Meet Harry Peluso | Videographer

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

Hi Harry, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
After recently downloading instagram and being exposed to awe inspiring sports action videos in sixth grade, all I had wanted that Christmas was a GoPro to replicate the wonders I had just seen. My dream came true, and as soon as I unwrapped the packaging, I threw the micro SD card into its slot and began filming anything from walking my dog on my skateboard to my middle school basketball practices. Admittedly, my first video was nothing like what I had seen online, but it awakened the desire to tell vivacious stories and create emotion inducing media that I hadn’t known existed within me. Since that transforming spark, video editing and media production have become a huge part of my daily life. Joining my high school’s media club, I became the lead sports cameraman and began teaching myself editing software through Youtube.

When high school ended, I was more enthusiastic than ever to learn new editing techniques, and joining the student work force at Notre Dame’s Fighting Irish Media (FIM) satisfied these cravings. Unlike high school, I had 24 hour swipe access into the studio, so after my study was completed and everyone had left work for the day, the studio became my personal playground to feed my hunger and experiment with foreign software features and editing techniques. Nights in the studio became 9 pm to 3 am in an instant as I curated my own storytelling style, drawing inspiration from other creator’s saved edits and the studio’s own archived projects. Friends would ask, “Why would you ever stay at your student job for so long?”, but they didn’t understand. It wasn’t a job for me. I may be self-taught in my editing and production skills, but my fascination and persistence to constantly learn about the industry is something that can’t be questioned. From a simple hobby to more of a calling.

Yet, it wasn’t until this most recent semester when I truly decided to pursue this passion more professionally. In entering college, I decided to pursue a civil engineering and Japanese supplementary major, while pursuing my videography passions with FIM. To begin, my freshman year advisor told me, “You can’t pursue a language minor with engineering. It’s just too hard.” To say the least, this pissed me off, and let’s just say, I got a new advisor. For my first two years in college, I was taking 5 credits of Japanese a semester and overloading my schedule to fit the language into my engineering schedule, all while also working at FIM over 10 hours a week. It was a grind, I’m not going to lie to you: my roommates began to make fun of me, saying they wouldn’t see me for a few days at a time; I would wake up before them to begin my day and go to bed later than them to fit in all of my course work into the day. As I mentioned, these long nights would usually end in the studio. On my way back to the dorm, I would skateboard through campus by Hesburgh Library, only the sound of the wheels rolling along the concrete and crickets chirping at 3 am. A peaceful moment I always relished despite the bags of my eyes drooping and desperately wanting to close for the night.

During this past junior spring semester, it was during these rides where I began to ponder on my future after school, and there were two options ahead of me: first, pursue civil engineering, where I’d find an internship with a company and work my way up the corporate ladder of a large firm, or second, venture down a path unknown and pursue my creative passion in videography to blaze my own trail. Over the entire semester, this was a question that continued to pop up in my head, when hearing what internships friends were obtaining or getting an email about the career fair. Striving to have options in both spheres, I applied to over 100 internships in both civil engineering and videography fields. By March, I had obtained three engineering internship offers, but after much deliberation, I decided to reject all of them in hopes of securing a videography role for the summer. But one rejection turned into another, and as May came by, I hadn’t gotten accepted into a single videography role. Quite late into the semester, I was beginning to worry about what I would do for the summer. Despite my internship struggles, however, I was continuing to grow as a creative: I became a brand ambassador for the 87, a local apartment complex being built off Notre Dame’s campus. I also became the third FIM student worker to ever travel with a sports team when I filmed the Men’s Swimming team at their national championship event. Furthermore, I was continuing to find confidence in posting videos to my personal instagram, taking inspiration from other creators on the platform or trending effects. After seeing my “What’s Up Brother” video that I posted in collaboration with the 87, Liam Redmond– the CEO of a start up called Yelo– reached out on LinkedIn asking if I wanted to edit a video for an upcoming event of theirs. In our following meeting, however, I saw an opportunity with Yelo that was greater than a single event: I pitched to Liam the idea of joining his team in a greater role to direct marketing efforts and produce content for the social media. After pitching my vision, I obtained the role for the summer to work part time 20 hours per week.

Around the same time, Ky, a good friend of mine at Notre Dame, introduced me to Laurie Stiles, his boss, at Marmon Rail. Knowing I come from an engineering background with videography skills, he thought I would be perfect for a marketing internship with Marmon. After two successful interviews, I accepted the role as a way to pursue marketing while continuing in an engineering industry, the best of both worlds. After the interview process, however, Laurie revealed to me that it wasn’t my skills, resume, or experience that sold her, but something else: when I said, “I love studying civil engineering, but I am pursuing videography this summer because I would not be happy with myself 20 years down the line if I did not give my passion a chance to flourish.” Laurie, a talented opera singer in her youth, wondered what her life would have been like if she had pursued her passion and resonated with my story.

These two opportunities did not come because I applied to them, but because I pursued my craft for the pure love of it. I edited and shared my work because it was something authentic to me, and people resonated with the passion and degree of care they could see in my work. This passion of mine is a reflection of the pure, curious, and genuine side of myself that does not always get a chance to be shown. When we’re young, this free flowing and vibrant inner being is free to grow, only bounded by the time in the day and the limits of our creativity, yet as we get older, people often tuck this into the crevices of their being as outside factors– societal pressures, financial burden, and social stigmas for instance– begin to take hold. In finding the courage to share this side of myself, I was unveiling this inner child of sorts to the world, unsure of how people may react. To share the innocent side of yourself is a scary thing: you’re being vulnerable with the world and hoping people are kind to that side of you without any real control of their reaction. For me, this confidence to share my inner child grew over time. Two years ago while studying abroad in Spain, I shared my first reel, and from there, I tried new effects, transitions, and styles in my videos, becoming more comfortable in my skills with each edit that I posted. While internally, I remained a harsh self critic, continually analyzing my work for areas of improvement; peers and friends began to compliment my work, saying things like, “I wish I could make things like you for my instagram.” These external compliments validated the internal step that I took to conquer anxieties and share a pure part of who I am. Through all of this, my opportunities for the summer came from the confidence to share my work and the self belief to take a bet on myself.

Throughout the summer, I invested in my first camera and professional editing software, bought a mentorship program, and continued to share the videos that started it all. I have built tangible self proof to know that there is a possibility to make a living out of my passion. Through this long journey of self discovery, I continue to wake up each day inspired to grow my skills and learn each day. So, it’s not a short or simple answer, because like my story to this point, there are many twists and turns: I chose to pursue a creative career because I value a challenge that peaks my creative passions and forces me to grow each and every day in the process.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Like I’ve mentioned, videography has been a journey for me. It started as a hobby, and over time, its blossomed into so much more. It has become something that I can get lost in until 3 am on any given day. Something that I will spend my free time doing, while friends are out drinking on a Friday night. Something that I strive to share with others as a gateway into my purest self.

My Professional development in space has been growing over the course of the summer of 2024. It started when I got my first marketing internship with Marmon Rail and also a part-time role with Yelo, The first social network of its kind. In these two roles,I was organizing photo databases for a 12 billion dollar company to utilize across teams and leading the marketing team of a startup that just closed $700,000 in initial investments. Additionally, I chose to invest in myself by purchasing a two month, long, mentorship course from experienced videographers that started their own media agency; through this program, I’ve learned how to present packages to potential clients, craft compelling stories for short and long form content, and create marketing strategies for various type of industries. Over these three opportunities, I really grown professionally in my confidence and knowledge to pursue my videography passion in a way that has the potential to be my career.

I’m most excited to continually learn. Whether filming with a camera, editing on my computer, or negotiating with a client, there are so many things that I still can grow in. For instance, on my personal projects, I have been focusing on growing my skills in After Effects with 3D layers, video stabilization, and speed ramps to create hyperlapses, match cuts amongst other effects. I believe mastering this software, combined with my Premiere Pro and film skills, will unlock a next level of creativity for me. I’m most excited for these new tools that will allow me to tell stories in continually unique and creative ways.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
This is a great question because I’ve taken plenty of friends on New York City tours. Living on Long Island, I love to host friends because it’s an amazing opportunity to show them such a city that inspires my creative journey. During a trip, the journey will undoubtedly start at Grand Central Station as the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) pulls into the station. From there, we’re going to grab a classic NYC gyro from one of the street vendors and heading to Central Park. There, a lovely walk through the park, catching up and shooting the shit, is the highlight of the day. Its honestly the simple things: the street performers singing with their souls or the artists creating caricatures of tourists. There is so much energy, excitement, and abundance.

On another day, I have a trademark route through Hudson Yards, the Highline, and Chelsea Market. After pulling into Penn Station, we walk to Hudson Yards to experience the Edge. From there, we walk the Highline through the streets and buildings reflecting different areas. By the end of the Highline, we end up in Chelsea to check out the market. You got to get a classic bacon egg and cheese on a bagel. The rest of the day involves exploring the lower portions of NYC like SOHO, the Meat Packing District, and the Lower East side, with dinner at Excuse my French.

One night, we’re going to head into the city to go out. Pregame at a friend’s apartment and then head to the lower East Side for the bars. It’ll be a great night of dancing and mingling to make new friends and forge more memories. Around 3 am, we’ll head out and grab some $1 pizza to end the night.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My faith: I am by no means perfect in who I am, the videos I make, or anything in between, but when I first began on this creative journey, I faced tremendous internal anxiety on how my videos would be received and what people would say. Since college began, there have been books, people, and opportunities that have helped me to better control these anxieties, but they have all been a part of a longer journey arc of self growth that has inspired me to be confident in my abilities. Whether hearing about a great book to read or being blessed by an amazing opportunity, I believe these small inflection moments sum to be parts of a greater story. To choose one thing, story, or person would neglect the many amazing things that deserve a shout out as part of the journey; however, I know that my faith, through the prayers and reflection that I have done– has led me fight my anxieties and grow in my capabilities. By focusing on what I can control and leaving everything else– the good, the bad, and everything in between– up to God, I have been able to relinquish control of my journey and trust the journey one step at a time. I used to pray and ask for certain things like great video editing skills, but rather, God blesses each of us with the opportunity to grow and learn these things we ask for. In this way, my faith has given me confidence and courage to pursue my passions.

Website: https://harrypeluso.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/harrypeluso10/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/harry-peluso/