Meet Ian Urquhart | Owner and Creative Director of Urquhart Productions

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

Hi Ian, do you have a favorite quote or affirmation?

“You can fail at what you don’t want. So you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

– Jim Carrey

Similar to many college students, I spent my four years assuming I was on the right path. In the right major. Taking the necessary steps to succeed in life. I figured this was how it happened. Go to school. Earn a degree. Take any job you can get.

I have been an Admissions Counselor, Social Media Marketing Specialist and an E-Commerce/Digital Marketing Associate. They all had something in common – it wasn’t what I wanted to do. While employed, I found myself saying “I don’t want to do this.” Not because of a poor work ethic, but because it did not give me any purpose. Purpose to work harder. To prove to myself what I’m worth and made of.

In 2019, I quit my full-time job working for a blood glucose monitor manufacturing company. I left the comfortable salary and corporate lifestyle. I decided to pursue my passion of making photography/videography a full-time profession. Nowadays, I am and have been the Owner and Creative Director of Urquhart Productions for the past three years. I would not be where I am if I never “took a chance on doing what I loved.” Be smart with your decisions. Create a plan. Give yourself a timeline. Believe in yourself and always stay hungry.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

At the start , I was a full-time freelancing photographer. I would photograph weddings, engagements, families, portraits, sporting events, concerts – you name it and I was shooting it. Coincidentally, video work began to truly peak my interest. Fast forward a handful of years, I was asked by a singer-songwriter friend of mine to film a music video. I didn’t know what I was doing. The “warm cookie” approach worked its magic. Video hooked me. I wanted to learn more and get better. Day after day. Month after Month. I tried and failed. After each failure, I learned and knew what to do differently next time. Currently,  the majority of my work projects are video related. Selfishly, music videos are my favorite to make.

What sets you apart from others?

I’m very much a “stay in my own lane” kind of person. Every creator’s view on a project is different. With that being said, I have found success from never being complacent. Celebrate your victories but always keep working on meeting new goals. Practice more. Fine tune your fundamentals. There’s always something to work on and improve.

What are you most proud of/excited about?

For stepping outside my comfort zone in order to carve the path I’m currently on. Not quitting when the going gets tough. I’m excited to see where this path will take me down the line.

How did you get to where you are today professionally? Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges?

Always looking to improve. Blocking out unnecessary “noise”. Not letting social media manipulate my mind into what “succeeding” is and isn’t. There are many talented creators out there. It is a saturated market, for the better. I believe what keeps freelancing creators creating is work ethic, professionalism, skill and ability to accept constructive criticism. When you get down to it, the people you work with are human beings. Human beings that feed off positivity, body language, encouragement, security and trust. “Don’t be a jerk” – essentially my business’s mission statement. If you’re a jerk, people won’t work with you. Most importantly,  learn to accept constructive criticism. Not everyone will love your work. There might be projects where you have to twist and bend a bit to meet the needs of your client to make sure they are satisfied. It will be a constant uphill battle for any creator who cannot accept constructive criticism.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way?

Nothing ever goes to plan. Always have back-ups. Bring extra batteries. Drink lots of water. Pack snacks. Always use sandbags. Practice your public speaking skills. Learn how to professionally take charge of a situation. You don’t have to do everything yourself. Set aside personal time as part of your work-life balance. You can say ‘No’ and your career won’t be over. Get over the fact that Adobe products are expensive, you’re going to need them. Get yourself an Accountant. If you drink coffee, drink lots of coffee.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?

If I have the opportunity to work with you, please know I will forever be humbled by the opportunity. To be given a chance to prove my trustworthiness. To show I am dependable and willing to do what I can in order to make sure you’re happy with the final product. I hope to create new relationships along the way. This life is a short one. If I can carve my own path while making new friends along the way, I’m happy.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?

The closest city to me is Boston, MA. As a kid, many of my extended family members lived in Boston and still do. If a friend comes to Boston in the summertime for a week, here’s the plan:

Get a hot breakfast sandwich at Dolce Vita Café in Brighton, MA.
Hop on ‘The T’ into Government Center to see Faneuil Hall.
Explore the New England Aquarium.
Catch an IMAX film next door.
Walk from Faneuil Hall over to the original Regina Pizzeria for some delicious brick-oven pizzas.
Go down the road to Mike’s Pastry for one of their famous cannoli’s.
Visit Fenway Park for a Red Sox game.
Attend a concert at the House of Blues Boston.
Drive to the south shore where Castle Island sunsets can’t be beat.
Hit up Revere, MA for a famous Kelly’s Roast Beef Sandwich.
Practice ya accent, kehd.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?

I like to believe my journey is only just beginning with Urquhart Productions. However, this journey wouldn’t have started in the first place if it wasn’t for my family, loved ones and close friends. The confidence and encouragement I’ve received over the past three years has been mind blowing. Thank you to my Father, Conor, Mark, Lisa, Dave, Rachel, Mikey, Kendra, Tommy, Kevin and Andrew for continuing to support and believe in me.

A specific shoutout goes to a friend of mine – Richard Knowles. Richard is a Boston based photographer who shoots many live entertainment events. Primarily, concerts. Back in 2016, I reached out to Richard on Instagram admiring his live concert work. I then went on to ask a handful of questions on how to get started with photography. What gear to look at. Which lenses to purchase. How to photograph concerts. How to work with bands. Without Richard’s initial and continuous guidance, odds are I would not be heavily involved in a career of music related content creating. Thank you, my dude.

Website: www.ianurquhart.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ian-urquhart-93861665

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ianurquhart_

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ian.urquhart.5

Image Credits
Ariana Rose Lisa Eggleston Kate Davis