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

Lance, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So, let’s start with trends – what are some of the largest or more impactful trends you are seeing in the industry?

I’ve noticed a massive wave of “content creators” enter into the media field. A majority of that has to do with the changes in how we view content, which is our cellphones. We see more businesses turning the leaf in how they deliver their content from a horizontal format to a vertical format. Simply put, there has been a massive shift in “visual convenience”. Due to this shift, the media field, in some eyes, has become over- saturated. So with some many people offering a service “similar” to yours, you have to deal with competitive prices. In some spaces, a lot of people will sacrifice “quality” for budget. However, the when a trend is showing itself to be permanent, you have to adjust immediately! Creating content has, in some ways, become simplified. However, it is always changing and evolving. As technology continues to develope at this rapid pace, staying with the “trends” can be draining, but when the trend brings traffic to your business, you continue to invest in those “trends”.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve been invested in the media field since I was nine years old, starting as a camera operator at New Psalmist Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD. Operating the camera during church services always felt like the coolest thing in the world, and it sparked my passion for video production. Growing up constantly surrounded by church life, I found happiness and interest in staying active and learning more about live production, eventually directing live video production as a teenager.
After high school, I attended the University of Valley Forge in PA, where I majored in Digital Media while playing basketball. The program expanded my skills in video production, videography, photography, and video editing. I became one of the top live video production directors at the university, creating quality live-streaming experiences.
Post-graduation, I returned home and joined the Media Department at my church during the “social media boom” of marketing. As time passed, I eventually became the Head Content Creator where I focused on producing engaging content for services and social platforms. As a team we encountered a lot of trial and error, but we achieved impactful results. Around this time, I ventured into freelance videography, learning quickly through hands-on experience. My first commercial project with Radio One in Baltimore, shot using minimal equipment, aired on TV, marking a significant milestone in my career.
Since then, my freelance work has taken me across the country, collaborating with small businesses, corporate clients, event planners, stylists, and entrepreneurs. Currently, I serve as Director of Marketing and Media for the “Wylie Umbrella,” overseeing brands like Wylie Funeral Homes P.A., Fleurs d’Ave, and Above It All.
The journey hasn’t been without challenges. From equipment failures and file corruptions to client miscommunications, I’ve learned to navigate setbacks with preparation and education. Aligning client expectations has been key, as has asking the right questions to ensure clarity and minimize stress. I follow the “5 P’s” mantra: prior planning prevents poor performance.
Burnout is another common struggle for creators, often stemming from overextending themselves. I’ve learned to deliver quality work while maintaining balance, though staying creatively motivated can be tough. Repetition in projects can stifle creativity, but finding fresh inspiration keeps me energized.
Videography remains my specialty, with experience in shooting festivals, corporate events, commercials, real estate, and more. My proudest accomplishments include building a loyal clientele, with some relationships spanning over a decade. It’s rewarding to have clients trust me repeatedly for their media, marketing, and branding needs.
I take huge pride in my consistency in professionalism and delivering on client visions, which I believe sets me apart from others. I take pride in creating content that resonates with target audiences while building strong, trustworthy relationships. One of my greatest joys comes from sharing my work with my son, Lance Jr., and hearing him say, “That’s a good job, Daddy.” Moments, provided by a 5 year old, like these remind me why I’m passionate about my craft.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I believe giving my client a product that their audience has not seen before helped build my reputation. I also believe my professionalism and intentionality of making my client confident and comfortable in working with me allows them to speak highly of their experience with me to others. So when I deliver a product to a client, I want them to be the “word of mouth” that gets my name further than my circle. Even though social media has been my biggest platform of all of my work, when a client gives me a tag or shoutout, that brings in business. At the end of the day, my client has been and always will be the main drive behind building my reputation.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

I think every creative lives for the “reaction”. Whether it’s through a text message, an email, or even seeing the comments from the audience, we look forward to the “reaction”. It may seem vain, but those reactions keep us motivated and excited. There have been moments where I have delivered a product that I truly wasn’t sure about because I took a lot of risk, but the client ended up loving it. Those moments keep me in-love with being a creative.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://lanceharrismedia.com
• Instagram: lancemichael__
• Other: https://Vimeo.com/lanceharrismedia

Image Credits

Andre Brown III
Eric Murphy
Jae Sip
Mandy Holland