This is a piece I did a few years ago.
I drove 5 hours to western Kansas, filmed for a few hours and then drove 5 hours back in a crazy hail storm.
My truck got destroyed in the storm. It was an incredibly long and frustrating day.
But, it was a pleasure to help tell the story.
Why are website videos so expensive?
Truth be told, they don’t have to be. This is why I have reshaped my business model in 2025.
Previously, I have been exclusively targeting social media. If you had an emerging brand without a strong social presence, you were my target.
My goal was to build long lasting relationships by providing consistent content that best represent your brand identity.
Unfortunately, long term financial relationships don’t always work out with emerging brands. Things move at a fever pace and in a second that payroll can be daunting…generally speaking that guy you see once a week is the first to go 🤷
But, single video requests don’t really fill the bucket I need to fill either.
…I’m happy to have them as part of my strategy, but it can’t be what I consistently work towards...
So, compromise 🤝
Over the course of 90 days I can make you a plan that jump starts your advertising, social strategy, and website content at a single price that you are able to distribute over time in a way that works for you.
#shirkmedia #videographer
First concert 🎥🎥
Couldn’t have asked for a better situation to film my first show.
Holidays with all the homies.
#shirkmedia #kansascity #videographer
Some shots from The Dallas Texans Int’l Girl cup (14u). It has been a minute since I filmed soccer, took me a second to catch a rhythm, but managed to get some solid shots from the weekend 📸#sportshighlights #soccer #img #shirkmedia
The NUMBER ONE mistakes business make when they start using video online. Paid ads are great on social, they can really boost your profile. But, don’t rush it. Get to know your audience first and allow them to get to know you. If you really want to to start running ads for your business, get to know the ins-and-out of Google ads first, then work on optimizing your website to support your Google results. In the meantime start up a daily vlog or start posting about the more intimate parts of your business a few times a week. #shirkmedia
Loyalty only pays when the check clears.
Listen, I'm not going to sit here and say "Trust no one" or anything like that.
But, when you are operating on your own there is a need to move a little different than everyone else.
Because the bigger the company, the bigger the promises, the more you need to emphasize your pay structure and the expectations of working together.
Bullies exist in the business world too. They are going to try and make you feel small, wrong, out of place, less than...
Stand on business.
#shirkmedia
Today I'm gonna tell you the difference between using video for organic marketing and paid marketing on social media.
So, let's pretend for just a second that the social media platform of your choosing is more like a website.
The content that website puts on its front page is what ensures that more people come back to it.
Now they have tabs and tabs and tabs of content throughout their website
and they're allowing you to put your content up there whenever you want to.
And if people find it, cool. They're happy with people being in those lost tabs as well.
But in order for you to get your product on that front page there has to be some leverage and it has to meet some criteria.
So, you just pay to do that right??
I can put a couple hundred dollars into this post and it goes on the front page!
...Not exactly.
Putting money behind an unproven product isn't going to get you to that main page.
It's gonna get you views.
It's gonna get you some clicks.
And it's gonna make you feel good in the DMS.
But, ultimately we're looking for conversion 💰
The social media platform is not gonna take a chance on an unproven product
just like any other store wouldn't.
Growing your organic content that consistently gets views and consistently gets engagement is the only thing that's going to allow your marketing dollars to take you further with those social media pages.
So, go out there and prove your worth, then put the money behind it
and see how fast your brand starts to grow online.
#ShirkMedia
There are a lot of ideas about what a Videographer does. Most of it isn't accurate. SO...
Here are the things that I do well:
1) Working in sports.
I love working with athletes from high school all the way to the professional ranks.
I have worked with pro players in basketball, baseball and soccer. The highlights are always a crowd pleaser, but my favorite part of the job is getting the chance to sit down and help tell their story.
The number ONE goal I have in my career is to work for the NBA at the G-league level and tell those personal interest stories that just aren't highlighted enough. Because the guys that are clawing every day to reach their lifelong dreams are forever fascinating to me.
2) Interviews.
I have been interviewing people my entire professional career. I believe skills like this are no different from working a muscle. Most people think they are strong, but when you sit down with someone who knows what they are doing, the difference is obvious.
My job in an interview is to make the person across from me the most believable, likable person in the room. I do that by asking questions that spark passion, and giving the subject room to run.
3) Quality and turnaround.
When it comes to performance and meeting expectation, I am about as anxious of a person that you will ever meet. I hate to disappoint people, I can't stand the feeling of being late or waited on...and while that is a nightmare on my sleep schedule, it's a homerun for people I work with.
I am incapable of missing deadlines, in fact, I'm probably going to beat it by a few days just to make sure.
Also, don't invite me anywhere unless it's cool to be 20 minutes early.
Lastly, 4) I'm not for everybody.
How is that something I do well?
Because I know who I am and I know where my value is.
If you are looking for a videographer to come in and shoot your concepts, to take notes on unlimited edits and get something exactly how you want it without interpretation...then, I
You suck at interviewing people...
It's one of the first things that you need to come to terms with when you start your podcast
If you wanna use long form content to create regular social media clips to expose your brand more online, I'm here to give you a few tips
Number One: Keep It Quick.
Ask the question and let your guests take care of the rest or present the topic to your audience and allow them to have some thoughts of their own
Number Two: The pace of your video.
The internet has kind of moved on from SpongeBob energy and they're more into story. But, that doesn't mean you get to talk for 45 minutes
about childhood memory that nobody cares about.
Hiring a content creator or producer to keep you on track is an easy way to do that.
Number Three: Format your videos correctly.
I can't tell you how many small businesses around me that I see putting money into ads that just will not work.
If a videographer suggests that a vertical and horizontal spec in the same shoot is gonna take more time or cost you more money, I would personally recommend just shooting me a DM and we can take care of it ✊
Those are just a few quick tips that I think anybody can use to make their videos more engaging on social right away.
If you think you're ready to get started, head over to my website & click on the 20% off banner.
I'll reach out to you with information about how we can get started
creating your social content today.
#ShirkMedia #contentcreator #VideoMarketing #SocialMediaMarketing
You know a good story changed Apple's brand forever 🤔
The iconic "Think different" campaign featured various influential people like Albert Einstein, Muhammad Ali and Nelson Mandela.
The campaign spoke to people's aspirations and values. Apple invited you to change the world...
...by using their product
Tt's a great story, but how is it applicable to your business?
How could you recreate such a powerful message?
Well, it might not be as hard as you think 💡
Let's say you're a local bakery. Time is at the crux of your brand 🕰
The time that's put into the product, the time it takes for people to come to you rather than just going to the regular store.
It takes a special loyalty and dedication to run your business, but also to be a patron.
And, as adults what does time mean?
70% of Americans say they wish they had more time with their kids.
Time is love.
So, imagine telling the story of time from both sides; the time it takes for you to make the product perfect for your customer so they can take it home and have a little extra special time with the people they care about.
Now, your brand becomes aspirational.
People use your product to be better parents, brothers, sisters & friends. The message is:
If you use my product you took the time to show someone you care.
If this resonates with you and you want to learn how to put storytelling
at the forefront of your social media marketing all you have to do
like this post, and follow along.
#shirkmedia #videomarketing #socialmediamarketing #contentcreator
Let's cut to the chase 🎥 When online experts give advice they are selling a template to success 📈
That template might work for some people but it won't work for everybody.
It won't work for those people that don't enjoy sitting in classrooms ...for the innovators.
And if you're still listening...that might be you
Over the next few weeks I'm going to post about what I think are the three most important aspects to social media marketing for your business.
These won't be checklists for you to follow or 90 day plans to fill out ❌
I'm gonna give you inspiring examples of storytelling, proven methods for converting followers to clients and how that can directly apply to your content.
There's a lot more to come!
But, all you need to do now is like this post and follow along ✊
#shirkmedia #videocontent #videographer #ContentCreator
Sorry, this post isn't for everyone... Videographers, I need you to check in!
If you've been following me for any bit of time you know I've used the sh*t out of my Panasonic GH5 and I love this thing!
But, recently I upgraded to the S5 iix 🎥
I love this camera! I did a ton of research and this is really the perfect camera
for me and my business right now.
Now, if you've been following the progression of lens families and things like that (NERD) then you may know that the S5 iix is an L-mount camera
and L-mount lenses as of right now are fairly limited and VERY expensive.
But, one of the biggest reasons I wanted this camera is because of the 6K open gate filming option...
...and as it turns out, that's not gonna work with the adapted lenses.
Surely, that's not a deal breaker.
This camera still rules.
The auto focus works great with the adapted lenses,it just limits the option that you can film in.
So, what do you think? Is the high price of the L-Mount lenses worth the full capabilities of this camera or do we stick with some adapted lenses for a little while?
#shirkmedia #videographer #contentcreator #socialmediamarketing #cameragear #lumix
