We were lucky to catch up with Nicholas Gascho recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Nicholas, thanks for joining 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?
Yes, I’ve been able to earn a full-time living from my creative work, but it wasn’t that way from the start. Back in 2015, I entered a 60-hour film challenge, which became a turning point. At that time, I had already earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Filmmaking six years prior but struggled to find a decent job in the industry. While I received a few offers in downstate Michigan, they were minimum-wage positions that weren’t financially feasible due to the high cost of relocating.
Frustrated and ready to change careers, I decided to sell all my camera gear. But before letting it go, I came across an international 60-hour film challenge and decided to give filmmaking one last shot even if it meant making something that sucked. With the help of some friends, I created a project with no expectations—it was more of a farewell to filmmaking than anything else. To my surprise, while the film didn’t win the international contest, it received four different awards at other festivals.
That experience made me hungry to keep going and opened doors to new opportunities. Through the connections I made, I began finding video-related work and eventually started my own business. Over time, building a diverse portfolio allowed me to identify where there was real demand for video services. Looking back, I see that persistence, networking, and consistently honing my craft were key to making this a sustainable career.
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?
My name is Nick Gascho, and I’m a videographer and filmmaker. Alongside my wife, Brittany, I run Media Potion, a small media production company based in Northern Michigan. We specialize in creating wedding films, promotional videos, music videos, and content for businesses and individuals.
While I hold a degree in filmmaking, Brittany has been instrumental in growing our business. Over the past eight years, she has learned videography, photography, editing, and social media management by working closely with me. She’s become an irreplaceable partner in every aspect of what we do, and I couldn’t have built this business without her talent and dedication.
A significant part of our work comes from wedding photography and videography, which we manage through our sister brand, Wedding Potion. We are proud to be one of the few wedding businesses in Northern Michigan that offer comprehensive photo and video packages. This integrated approach provides a seamless experience for our clients, who don’t have to juggle multiple vendors.
What sets us apart is our ability to combine the art of storytelling with the technical skill needed for professional videography. Many wedding videographers come from photography backgrounds or have limited experience in creating short films. In contrast, videography requires expertise across shooting, editing, sound design, and color grading to truly tell a story or convey ideas effectively and its rare to be bale to cover all those bases proficiently. Additionally I would say that we offer a level of consistency and professionalism that most of our competitors can’t match.
We’re also growing! We’re looking to onboard passionate wedding videographers, editors, and photographers. If you’re interested in joining our team, we’d love to hear from you. You can connect with us through our website at www.weddingpotion.com/contact.
What I’m most proud of is our consistency and our ability to achieve so much with so little. Whether we’re working with wedding couples, businesses, or artists, we’ve consistently delivered high-quality work that has earned us excellent reviews and praise from our clients. In 2022, we made another short film that ended up winning awards at two film festivals. It was such a rewarding experience and a reminder of why we love what we do. Whether it’s a wedding, a promotional video, or a creative project, we put the same level of care into everything we create. Hearing positive feedback from our clients and knowing our work resonates is what makes it all worthwhile.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is the freedom and responsibility that comes with it. I love that I get to be my own boss and rely on my own skills and effort to find work and create opportunities. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about being able to provide value through what I create, knowing that it directly impacts my clients and their goals. It’s not always easy, but that challenge is part of what makes it so satisfying—it keeps me motivated and constantly striving to do better.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
My ultimate goal is to reach a point where I can focus on producing movies, shows, or films alongside a group of talented people who I’d consider not just collaborators but also friends. There’s something special about creating meaningful work in an environment where everyone shares a passion for the project. I’d love to have the freedom to concentrate on developing ideas and directing projects, rather than having to juggle so many different roles. For now, I’m grateful for the variety in my work because it’s taught me so much, but I hope to build toward a future where I can really dive deep into the creative process.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mediapotion.net and www.weddingpotion.com
- Instagram: @weddingpotion @mediapotion
- Facebook: facebook.com/mediapotin facebook.com/weddingpotion
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/weddingpotion
