We were lucky to catch up with Pakawat Thongcharoen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Pakawat, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’ve love to hear an interesting investment story – what was one of the best or worst investments you’ve made? (Note, these responses are only intended as entertainment and shouldn’t be construed as investment advice)

A recent project I worked on with my team involved shooting photos and videos for a five-star hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. The budget wasn’t very high, as the hotel hadn’t invested in content creation for its online presence in a long time. However, their marketing team recognized the value of high-quality visuals and wanted to rebrand their social media image.

They approached us with the project, and we saw the potential despite the financial constraints. We knew that most of the budget would go toward flights for our team from the U.S. to Cambodia, talent, and licensed music. Even though the financial return was minimal, we believed the project would be worth it for the portfolio piece and the connections we would build with the hotel chain.

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.

I got into the business during COVID. Before the pandemic, I was a travel content creator, but when the world shut down, I couldn’t go anywhere. During the later stages of COVID, I had the opportunity to connect with an online friend who was a cinematographer. He introduced me to his world, showing me how he worked, and I learned a great deal from him. I combined those insights with my existing skills, and over time, my unique style emerged.

Now, I specialize in both photography and videography, focusing on hotels, resorts, lifestyle, and brand films. Many business owners are deeply involved in developing their products and streamlining operations but often struggle with effectively promoting their brands. That’s where I come in—I listen to their stories and create visually compelling, artistic, and authentic story-driven videos that help elevate their businesses and build brand awareness.

What sets me apart in the industry is my approach to working with clients. I ask a lot of questions before starting a project, ensuring that I fully understand their needs. More importantly, I believe in honesty—if I feel that a business isn’t at the right stage for video marketing, I will tell them upfront. My core value is staying true to what I believe and being transparent with my clients. I approach every project with a genuine willingness to help, not just as a service provider but as a strategic partner. Rather than simply taking a brief and producing a video, I bring an entrepreneurial mindset to the table, making collaboration with me feel more like working with a partner than just hiring a vendor.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

I was climbing the corporate ladder, but I knew it wasn’t the right path for me. So, I quit my job to become a travel content creator. However, at the time, it was a relatively new industry in Thailand, and I struggled to achieve financial stability. To sustain my passion, I explored different avenues—I wrote two travel books, sold photos online, worked as a tour leader for travel agencies, and even started my own travel tour business. Just as things were beginning to take shape, the pandemic hit, and everything came to a halt.

I found myself lost, unsure of which direction to take. Even before the pandemic, I had been trying to find my way in life. During the later stages of COVID, while living in Bangkok, I realized that city life wasn’t for me. I decided to move south to Phang Nga to live with a friend who was a professional cinematographer. He introduced me to his craft, and I learned by assisting him on projects. Being on set felt natural, and I quickly fell in love with the process. That’s when I decided to pursue cinematography as a career.

I took on a few projects as a cinematographer before making another major decision—moving to the U.S., a lifelong dream of mine. I enrolled in UCLA Extension to study cinematography, where I gained valuable experience working on larger sets, even if they were student projects. After graduating, I landed a job as a producer, videographer, and editor at a video production company in Bellevue, WA. However, I soon realized that corporate life wasn’t for me, so I quit and started my own video production company.

Now, I’m living my dream as a professional cinematographer, specializing in hotel and brand films. I also work internationally—my past projects have taken me to Thailand, Cambodia, and Canada. Currently, I’m in the process of planning my next project in the Maldives.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

Every platform is different. I started by sharing my travel stories simply to keep my family and friends updated. Over time, my content evolved. As I traveled and learned new things, I felt the urge to share that knowledge with others. That’s when I realized that the content with the highest engagement was the kind that provided value—whether through education, how-tos, tips and tricks, or even pure entertainment.

A lot of my content ideas come from my audience. I often find inspiration in the questions people ask in the comments, using them as a guide for what people genuinely want to learn or see.

Personally, I believe the keys to building a successful audience on social media are:

Providing value – Whether through knowledge, inspiration, or entertainment, your content should offer something meaningful to your audience.
Consistency – Regular posting keeps your audience engaged and helps with platform algorithms.
Authenticity – Your personality is what sets you apart. Being yourself creates a deeper connection with your followers.
I know these points may sound cliché, but they hold true. However, I’ll admit that maintaining consistency has been a challenge, especially now that content creation is no longer my main priority. Even so, I still have loyal followers who tell me they miss my videos and want to see more. That kind of support reminds me why I started in the first place—it’s about connection, storytelling, and sharing experiences with people who truly appreciate them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pakaprich.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pakaprich
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pakaprich
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/pakaprich