Today we’d like to introduce you to Six TheDirector.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up, I’ve always been in love with making music, having fun with friends coming up with sounds and like everyone else at one point, had the objective of “making it big” lol. Financially I wasn’t able to spend as much as I’d like to help support music career as my passion grew for it and it just became a pain I didn’t want to deal with anymore. So everyday from middle school to high school, I would jump off the boss, head straight home and just be on youtube watching tutorials on everything an artist would need to successfully grow.
Eventually, this lead me to educating myself on how to make graphics, from graphics to how to shoot my own music videos and last but not least photography followed after. For years to follow, I would consistently create art for myself and a few select friends, even managed artists myself at one point.
During what I thought would be a great year after being hired to an amazing job opportunity, everything went south and fast. I ended up losing my job, eviction was nearing around the corner, and the people around me I housed and fed had left me to tackle these issues on my own.
We ended up having a friend visiting from Kansas City stay with us and when she needed to get back home she brought the idea of us coming with her. so my fiancé and I got up and set out on a road trip to KC looking for a fresh start. I had researched the music scene and been scouting studios to go to eventually coming across a group of artists that became my new team.
The only issue was I was now in a new state with my fiancé and baby. She easily got a job in culinary as she went to school for it but me on the other hand had to figure a way to bring in a income since I was still searching.
I had saw a posting on Facebook about an artist needing a music video so I reached out to shoot it for her using my detachable laptop screen. It wasn’t the best but it definitely got the job done and I was paid for it.
We continued this on for a couple more videos and eventually, word of mouth spread which brought more clients for me to shoot. I started recording run way shows to makeup launch events and live music shows eventually building a decent 74k following on Twitter for my art. After four years there, we decided it was time to move to LA and push for bigger opportunities. The idea didn’t disappoint, within the first two months I landed a live radio performance with Wish USA, met incredible talents artists, some of which I’d never thought I’d meet in person, contributed to building a multimedia entertainment studio in Hollywood along with other creators, and recently have been promoted at my job from warehouse associate to photo assistant and videographer on the marketing team.
My objective has always been to keep my services low while still providing quality content for those that cant afford it. To be the one stop shop, the “walmart or best buy” of visual arts and entertainment. I continuously still fly to KC once a month and partnered with six other creatives to owning a studio there while I’m still building in LA.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
It was never a smooth road, lol, the difficulties of not wanting to do ordinary work, but having to deal with it cuz money is needed. The many times having to put what you want to do on hold to do what you need to for your family. Being good at something and questioning the motives of those around you are all part of the journey of being an entrepreneur.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in photography, cinematography, and graphic design. I have an eye for how to do things in affordable ways that may be costly otherwise. I always say all the equipment is never really needed, it can be achieved in different ways from the norm and that’s what sets me apart. I’m proud of all my work, if it makes the customer smile and happy then I feel I’ve done a great job.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
Lol, I’m always learning from youtube and creatives in person. Most of what I’ve learned came from buffnerds media, YCimaging and even No Jumper podcast taught me how to interact with certain people and accept differences that people usually don’t accept.
Pricing:
- $150 Photoshoots
- $500 base rate for Music Videos
- $35 Graphic Arts
Contact Info:
- Email: sixcollectivemedia@gmail.com
- Website: Sixcollectivemedia.com
- Instagram: Instagram.com/belikesix, Instagram.com/six_thedirector
- Facebook: Facebook.com/six_thedirector
- Twitter: @belikesix
- Youtube: Youtube.com/sixtheartist
- SoundCloud: SoundCloud.com/belikesix
Image Credits
Photographer: myself (@six_thedirector)
