it’s this: stay playful, stay passionate, and never stop experimenting—because the best stories come from the wildest ideas.

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

Creativity isn’t just about the work we produce—it’s about the people we meet along the way. The real magic happens in the connections we make, the ideas we exchange, and the energy that sparks when passionate creatives come together.

As artists, filmmakers, and storytellers, our work has the power to ignite something in others—to give someone the confidence to take that first creative leap or inspire a fellow artist to push their vision even further. The beauty of this path isn’t in following trends or compromising for the sake of commercial success, but in staying true to what excites us and finding the right people to create alongside.

There’s nothing quite like collaborating with those who share your passion. The process—brainstorming wild ideas, solving challenges together, and watching a concept evolve—is just as fulfilling as the final product. When creativity is driven by authenticity instead of compromise, it doesn’t just result in better work; it creates a ripple effect, empowering others to embrace their own artistic voice.

Every project, every shoot, every new creative challenge introduces us to people who change the way we see the world. And that’s the real reward—following an uncompromised path while surrounding ourselves with those who make the journey unforgettable.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

From the moment I picked up a camera, I knew storytelling wasn’t just about crafting images—it was about creating worlds. What has always inspired me most are the directors who refuse to compromise, the ones who carve out their own creative space and guard it fiercely. Watching interviews with filmmakers like Tim Burton, Wes Anderson, Alfred Hitchcock, Stanley Kubrick, and Quentin Tarantino shaped my entire perspective on media production. These are artists who don’t just make films; they create experiences that feel unmistakably their own.

What makes these directors so influential isn’t just their signature styles—it’s their ability to protect their artistic vision while embracing collaboration. They never allow their work to be diluted by the pressures of Hollywood, where profit often takes precedence over creativity. Instead, they’ve built cinematic worlds that stand apart, proving that originality and commercial success don’t have to be at odds.

Their approach has profoundly influenced my own philosophy in media production. I believe in telling stories that stay true to their essence, rather than bending them to fit mass appeal. Art isn’t about playing it safe—it’s about exploring the weird, the bold, the deeply personal. To me, the most powerful work comes from embracing creative freedom, pushing boundaries, and trusting that the right audience will find you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @digitalsmokestudios
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/digitalsmokestudios/
• Youtube: @DigitalSmokeStudiosOfficial

Image Credits

All Images – Image Credit: Digital Smoke Studios