Meet Sara Hazard: Creative Director and Co-Owner of Passion House Media

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

Hi Sara, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
The idea of Passion House Media grew from our past experience living in Oregon, where we spent our weekends selling artwork and handmade products at various markets and shows. What we both enjoyed most about participating in these events was the connections we made with the other makers in our community. I often found myself using any excuse I could to step away from my own booth so that I could go chat with my neighbors and learn more about what they do. Something that quickly became clear to us was the amount of hard work, sacrifice, and unknowns many makers and artists face, that customers often don’t see or understand. When I had the opportunity to listen to someone explain the process behind their work or what inspires them to do what they love even when faced with challenges, I would suddenly view their work in a whole new light. Colin and I both grew up in Colorado, so in 2018 we decided it was time to move back. At the time, neither of us felt super excited about continuing the work that we were in. We both knew that we wanted to work for ourselves and that it had to be work that was creative, challenging, and most importantly something we could feel good about doing. I had always dreamed of exploring a career as a photographer, and Colin often reminisced about his time spent shooting and editing videos before he chose a different path in college. Starting Passion House Media felt like a natural way to combine our love of photography and video with our appreciation for small businesses. We decided we wanted to use our skills to help other passionate business owners share their stories or showcase the value of their services or products.

What should our readers know about your business?
At Passion House Media, we specialize in video production and photography for small businesses and artists. Unlike some video production companies that focus on more commercial type work, we try to create authentic, story-driven content that captures feeling and emotion. We want to make it easier for people to form an emotional connection with the artist or business, which in turn adds value to their brand, product, or service. We’re also a team of 2, which makes us much more nimble and a little less intimidating compared to larger production teams. We definitely didn’t take a “traditional” path to get to where we are. Most of our skills are self taught. Because of this we do face challenges and road blocks, but it makes it that much more rewarding when we accomplish one of our goals or finish a particularly difficult project. We’re constantly learning which is something I really enjoy. Every project brings us new experiences. Camera gear and video equipment isn’t cheap, so sometimes we have to really get creative to capture certain shots that we have in mind. Of course we look forward to upgrading our equipment as our business grows, but we have to work with what we have to get there. A lot of these challenges really mirror what many of our clients experience too. Most small business owners, artists, and makers have had to overcome obstacles in order to grow their business. I think that’s something that makes us unique. I really feel like we can connect with the people we work with and make the whole process comfortable and exciting.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’d also have to recommend a trip up the Poudre Canyon to have lunch on the patio at the Mishawaka Amphitheatre. The canyon itself is so beautiful and there are many spots to stop for a hike or hang out on the river. The atmosphere is well worth the trip, plus they host a variety of talented musicians on their stage. Anytime one of our favorite artists is playing a show there, we make an effort to go.

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 would love to point out how grateful Colin and I are to have very supportive and encouraging parents. Starting your own business is not easy, and it comes with a lot of self doubt. We both realize that we are incredibly lucky to have family that lifts us up when we’re feeling low, and encourages us to keep going despite any challenges we may face. Our thanks go to Michael & Brenda Hazard and Fred & Tracy Seitzman.

Website: www.passionhousemedia.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/passionhousemedia/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/passionhousemedia/
Other: Vimeo: https://vimeo.com/passionhousemedia

Image Credits
All images are taken by Passion House Media