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

Trenton, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively?

From a young age I had a very special opportunity to peer into the lives of my parents careers who have owned their own companies since I was a child.

Ups and down…… Absolutely. But I feel like that is inevitable for start up businesses as a whole. What was unique with my parents is their perseverance and want to always strive to make what they had better. I learned that getting comfortable in a situation can be a very dangerous thing for businesses or business owners. Staying innovating, creating and striving for goals set is something crucial I consciously always try to implement into my business that I without a doubt learned from them. I am very thankful to have such good role models in business and life growing up that helped me lead to the decision to walk away from my old career 5 years ago and pursue this full time. That is a thanks I will never be able to repay them for. Something I cherish greatly!

Trenton, 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?

My name is Trenton Johnson and I am the Owner of 613media and 613weddings. We are a team of creatives based out of Fort Worth, TX dedicated to bringing ideas and helping make them visual.

In-house we specialize in videography
projects of all sizes, photography, graphic design, music release planning/content strategizing and marketing of all shapes and sizes.

When it comes to industry it can be hard to pinpoint. We strive for having the flexibility to mold our style to industries of all kinds, because all of us here have tons of interests. If I had to narrow it down most would fall under music, branding, live events, action sports and lifestyle shoots.

We love what we do here and are always open to projects of all sizes. Telling stories is what we love – and bringing it to life is why we do it.

Can you share one of your favorite marketing or sales stories?

When I got started doing this I wanted people to get a chance to experience the product we would produce before they made the decision to do business with us.

For most instances in the first year I would come out, shoot , edit and travel for free. I saw it as an investment, so when it came time to pay or pay was brought up I would tell my client “don’t worry about it. Let me get this one and if you like my work have me back out and then we can do something paid”. I did this because I hoped that my work would speak for itself and that if they saw value in it they would have me back out under paid terms this time. It always felt like a risk but thankfully it paid off in many instances.

One in particular that was very clear on this topic particularly was getting to visit with Parker McCollum one night, an artist I had the opportunity of touring with for a couple years.

I asked him “why did you have me out in the first place, I know there are a lot of people that would come do this.” And I’m thankful that he shared with me “it was because you gave me that first video and didn’t ask for anything in return, and I appreciated that”. That was something that stuck with me and probably the first time I felt like the “investment” per say I took at the beginning paid off in a way that was evident.

I’m thankful for that conversation and Parker probably wont ever know what that meant to me fully, because it gave me fuel to realize this tactic of growing my business was something that in time I felt like could benefit me greatly in the long run.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Absolutely, in year 3 of business was when COVID hit. As a business based 70% at the time on live music – let’s just say it was interesting for a couple of months while we figured out a backup plan.

Live shows, life events, and branding events were what we did mostly. And with all large gatherings coming to a screeching hault during the pandemic we were forced to find a plan B.

Not knowing at the time but this was actually something that would push us into the direction we thankfully are in today. With no gatherings we turned our focus to media that didn’t require that; music video productions, acoustic videos, brand promotional videos, engagement shoots, music releases etc.

Looking back now I am very thankful in the grand scheme of things. The pandemic, although NOT ideal, gave us the encouragement to step into a new side of our business and that makes up for about 70% of the work we do now and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.613.media
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/613media/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/613media/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/613_media
• Youtube: https://vimeo.com/user121068535
• Other: https://vimeo.com/user121068535

Image Credits
Jordan Dean – Personal Photo of Me