In the creative industry, especially in content creation, job stability often feels like a rarity. For many of us, work comes in short bursts—projects that last a few weeks or months, and then it’s back to the drawing board. I won’t film weddings. That’s my line. I have nothing against those who film weddings. It’s a hard gig, and it often goes unappreciated. I did them when I first arrived in Texas. God bless anyone filming weddings. I feel you.

While there’s always the possibility of landing a long-term gig, it’s something you rarely expect. After almost four years in Texas, I’ve been lucky to find two long-term opportunities. Each has shaped my perspective on work, creativity, and what I truly value in this line of business.

My First gig in Texas: Schoen Custom Homes

My first long-term gig in Texas was with Schoen Custom Homes. I found them within the first four months of being in Texas. I produced a YouTube show for them, documenting their construction projects. Really, it was just my camera and me out on the construction sites, capturing everything as it happened. I crashed many drones on this job site. The owner just bought a new one. Hey, you only get great drone shots if you practice. If you practice a lot, you’ll crash a lot. I practice a lot. There were no fancy teams or scripted plans—it was raw and natural, which gave me a chance to play around with a camera and get paid well. This was also one of the highest-paying jobs I’ve had in a long time. Ask any creative; getting paid well to do what you love feels fantastic. This particular project came to a close, but I still work with Doug on a consistent basis.

The Second: Documenting Steve Treviño

After Schoen Custom Homes, I thought that long-term gig was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me in Texas. But then, I found myself doing something similar with comedian Steve Treviño. This time, I wasn’t just documenting construction—I was capturing the life of a comedian on tour. I followed Steve and his family, documenting the behind-the-scenes and the day-to-day, and I even traveled to the Caribbean islands. I toured across the U.S., documenting his process, and one of the highlights was being the camera guy for Steve’s latest Netflix special. I didn’t have the creative freedom, but I filmed some great projects and made a long list of new connections.

Random Projects

Finding work in Texas has been unusually easy. In a nutshell, I email someone I’m interested in working with, and most of the time they call me back. My work is unique and far different from most of the content creators in Texas Hill Country. it’s all subjective. You might think I suck. Here are a few other projects I’ve be lucky to be involved with. SK Guitars, Pour My Beer, and The Liney Moon

Creative Freedom with Lady Lanes

I find myself in another rare position—working with Lady Lanes, a home-organizing company based in Houston. Making that 3-hour hike to Houston is worth every mile. Their personalities, camera presence, and sheer determination to succeed are something I’m proud to be part of. A few months ago, I drove 3 hours to get a 45-second clip of one of the owners talking about her business partner. I’m so excited about creating their video content that a 3-hour drive was nothing. I drove straight home and edited the clip into the video. I’m that diehard about what we have going on.

This situation is even more unique. I get complete creative freedom: No petty notes and complete trust. Basically, no bullshit. That’s something you almost never see. A marketing person, or someone without experience, always has a note or wants to put their stamp on it. This person is usually lurking in the background with a phone gimble getting footage I’m likely not going to use. Lol.

I’m able to document and tell the story in my own way. The owner insists that I’m in the videos, too. At least a few times a month, I’ll get a text, “Flip that camera on your face today at some point.” Lol. And I scaled up my camera just for them. I just bought a Canon C70, with a complete cinema lens package. These ladies are ready for Netflix!

Shifting Priorities

All I cared about was finding commercial, film, and TV credits back in the day. Everything was about IMDB. I only cared about having good credits to impress people I barely knew. Looking back now, I’m a douchebag for feeling that way.

After dealing with the fallout from COVID in LA, where every client I had either shut down or skipped town, I've come to realize that what matters to me is creativity. I like to capture moments my way. These days, I have no time for any nonsense whatsoever. I only work with clients who appreciate what I do. I’m not asking for respect; I demand it.

I’ve had some incredible opportunities, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned, finding fulfillment in this industry is less about chasing credits and more about the chance to be creative. And right now, that’s all I care about. When you find a client who lets you do what you do, hold onto them because it’s more valuable than any mount of money.