Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Luke Harvey. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Luke thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Have you been 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? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

My parents came from two different worlds when it comes to art/creativity. My dad’s parents are literally artists. His father is a painter, and his mother is a potter. My mom’s parents are 30 year government job retirees. I think my dad saw how much his family struggled financially, so he probably didn’t want to push us too far into creative fields. My mom definitely wanted us to play it safe. They were great parents, always encouraging me to follow my dreams, and they recognized my talent for many of the different artistic endeavors I attempted, but I could always feel that lingering “you need to go to college (just in case)” mindset. In their defense, the world has changed a ton since they grew up, and with all the possibilities of the internet, no one could have predicted the changing creative job landscape. Needless to say, once I got offered money to make a video for the first time, my mind was instantly expanded and opened up to the possibility of doing something I love for a living. That was over ten years ago now, and while I can’t say I’m rich by any means, I’ve created the life I wanted. I have a beautiful family that I can provide for and I am able to set my own hours while my kids are young and prioritize spending time with them. My business has shifted a lot through the years, but I am always thankful for the opportunity to make a living doing something I enjoy.

Luke, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I run a production company called Mossflower Pictures. I always joke with my clients that I got into video production because I am a failed musician. That’s not entirely untrue. But I’ve found that’s also not uncommon in our industry. It’s only natural to pursue other creative jobs that can potentially pay the bills! That’s why it is extra fun that I get to work with so many amazingly talented artists and musicians. Most of my work is directing music videos, so getting to create visual worlds for other people’s songs is such a fun twist after playing music most of my life. Recently, I have shifted to creating what I call Mini Music Videos for my clients and it has been going really well. I saw the writing on the wall for music videos as soon as I started making them, but it’s taken me this long to figure out a way to shift to another method that feels authentic to me and my artistic integrity. Part of that is the sense that you get from some (not all!) peers that if you’re not grinding and doing bigger and better things every production, then you’re failing. Especially if you’re filming vertically (gasp!). I took a step back and reevaluated my priorities in life and realized that appearing successful to others in the film industry is actually not even on my list. The things at the top of my list are providing for my family, having a good work/life balance, and enjoying my job. Making vertical Mini Music Videos for my clients checks off all of those boxes, and accomplishes the goal of getting these talented artists more views and engagement than music videos ever did. I just had to think of a way to make sure that I maintained my own personal artistic integrity in this new process. That has been surprisingly easy and fun to do while working with my clients. It’s a whole new world and format to explore, and I’ve found that clients love my atypical/out-of-the-box approach to content. I’m most proud of the life that I’ve built with my family. I love the work that I do, but at the end of the day it’s just videos. I just want to enjoy the people I work with, make cool stuff, and be there for my family. I am proud to sat that I feel like I’ve “made it” in that sense.

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

Nothing will ever get done if you want everything to be perfect. And if nothing ever gets done, you never get paid. That’s a lesson I’ve been relearning recently. I have to make a living and pay the bills, so I can’t spend months and months on a single project before getting paid.

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

My whole life, I’ve loved the feeling of completing something and being able to step back and look at the big picture, feeling a sense of accomplishment. I used to have a job in an office where nothing was ever really “done.” It was just a constant entering of information into a database and repeating the same things weekly. I hated not having that satisfaction of knowing I had something completed that I could hold in my hands. Now though, it’s amazing to not only feel that sense of completion, but to hand it over to another artist who can use it to elevate their art and reach more fans of their work.

Contact Info:

• Website: mossflowerpictures.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/mossflowerpictures
• Youtube: youtube.com/@mossflowerpictures

Image Credits
Samantha Harvey