Life & Work with Jacob Haag

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Haag.

Hi Jacob, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started making short videos when I was around 14 years old and instantly fell in love with capturing stories on my camera. I would document short moments with my family and eventually transitioned to making YouTube videos with my friends. As I got older, I gained a lot of inspiration from music video directors such as Valentin Petit and Cole Bennett. When I was 20, I got the opportunity to direct my own music video for an artist I had known since high school. The joy I got from tying such beautiful visuals with an equally beautiful song is a feeling I still chase to this day with each video I direct. As I’ve gotten to work with bigger production crews, I’ve really enjoyed the sense of responsibility as the director and being in charge of such a large operation, despite the moments of stress, I really find peace in seeing the production run smoothly and working with everyone to make a beautiful image. The sense of family and coming together on set with all the different crew members is one of my favorite aspects of making music videos. I love that we can all come together and help each other achieve one common goal.

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?
Some of the biggest struggles for me as a director come when I feel burnt out or like I’ve run out of creative ideas for a video. I’m my own hardest critic and sometimes I convince myself that my work isn’t good enough and that I should stop directing. However, over time I’ve learned that overcoming these mental battles is what makes me a stronger director.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’ve been a music video director and editor for over 2 years. I specialize in editing as that is what I have received the most recognition for so far. I’ve only recently begun to take on a more significant directorial role. My editing skills have landed me multiple jobs as a content editor, but I credit most of my editing talents to my time working on music videos. I’ve gotten quite good at rhythmic editing or editing to music and cutting on the beats, which many content companies have praised. In this industry, it is easy to lose touch with your true identity so I would say that I am most proud of the fact that I have stayed true to myself and my beliefs. This sense of self-identity and passion for my work sets me apart from others. With each video I create, I love to tell stories that are authentic to each artist and pair their songs with visuals that live up to the artist’s passion for their song.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I think luck plays a significant role in anyone’s career. For me, I feel like luck has touched my career through how I’ve met some of the artists I’ve gotten to work with. Some of my projects have stemmed from being in the right place at the right time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @jacob.haag
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-haag-8a709521a
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLYK2uhE-BTtnTdK-KvpLn1L1pUTdtbpFS

Image Credits
Chris Jang