Today we’d like to introduce you to Greg Fry.
Hi Greg, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi! I’m Greg – I grew up in Allentown, Pennsylvania where I became interested in video creation and photography at a young age. My friends and I were very active and loved action sports such as dirt biking, BMX, and snowboarding. I quickly realized that my friends were far more talented than me at sports, so I decided to film them rather than being in the videos myself. I continued to practice my craft throughout high school and used the money I earned from summer jobs to buy new gear. When it became time to apply for college, I wasn’t exactly sure what I wanted to do as a career but knew I wanted it to be focused on videography & photography. I ended up going to a small college in Northeast Pennsylvania but eventually realized that I wanted to be at a bigger school with more going on outside of the program. I transferred to Temple University in Philadelphia, where I got my bachelor’s degree in Film & Media Arts.
While studying in Philadelphia, I discovered a passion for electronic music and began to attend concerts in the area. At the time, the idea of concert photography was still relatively new to me. Electronic acts like The Chainsmokers & Zedd began to post photos from their shows and I quickly set my sights on it as something that I would want to do. In 2017, I got connected with Matt Henry who is another photographer in the Philadelphia region. He gave me some of my first paid opportunities to photograph at a local nightclub and taught me a lot about the industry. For the next year or so, I created photo/video content for the club and tried my best to shoot any projects that I could find. During the time, I also held various internships but knew I didn’t have the same passion for them as I did for freelancing.
In late 2018, Matt connected me with a smaller electronic music act named Two Friends. I did my first show with them a few weeks later. I continued to photograph shows while finishing my degree, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to make it a full-time career. I decided to complete my last semester of college in Los Angeles, where I interned at Capitol Records and was introduced to more amazing mentors in the industry. After graduating college, I got offered my first tour where I was hired to capture content for a band called The Charming Liars. We did 35 shows together and I am forever grateful to them for giving me a chance.
Shortly after returning from that tour, Two Friends started to grow significantly and brought me on as their main tour photographer and videographer. Since 2019, I have traveled to over 300 shows with Two Friends across the US, Canada, Mexico, South America, and Europe. I currently work as their head of media where I manage all photo and video content as well as assist with general brand creative. In addition to my work with Two Friends, I continue to take on other freelance projects as a video editor, videographer, and photographer!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I have respect for anyone that jumps into a freelance career in any creative space. Without a roadmap to navigate the industry, I struggled to figure out my finances and keep consistent work. The touring business is especially competitive and getting to the point where I was making any money at all took over three years. Once I met people in the industry, it became easier to scale my business, but I do think starting out can be a slow and intimidating process.
People often ask me how to break into the industry or how to set yourself apart, and I think it comes down to three traits – being creative, hardworking, and reliable. Especially in LA, it is SO easy to find someone who is creative. While I do think creativity can get your foot in the door, being hardworking and reliable will spread your name so much faster. There are so many people that miss deadlines or don’t respond to emails and texts – so if you can do those things well, you don’t have to be the most talented creative in order to succeed. I would much rather hire someone who is reliable and hardworking over someone who is creative but lacks the other traits.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
During the weekdays, most of my time is spent editing videos within the corporate and music industry spaces. I enjoy splitting my time between the two because they require me to think and edit in completely different ways. I edit everything from brand videos and interviews for corporate clients to music videos and 3D visuals for artists. During the weekend, I am typically traveling for shows and running social content for Two Friends.
What makes you happy?
From a business perspective, I find joy by working on many different types of projects. I enjoy balancing multiple projects at once and checking projects off the list as I complete them. I try not to spend too much time on any single project so that I am always working on something new and fresh.
In my personal life, I love to spend time with my friends and family. I enjoy trying new foods and have an Instagram page where I review chicken wings around the world! Of course, I love to travel and have the privilege of my career allowing me to do that.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.gregfrymedia.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gregfryy/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-fry/
- Other: https://www.twofriendsmusic.com/
Image Credits
Greg Fry | @gregfryy
