StoryFirst w/ Damian Grey

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! What if the reason clients haggle isn’t your rates, but your message? We explore why videographers and creative founders get trapped in the “I do everything” lane and how that erodes memory, referrals, and pricing power. With Humara Aktor, we unpack the practical path from a scattered service menu to a focused, outc...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! (Part 2) We explore how Harris Media balances creative integrity with business strategy, why trust and team structure matter more than gear, and how process and relationships sustain growth through industry shifts. Practical advice anchors the talk: diagnose client problems, price with clarity, manage seasons, and i...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! We trace Rudy Harris’s journey from a $300 winter and tungsten lights to a scaled studio delivering over a thousand videos a year, unpacking the decisions, systems, and people that made it possible. We focus on hiring with honesty, building standards that protect quality, and choosing consistency over clout even thr...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! The ever-present question haunting videographers today isn't new, but it's taken on fresh urgency: Can we truly deliver meaningful ROI to our clients in this content-saturated world? Drawing from years of experience, this episode tackles this challenge head-on through powerful storytelling and practical wi...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! The debate between polished production and authentic content has been settled, and authenticity wins by a landslide. Join Damian and guest Chynna Morgan of Vidlo as they reveal eye-opening insights about why user-generated content (UGC) has become essential for brands seeking to build trust and drive meaningful enga...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! The authenticity gap between brand messaging and real customer experiences has never been more apparent. When we trust recommendations from friends over advertisements, we're participating in the trust economy that makes user-generated content (UGC) so powerful.    In this enlightening 3-part series with Chynna...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! The authenticity gap between brand messaging and real customer experiences has never been more apparent. When we trust recommendations from friends over advertisements, we're participating in the trust economy that makes user-generated content (UGC) so powerful. In this enlightening 3-part series with Chynna Mo...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! Growth takes many forms in our creative journeys—sometimes it's about expanding our business offerings, but often the most profound development happens within ourselves. Marley Parker's story of building Wild Magnolia Studios perfectly captures this dual evolution. During our heartfelt conversation, Marley...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! Photographer Marley Parker shares how her vision for Wild Magnolia Studio evolved from a personal workspace into a thriving community hub that empowers photographers and content creators to connect, collaborate, and grow their skills. • Creating a versatile studio space that photographers can make their own • Buildi...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! What happens when you follow that inner tug pulling you away from a successful career path toward something unknown? Marley Parker's journey from wedding photographer to the visionary behind Wild Magnolia Studios reveals the beautiful transformation that occurs when we honor our creative instincts. Starting in...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! We explore the mindset and strategies needed to build genuine online relevance, positioning yourself as the authentic solution to your ideal clients' problems rather than just another option. • Shift from wanting to be seen to wanting to be connected with as a solution • Calibrate your mindset by identifying an...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! This episode dives deep into the foundational elements of starting your own video media business. We explore essential insights and practical advice aimed at aspiring filmmakers and content creators ready to turn their passion into a career. • Introduction to the topic of video production  • The growing interest in...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! This episode explores the journey of creating a promotional video for Teach for America during the pandemic, emphasizing the theme of resilience in education. It delves into the collaborative process, from initial planning to filming and editing, highlighting the importance of clear purpose and storytelling. • Colla...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! Each episode is a candid exploration of the challenges videographers & business owners face, including imposter syndrome, social media scrolling addiction, and feelings of isolation. Through personal anecdotes and actionable advice, Damien shares strategies for overcoming these hurdles and cultivating a stronger...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! Transitioning to a new city unveils layers of opportunities you never knew existed. The episode reflects my personal experience of moving to Cincinnati and how engaging with the community through networking events sparked collaborations and growth.  • Emphasis on the importance of community engagement  • Insights fr...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! This episode focuses on empowering creatives to grow their video businesses through actionable insights and shared experiences. We discuss finding mentors, setting achievable goals, discovering your purpose, and emphasizing service over self, all while nurturing a supportive family environment for business success. ...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! In this episode I'm joined with Kemp Lyons with Ember Scout to talk about the elusive buzzword - Storytelling. We explore the art and structure of storytelling, stressing its vital role in video production and marketing. Here's a great episode to gain insights into frameworks and strategies that help creat...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! Isn't it crazy how you can work for a decade in video production and still feel as if you haven't arrived yet? Like you're still trying to pursue the kind of work that you'd like to pursue. In this episode, I sit down with Lysandra Petersson, one of the leaders of the award-winning documentary fi...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! We made goals for the new year. Everything should work now, right? We made a plan, thought through the process, had the meetings, updated calendars, connected with peers & colleagues. What happens when it doesn't go according to plan?  How do we progress purposefully? FilmStory Podcast : https://podcasts.ap...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! As we bring in the New Year, let's talk goals, pivots & collaborative events for 2024. Here's some insight for the new year with Jonothan Shover of Millpond Photography. Connect with Millpond: https://millpondphotography.com/ FilmStory Podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmstory/id1641955...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! Collaboration! We're talking about the upcoming Video Storytelling Workshop in Staunton, VA. If you're a small biz owner trying to build your presence online, this is the event you won't want to miss! Connect with Millpond: https://millpondphotography.com/ FilmStory Podcast : https://podcasts.apple.co...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! With such a consumer-based market, we can lose the desire to persevere through our film journey, and wait to buy the next big thing in order to make moves on what we're trying to pursue. Here's a little insight from Jonathan on his goal for 2024 to film more with using less. Connect with Millpond Photograp...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! With a new year, comes new challenges...and a new baby! Take a listen at how Millpond Photography pivoted their efforts in their career to bring in a new addition into their family.  FilmStory Podcast : https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/filmstory/id1641955836 What do we do : https://myfilmstory.com Youtube : htt...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! Instead of trying to operate how you think a business owner is suppose to operate, what if we took the time to inventory our own selves and developed our own innate strengths to serves our clients well. In the episode we talk with Jason Boron of Leading Strong LLC to discuss what this very thing looks like as a busi...

Send us a text for questions or thoughts on the episode. Yes I read & respond! With social media becoming more and more like the late night TV ads some of us grew up watching, it's easy to feel as if your success can only come from a specific end-product. In this episode, I'm joined with Jonathan & Sam Shover of Millpond Photography to hear their story of how making a key decisio...