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

Ryan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

I came up with this idea after doing it for many years unpaid. I would always video/vlog my bands “Blue Lizard” and “ToyMachine!” and handle all of our social media platforms, event planning, and communications. From that, I opened up 2 creative spaces called the “Film Factory” and “Film Factory Loft”. These spaces were 3,500 sqft and 2,000 sqft. One was an old warehouse that was converted into a creative space and the other was also the 2nd floor Loft of an old warehouse on the Westside of Jersey City. While owning these spaces, I also handled all social media platforms, websites, booking pages, air Bnb, event planning, and communications.

Because these were my spaces, and I was 1/3 partners in the business, I did not pay myself to be handling all of this. After 3 years of this, and acquiring my Sony A7iii from the business, I decided to start reaching out to businesses that needed that creative thinking and execution for Marketing. I quickly found 2 clients that put me on monthly retainers. I created their logos, website, marketing materials, and finally allowed them to understand the power of Social Media.

From that moment, I never looked back. I went from 0 clients, 2 businesses not making me any money, to now, I have over 20+ monthly retainer clients and 2 employees (Justin Donohue & Steven Wease).

I knew that I could take everything I was doing for myself and my partners, and bring it to businesses that really needed help on the marketing side of things.

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.

For those who may not have read about me before — here’s my story: I’m the founder of Smiley Impact, a creative agency focused on social media strategy, video production, and brand development. My path into this industry wasn’t conventional — it came from years of doing the work out of pure passion, long before I got paid for it.

I started by filming and managing all aspects of branding, social media, and event planning for my bands Blue Lizard and ToyMachine! I loved storytelling, building a presence, and creating connections. That love led me to open two creative spaces in Jersey City — The Film Factory and The Film Factory Loft — which I co-founded.

These spaces were hubs for creatives: photographers, musicians, entrepreneurs, and event organizers. While running both locations, I handled our website, social media platforms, Airbnb listings, booking systems, and overall communication — all without taking a salary, because I believed in building something meaningful from the ground up.
After three years, I decided to take what I had learned and start helping other businesses do the same. I used my camera, creative skills, and strategic thinking to reach out to companies that needed help telling their story and growing their brand. My first two clients put me on monthly retainers, and from there, the business took off. Now, Smiley Impact serves over 20 monthly clients and has a growing team of creatives.

The type of work we do:
Smiley Impact provides:
Social media strategy and management
Video and photo production
Branding and logo design
Website development
Content creation and digital storytelling
Marketing materials and campaign consulting
We work with businesses in industries like real estate, property management, hospitality, fitness, and entertainment — but we’re open to all sectors that value strong, creative brand presence.

The problems we solve:
Most businesses know they need to be active on social media and market themselves effectively, but don’t have the time, skills, or creative vision to execute it well. That’s where we come in. We don’t just post for clients — we think strategically, build brand identities, and create content that connects with people and drives business growth.

What sets us apart:
We bring personal experience, grit, and creative fire to everything we do. I didn’t come from a corporate agency — I came from the grind of building things from scratch. I treat every brand like it’s my own, and my team works with the same mindset. We bring a mix of storytelling, strategy, and execution that feels custom — not copy-pasted. And most importantly, we care.

What I’m most proud of:
Turning unpaid experience into a thriving business. I went from working for free to running a growing agency that supports other creatives and business owners. I’m proud that my work helps people clarify their message, grow their brand, feel excited about what they’re building, and also makes them MONEY!

What I want you to know:
Smiley Impact is built on passion, creativity, and a mission to make marketing feel human again. We’re here to help you get clear on your brand, create content that actually connects, and build momentum in a way that’s sustainable and exciting. Whether you’re just starting or scaling, we want to be part of your journey — and make you smile along the way.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

A lesson I had to unlearn was doing things for free. I always just did things for free because I learned that from my father. My father, Billy Lamon, is probably the nicest person in the world. I grew up seeing him give the shirt off his back to everyone he knew, and people he didn’t know. He is a HVAC technician, and he constantly would do work for people for free. I always felt bad having people pay me because I thought I didn’t deserve it, because what I was doing was fun to me. I quickly learned that this would stop allowing me to do things for people because I had 0 money.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Honestly, I am going to keep this simple. CARRYING MY CAMERA everywhere. Everyday that I edit, I typically edit in a coffee shop, and lay my camera right out on the table. It makes me easily approachable, and people know exactly how to start the conversation. “Hey, are you a photographer…”

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smiley_impact/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ryanlamon