Meet Luisa Winters | Video editor, compositor, teacher, and musician

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

Hi Luisa, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have owned my own business since I graduated college (1987!). The thought was that I could not possibly do what I needed to do if I had other interests at heart. For example, I could not do my video and music, if I had to do projects for someone else. I did hold a straight job for 4 years. I was an instructor for a training company. While I did enjoy the experience, and the company was a great company to work for, it killed my creativity. I had no time to go and create, and experiment. As soon as I quit that job, my creativity and original projects increased exponentially!

So, my thought process has always been creativity and whatever I need to do to remain creative and original.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My art is a combination of visual (photos and video) and aural (I compose and perform music).

I started playing the violin when I was 7 years old, and by the time I was 13, I was already a member of the professional symphony orchestra in my native Dominican Republic. I then went to the Peabody Conservatory, where I graduated with a degree in music performance in 1987. Music has always been easy for me. It was part of who I was from a very young age.

My visual art came a little bit later. I started editing videos the year I graduated from college, and have not stopped since. Early in my editing career, I discovered the vast similarities between music and video editing (both arts that live in time), and I incorporated all my musical knowledge of rhythm, pacing, balance, texture, and storytelling into my editing work. That alone set me apart from my colleagues and competitors. In that sense, all was very, very easy.

There were many challenges, though. None of them really related to my art, but practical. How do I promote myself?, how do I make a living doing this? At the time, I had two young sons to support, and even though my husband worked full-time, we still needed me to produce an income.

It was then that I started becoming very versed in technical issues; from creating a website to optimizing, SEO, keywords, advertising and marketing, and all of the things that needed to be done so that people would hire me and I could make a living.

That was the biggest challenge – However, that made me better, and more knowledgeable, and it eventually made me into an instructor.

Today, I am well-known as a technology instructor.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Oh my goodness! Food and drink for sure! I’d take them to typical Maryland eateries (crabs and corn and so much more!), and then we’d go to Washington D.C. where we’d visit all the museums! Of course, DC would include visits to restaurants and eateries (some of which are food trucks!!).

I would then take them flying – I am a private pilot and can rent a small plane. We’d go to Tangier Island to enjoy the people (fabulous people living there!), nature, beaches, and of course, food! The best of the best!

We’d also fly to First Flight in North Carolina – Home of the historic Wright brothers’ first flight. Ocean City, Maryland is also a must!

In the evenings we’d go to either the Kennedy Center or the Hippodrome theater to enjoy opera, ballet, and broadway-style musicals. I would not forget smaller (but fantastic) ensembles and would see what performances are happening, and we’d go enjoy those!

Overall, we’d have a really full week! Music, food, flight!!

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?
So many people to thank for my success! Above all. my family. Not just the family I grew up with; my parents and siblings, but the one I married into; my husband and sons. In addition to that, I owe who I am to my teachers and mentors, of which I have had many throughout the years. Including my first violin teacher in the Dominican Republic, and my college professors.

I also wish to extend my gratitude to companies and manufacturers, which have put their trust in me, and have made it possible for me to have the materials I needed to have to achieve my goals.

x  

Website: https://www.midatlanticdrones.com/

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/luisawinters-midatlanticdrones/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LuisaWinters

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/luisa.casasnovas

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MidAtlanticDrones