We had the good fortune of connecting with Vadim Elkind and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Vadim, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I’ve always been interested in the arts. Filmmaking, in particular, satisfied all of my creative cravings, because it brings together photography, music, theatre, literature, fine arts and so much more. As a medium for artistic expression, it’s a limitless cornucopia of creativity!
But when I graduated with a BFA degree in Film Studies in the early 2000s, I quickly realized that there weren’t a lot of job opportunities for filmmakers, unless they were willing to move to LA and compete with a huge number of other people who were also trying find success in the entertainment industry. Commercial and corporate video production seemed a little bit more realistic, but even that was a difficult industry to get into.
This was in the early days of the Internet, years before the emergence of YouTube, social media and online video streaming platforms. So, production job opportunities in Denver were limited to local TV, industrial videography, live events and occasional low-budget independent films and documentaries. Meanwhile, I had student loans to pay off and was feeling the pressure to get a “real” job, so I accepted an entry-level technical position at a cable broadcasting facility.
Somehow, a job that was supposed to be a temporary position until I found something that aligned with my aspirations turned into 10 years of comfortable, but creatively stifling and mind-numbing work in the corporate world.
I found myself in my 30s, wondering where my professional life was headed. It was depressing to think that I could spend the rest of my career as an expendable cog in the corporate machine. So, after some soul searching, I realized that I needed to get back to my creative roots and do something that would actually bring me joy and creative fulfillment. And the only way to do that was to start working for myself!
By that time, social media was on the rise and online video marketing for businesses became widespread. Technology has also progressed rapidly and professional quality cameras and production gear became much more affordable and accessible. There was a fast-growing demand for video production in all kinds of industries. So, I decided to take the plunge, quit my corporate job and became a full-time freelancer specializing in video production for businesses, non-profits, arts & entertainment and industry event coverage.
It was a slow start and it took me several years to get to the point of actually making a living as a videographer, but eventually my client base grew enough to keep me busy on a consistent basis. Looking back, my only regret is not doing it sooner!
Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Elkind Media specializes in video production services for businesses, non-profits, arts & entertainment industry and event coverage. As a solo videographer, I typically oversee all aspects of production, from capturing footage to editing and delivering the final product. This not only helps my work to have a consistent quality and style, but also makes my services more cost-efficient for small businesses, when compared to hiring a full-service media team or video production company. However, for larger projects that require additional resources and personnel, I also have access to a network of top-notch industry professionals to bring them to life in the best way possible.
One of the main reasons I do what I do is to help other small businesses and organizations succeed. It makes me incredibly happy when clients tell me how much of a difference the videos I produced for them made, whether in increasing their customer reach, promoting a product or service, or best of all – making a positive impact in the community.
I am especially passionate about shining a spotlight on other creative professionals – artists, musicians, photographers, designers, filmmakers; anyone in the creative industry. I feel like these are my people and it always brings me joy when I get an opportunity to document their creative process and promote their work!
The biggest challenges I’ve faced have to do with work-life balance and the proverbial “feast or famine” lifestyle. As a freelancer, sometimes you can have weeks and even months of non-stop work to the point of near-burnout, while other times your calendar is completely blank and you’re wondering when and where your next paycheck will be coming from. Needless to say, this can be very stressful if you’re not used to that kind of scheduling inconsistency and financial uncertainty! It also makes time-off and vacation planning tricky, because you never know what amazing opportunity you might have to decline because you booked some trip six months ago.
Thankfully, after doing this for over a decade, I’ve grown accustomed to that lifestyle and have a relatively steady flow of projects throughout the year to keep me busy. I’ve also learned to delegate some of those projects to other freelancers when I’m not personally available to take them on.
My clients say they love working with me because of my friendly, easy-going personality, flexibility, reliability and consistent work ethic. I’m constantly learning and growing, so I don’t really think about success as some destination that I can reach and then finally relax. Even after all these years as a solo business owner, in some ways I feel like I’m just getting started! But I absolutely love what I do and can’t imagine doing anything else.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being an introvert and mostly a homebody, I’m probably the worst person to ask this question! I’m ashamed to admit that I really don’t keep up to date with all of the latest trendy restaurants, entertainment venues and events in Denver, although I’m sure there are quite a few on any given day. But I would say visiting Red Rocks (ether to see a show or even just for a short daytime hike) is a must, as is Meow Wolf and Casa Bonita (if you can get in)! They are kind of unique Denver staples. Aside from that, some of my personal spots in the city include Washington and Cheeseman parks, Tattered Cover bookstore, the historic Landmark Mayan Theatre and Little Man Ice Cream in LoHi.
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?
It is often said that in this business, it’s not what you know, but who you know. I owe a lot of my success to the clients, agencies and local production companies that took a chance on hiring me when I became a freelancer. The connections I was able to make through them led me to some of the ongoing work I still do to this day!
I’d like to give a special shoutout to Josh Gold (www.corporateevent.photos), who has been instrumental in recognizing my skillset as a videographer in the early days of my career and providing me with opportunities that might not have otherwise come my way. Josh has worked both nationally and internationally with some of the biggest brands and has an impeccable work ethic and drive to go above and beyond for his clients, which I always find motivating and inspiring.
Website: https://www.elkindmedia.com
Instagram: https://instagram.com/elkindmedia
Facebook: https://facebook.com/elkindmedia
Image Credits
Jessica Jo Photography
Josh Gold Photography
David Quakenbush
Macayla Bergeron