Meet Camrynn Clark | Filmmaker & Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Camrynn Clark and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Camrynn, what’s the most important lesson your business/career has taught you?
I think that the most important lesson that my business has taught me is to start with what I have, where I am. Often people are so caught up in the idea that they need something that they don’t have to get started. They need the best pair of running shoes on the market to begin running. They need the most expensive paintbrushes to begin painting. When you realize that you can start with what you have, right where you are is where you begin to succeed. I started my business on one of the cheapest DSLRs (cameras) on the market that had already gone through two owners before me. I started with the most basic kit lens’ a photographer could have. I started with zero background knowledge of photography and videography, besides short films made on a 2011 iPad when I was 8 years old. Through my time as a filmmaker and photographer, I’ve been able to invest in my business and upgrade to technology and gadgets that help me to continue to succeed. I’ve definitely learned from this experience of starting small with just about everything in life. I now have this tangible evidence that “by small and simple things, are great things brought to pass.” (Alma 37:6)

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business all started as a fun project. I started making little short-films about everything around me, including my friends, sports, parks, buildings and even rain. Really anything I could point a camera at, I was filming. This is how Films by Camrynn was born! People started recognizing my work more and more, but it was still close friends and family noticing it. I originally set out to just focus on film, however, one of my friends knew that I had a camera and asked if I could take pictures for her candle business. I hesitated to say yes, but I figured I could give it a shot! (pun intended) A picture is just a single frame of a video, right? I’m eternally grateful for that friend though. Because of her, I was recognized not only for my film skills, but now photography as well. I had several friends ask for senior pictures after that year and it rocketed from there. It went from just doing close friends senior photos, to family photos, engagements, aviation, graduates, weddings, sports, activities, and a lot more. I think that is what sets me apart from other photographers/filmmakers like myself. I have such a wide variety of clients and styles I do that I’m ready at a moments notice to capture anything and everything. The only challenges I’ve had with my business have all been internal. I will sometimes catch myself comparing myself to other photographers and filmmakers and end up getting disappointed in my work or what I’m doing, but I can usually pull myself up out of that self-dug hole when I realize all of the amazing things I’ve been able to do!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
The first thing I would do, is take them for a long drive around the area. Northern Colorado is such a gorgeous area for long drives to catch up and talk! I would take them up into the mountains, possibly up to Estes Park for a day to explore all the local shops and fun things that Estes has to offer. One night, I would definitely take them up to Cheyenne to go star gazing. Wyoming, in all of its small-population-glory, is the perfect place to see all of the stars in the sky! Another place I would visit is downtown Fort Collins to eat at some of the best restaurants I know such as Vatos, Old Town Churn, Chick’nCone, and FoCo Doco (Fort Collins Donut Company). I have so many fun memories in Downtown Fort Collins and would want to make more with them! One day would probably be spent with a bunch of other friends in one of the many local baseball fields to play a friendly-yet-competitive game of kickball. Nothing says welcome to Colorado like playing kickball with a bunch of locals! Something that is pretty popular around here is Windsor Lake, so naturally, I’d take them to a day out on the lake waterskiing and tubing! Hiking is a staple here in Colorado, with that said, Devils Backbone is one of my favorite local hiking trails, so hitting that is a necessity! We’d spend every moment we could just enjoying the beauty of Northern Colorado.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people that have carried me to where I am today and what I’ve been able to accomplish in a short time. Someone I’d like to give a shoutout to is Director Mike Gough of the Troopers Drum & Bugle Corps, in Casper, Wyoming. Because of him, my work was able to be seen by thousands. I was able to take several things I love and turn it into a job. I was able to see different perspectives and angles I never would’ve thought about. I was also able to find what I love and what I want to pursue in the future.

Website: filmsbycamrynn.com

Instagram: filmsbycamrynn

Facebook: Films by Camrynn