Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Jessy Richmond

We recently had the chance to connect with Jessy Richmond and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessy , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, I’ve been really enjoying something that might sound a little funny coming from a filmmaker watching movies and TV shows. But it’s been more than just entertainment for me. I’ve been studying them, really paying attention to the cinematography, the way shots are composed, how lighting tells a story. It’s like rediscovering the craft from a whole new perspective, and it’s been really inspiring. Sometimes I get so caught up in work that I forget to notice the little things that can inspire me, so revisiting films this way has been really refreshing and inspiring.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jessy Richmond, and I’m the founder and owner of Richmond Media Group. We’re a full service media production company specializing in photography and film not just for artists in the music industry, but also for national campaigns for brands and organizations. What makes us unique is our ability to capture moments authentically while telling a compelling story. which has been an incredible experience because we get to blend creativity with strategy to help our clients elevate their visual presence and connect with their audiences in a genuine way.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was someone who noticed everything. I loved rhythm and silence equally sounds that made me move, images that made me stop. I’ve always been a big lover of music and film. As a kid, I’d buy magazines like Word Up! and study every detail, from the fonts and color choices to how the artists were styled. I didn’t realize it then, but I was already learning the language of storytelling.

I used to record music videos just so I could rewind them and break them down shot for shot not only to study the filmmaking, but also to understand how each frame matched the beat. I was studying long before I had a camera. That curiosity, that obsession with how visuals and sound come together, is who I was before the world tried to define me and it’s still the foundation of who I am today.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me lessons success never could. Success shows you what you can build suffering shows you who you become while you’re building it.

When you go through hardship you learn endurance not the flashy kind that gets applauded, but the quiet, daily endurance: how to get up when a job falls through, how to work with nothing and still make something honest. Suffering taught me humility and perspective. It stripped away the idea that luck or applause are proof of worth, and replaced it with a steadier metric: do I keep showing up? Do I protect the reasons I make things in the first place?

Suffering isn’t a crown to wear. You are not your suffering. It’s a teacher sometimes a harsh one and the healthiest move is to learn, adapt, and move forward. Success gives you affirmation, resources, and the feeling that you always had inside you. But it rarely forces you to confront your limits or to rebuild from the ground up. The two coexist: the hard times shape the person who can handle success with humility; success then gives voice and reach to the lessons you earned. But never let suffering become your identity.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would probably say that what really matters to me is intention. Whether it’s in my work or my relationships, I care about things being real, meaningful, and rooted in purpose. They’d say I’m someone who shows up, someone who listens deeply, and someone who protects the people I care about.

They also know how much I value momentum. I’m always preaching it not just as a concept, but as a lifestyle. I really believe that staying in motion, even in small ways, keeps you aligned with your goals and keeps your creativity alive. And that’s something I try to imprint not only in my own life, but in the lives of the people around me. I’m always reminding them that consistency is what creates breakthroughs.

They’d also tell you that learning matters to me. I’m constantly studying film, music, the industry, personal development anything that can help me grow. And I encourage the people close to me to keep educating themselves too, because evolving is part of staying grounded and intentional.

At the end of the day, my friends know that what matters to me is connection, authenticity, purpose and the momentum that keeps you moving toward the best version of yourself.

Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
I think what people might misunderstand about my legacy is that it’s not just about the work I create it’s about the foundation I’m building for the people coming after me. A lot of people see the projects, the artists, the visuals, the momentum but they don’t always see the intention behind it. I’m not just trying to make great work I’m trying to shift mindsets, open doors, and leave something behind that outlives my name.

There’s a line in Jay-Z’s “Legacy” (“This is bigger than me. I’m building something that’s meant to continue after I’m gone.”) Where he talks about building something that continues without him a vision, a structure, a blueprint. That’s exactly how I think about what I’m doing. My legacy isn’t meant to be a moment; it’s meant to be a system. A mindset. A standard. Something the next generation can stand on.

People might think it’s about the images, the films, the campaigns but for me, the real legacy is the impact, the elevation, and the opportunities that come from it. The part they don’t see yet is that everything I’m doing now is laying bricks for someone else’s breakthrough later.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.richmondmediagrp.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richmondmediagroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessyrichmond

Image Credits
The picture of me photo credit is: Urde Studio – Laura Groenewoud. All other photos of artist are by me. Jessy Richmond.