Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam Simmons.
Hi Adam, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Around five years ago, I got my first camera. I fell in love and never looked back. Within my first week, I had a paid videographer gig and within a year, I was working for the University of Oregon athletic department and with that, I started to get better rather quickly. I started liking the idea that this newfound hobby could actually be a career for me – and if I were to make it a career, I might as well strive to be the best at it. Going into my senior year, I switch flipped inside my brain. Creating video was the only thing I thought about, and to this day it has never stopped. After working another year at the Ducks, I got in contact with the Los Angeles Rams where I was hired as a video producer and traveled the country following the Rams 2019 journey.
In 2020, the pandemic hit and my mom lost her business. She is a single mom and is currently raising my little brothers on her own, so I knew I had to make a change. In April of 2020, I started my business plan for SMNZ LLC. We officially launched in August of 2020, invested over 10K in camera equipment, and hired five employees. With the use of my personal brand and the skills I learned working at the Ducks and the Rams, I quickly started retaining clients. Now, we have a total of 8 clients we work with on a weekly basis and our goal is to grow to that number to 15+ by March of 2020 and with that expand to Portland, Oregon moving into 2022.
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?
Life is hard no matter what you do. I have had my fair share of struggles, but everyone has. I try not to make excuses and just get better every day. I don’t linger on my successes or my losses, I simply just try and become a better version of myself every day. Life is a roller coaster, and I am just enjoying the ride.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a video producer that specializes in short-form content mainly for social media. I am known for my cinematic, heart-pounding edits and trailers. I would also say that I am known for shooting football content. What sets me apart from others is that while they’re asleep, I am working. Once I get started on a project or task, I can’t stop until it is perfect. From the color to the sound design, I have to make sure everything I make is an accurate reflection of my ability and lives up to my reputation, which can mean workdays up to 23 hours on any given day.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is that amateurs wait for inspiration to come while the pros get up and get to work. My goal is to create content that shows how the world should be and not how it actually is. A lot of that inspiration comes from my favorite creative agency, Beautiful Destinations.
Contact Info:
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: smnzfilms.com
- Instagram: @adam__simmons
