Exploring Life & Business with Emil Krasnikov of I worked as a Freelancer

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emil Krasnikov

Hi Emil, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My Journey: From Mobile videography to International Director

My career began in 2020 as a mobile videographer, working with major influencers. Today, I’m proud to be a commercial director represented by VX Media, but the path to get here wasn’t a simple one. Before I found my passion in filmmaking, I explored several different fields—studying finance, working as a legal assistant, and in a marketing department. None of those roles truly clicked for me. I knew I was searching for something that sparked genuine excitement and passion, and that journey ultimately led me to filmmaking.

A Turning Point
I’ve actually been into video since I was about 14. I used to make little ads for my dad’s restaurant and hotel on iMovie, and while it was fun, I eventually ran through all the templates and thought, “Well, that’s that!” My dad always thought I had something, but I didn’t really believe it. I mean, I wasn’t making original content—I was just stitching together clips that i shot using pre-made templates, haha.

Fast forward to August 2020, I was filming and editing more, mostly on my phone, and even got to collaborate with some big influencers—one of them had 18 million followers! I ended up taking a work trip to the UAE and shot content for big-name brands like Visa, Cartier, Samsung, and more.

Then came spring 2021, and everything changed. I got invited to a commercial shoot for a medical product, and it was the first time I’d seen a high production film set. Watching the process was a lightbulb moment for me—I fell in love with it right there and knew this was what I wanted to do with my life. But here’s the catch: at that time i had zero experience with commercial production. So, I set some goals: get a computer, buy a camera, and learn everything I could by diving headfirst into it.

By fall 2021, I finally got my hands on a camera and started working as a videographer for different brands and influencers. It was a hustle, but I was soaking up every bit of knowledge I could. Then, on March 31, 2022, I directed my first-ever project—a documentary for a medical company called Treint. It was a big deal for me, but things really took off that spring when I landed a project with PickApp, a mobile app. This was huge because I didn’t just Directed the thing—I pitched the idea, found the client, and built a whole team to pull it off. That project was a turning point. All the hard work, late nights, and learning paid off, and it cemented my passion for directing.

A Major Opportunity
In May 2022, I was presented with a significant opportunity to compete for a CGI commercial project for Treint, going up against both local and international productions. This was the same client I had worked with a few months earlier, creating a simpler video. To my surprise, they decided to trust me with a much larger project. After several detailed briefing sessions to understand the client’s needs, I brought on a designer to help develop a treatment for four CGI commercials. Over the course of a week and a half, we worked intensively to develop and animate the concept—and that’s how we won the project, which was valued at over $50,000. As a director who had just completed my first major project, I was beyond excited.

Once the contract was signed, I assembled a team spread across five countries— U.S.A., Ukraine, Czech Republic, Georgia, and Kazakhstan. Managing a global team came with its own set of challenges, but the results were worth it. We created a whole new 3D world from scratch, and it became one of the most well-executed projects I’ve been involved in.

This was not only my first international project but also the biggest in my portfolio to date. Since then, I’ve had the chance to work on more exciting projects with major brands.

Looking Back (and Forward)
From shooting videos on my phone to directing full-on commercial projects, the journey has been wild and unpredictable. I’ve learned so much just by watching and doing, and honestly, it’s made me fall even more in love with filmmaking.

I’m now based in New York and proud to have recently signed with VX Media, marking my first official representation as a director.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There were plenty of bumps, especially when I was first starting out. One of the biggest challenges was not having a formal background in filmmaking. When I realized I wanted to be a director, I didn’t have much technical knowledge or hands-on experience. I had to teach myself almost everything, mainly by watching tutorials and shadowing others on set. It was a lot of trial and error, and it took time to build up my skills.

Another struggle was gaining people’s trust. Early on, it was tough to get hired because I didn’t have a solid portfolio. I had to take on small, low-budget projects just to prove myself and gain experience. It was frustrating because I knew I could handle larger projects, but I had to be patient and build my way up.

Managing international projects brought a whole new set of challenges. Coordinating teams across different countries, dealing with time zone differences, language barriers, and tight deadlines was intense. But it also pushed me to be better at Directing and managing crew during post-production. It wasn’t easy at first, but over time, I earned the respect of my crew and learned how to lead effectively.

And honestly, one of the biggest ongoing struggles has been balancing my creative passion with the business side of things. I often get so focused on the creative vision that I have to remind myself that this is also a business—meaning budgets, negotiations, and compromises are part of the process.

All of these challenges have taught me valuable lessons. It hasn’t always been easy, but every obstacle pushed me to grow and get better at what I do.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I work as a freelance Director, but I offer also full production services, meaning I manage everything from concept development to final delivery. What truly sets me apart is the post-production team I’ve built over the past few years. I collaborate with a talented crew of editors, colorists, sound designers, and VFX/CGI artists, allowing me to take on projects of any size while ensuring top-tier quality.

My focus is on deeply understanding each client’s vision and brand, so I can create videos that genuinely resonate with their audience. I’ve had the opportunity to work with major brands like Samsung, Fide, Navien, Treint, Jägermeister, Ballantine’s, Olmeca, Ararat, Yandex, Visa, Bork, and many others.

What makes my work stand out is that I don’t just produce videos—I craft engaging stories that capture attention and effectively communicate a brand’s message. I’m proud of my ability to blend creativity with strategy, ensuring every project hits the mark. I also make it a point to stay up to date with the latest industry trends and technology, so my clients always get cutting-edge results.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Trips on a car with my dad, that was a great time.

Pricing:

• social media videos – 600-3.2k
• Commercials – 12k- 150k
• Directors fee, i ussualy take 20% from a total budget

Contact Info:

• Website: https://visionbyemil.myportfolio.com/work
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/visionbyemil/