Last month, Voyage Michigan invited Jenny to speak on her story as a creative entrepreneur in the video production industry. If you've ever been curious about her journey from freelancer editor and videographer to accidental small business owner, here's a little more about it!
From Jenny: I love sharing the ins and outs of creating and operating a video agency supporting brands and businesses, but also, the things that keep me going outside of work. The fact that Voyage asked questions like "What makes you happy?" alongside the challenges along the way makes sharing more about being in this role so much more holistic.
Read more below about her decade + of experience in the industry, the challenges along the way, and the mission and vision of Wondergold Pictures.
Hi Jenny, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. My role now is video producer, director, and accidental business owner, but my background extends through many roles in production and media creation that began when I was a teenager. I’ve always been a creative that’s a little type-a (in certain spaces, ignore my dirty dishes, though.)
Last year, in 2023, I launched my video agency, Wondergold Pictures. Our photo and video services support businesses that operate with intention. I have a team of freelancers, but day-to-day, I’m a solopreneur, and my self-employed life serves me well.
After graduating college, I found myself on a million freelance jobs. I worked in live production, running camera at sporting events, producing and editing a CBS racing show, getting way too deep in the wedding film industry. I worked for production companies on anything and everything that came up.
After a few years of establishing my skills and my network, I started to get requests from clients for projects. After that, businesses became my favorite type of client. Better budgets allowed me to start hiring a crew, bringing on assistant editors, and moving into the role of producer and director, rather than doing too many jobs at once.
Now, the vision of the new business is to continue the creative work, making good videos and taking brilliant photos. I want to take my clients through our creative process to elevate their visuals and connect them to conscious consumers. I love being the guide for companies who have complex ideas and I think video is such a great way to distill them.
I’m still quite creative, but a lot of it happens during small processes of each project (in the final edit formation, during filming with my crew, etc.) or outside of work altogether. I’m a writer, and I love so many other mediums for creation that don’t activate my business brain.
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 parts come easy; some parts can grind you down, so you want to quit and move to the woods, right? Just me?
Michigan and the video industry:
Michigan can be a tough place to be creative! While there are tons of us here making beautiful work, we’re not a huge market, and our budgets, seasons, and so many factors can limit us. In 2014, we lost the film incentives, which drove a lot of production out of the state. That’s the year I graduated, and it was hard to find a job that anyone in any other industry might be offered. Salaried jobs with benefits in the video industry… hard to come by.
Changing technology:
Vertical video, small budgets, finding a reliable, creative team to work with, AI, social media, new cameras, wooof. It’s a lot to keep up with. I knew we’d age out as technology shifted, but I’m not ready yet.
Mental health:
I’m constantly mindful of my capacity. Owning my own business and working for myself has made it possible to create a life that allows for the flexibility I need as a neurodivergent person and someone navigating life with CPTSD. I’m allowed the freedom to enjoy the things I love without being locked into a schedule that doesn’t suit me.
Inclusion:
The video industry is wildly white and male. Ever seen behind-the-scenes photos on movie sets? It’s rare to see women, NB folks, or people of color. It always has felt lonely to be a woman on other sets or behind a camera on a TV crew. However, operating a business means I can now consciously encourage and hire a more diverse crew. I hope to one day find ways to provide education and support to women, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC folks looking to enter the industry, too.
The job looks different now!:
Running a business is soooo hard. Some days, we are flowing; some days, I am drowning in boring paperwork. Plus, when you turn your art into work, it can convolute it. I have to fight for my creative self! I’m always trying to ensure that I don’t lose the things I love now that I am operating the business day-to-day. I leave room for creative play outside of the job. I spend a lot of time writing and trying new crafts and hobbies, letting some things be work and some just play.
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 get so excited to talk about Wondergold Pictures! We’ve only just launched, but I really think this business and the work we do has a place here in late-stage capitalism.
Wondergold Pictures is a boutique video agency that is as intentional as our clients are! We work with remarkable brands to elevate their photo and video content to connect them with their audience. The creative and production process can be daunting, and we’re a guide through it. We have a discovery process that gets us closer to visuals that align and elevate the companies that invest with us.
Our goal is to elevate the brands that operate with intentionality so they are more visible to customers. We believe that as consumers, the choices we make when we shop have power. We want to encourage the people who are able to shop with ethically run companies and brands. When we look for our clients, we look for things like conscious material sourcing for products, body inclusion in marketing AND sizing, companies who are committed to sustainable practices, and more. Whatever the industry, we want to support the companies that are going against the status quo and operating with care.
We’re a member of 1% for the Planet as well as the Clean Creatives movement, a group of agencies and freelancers who have vowed to not work with fossil fuel industries. We’re getting our name out there still, but excited for what’s possible!
What makes you happy?
I find sooo much joy in the outdoors. I am a hiker and love to spend time in the woods. I also curate the f— out of my home, it’s full of plants and art and so cozy.
You can find me at a farmers’ market, saying hi to the people, buying locally made cheese and seasonal vegetables. Or at my refill shop, getting my soaps, living out my sustainable values in the little ways I’m able to! We have a great community in Lansing.
Mostly, my people make me happy. I have a wonderful freelance team, great partners and friends, and the faces that I get to see around town bring me joy. There’s tons of professional support here, too. I have this super cool teenage stepson and two new nieces. My chosen family fills my heart and soul at every step of this wildlife.
I’ve been on a journey in my mental health and healing that ties directly into my identity and queerness. I’m recently divorced. I’m getting to experience a whole new life after and it has been such a source of joy.
For me, the last few years have been so good and whole. I am more myself than ever since I turned 30. It is my joy to find and become this version of me.
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