Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel Watson.
Daniel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Every now and then I get asked “How does a 21-year-old black kid from Cincinnati who didn’t go to college turn towards creating full-time?” the short answer is God and a whole bunch of listening because this wasn’t really my plan. Growing up, I was introduced to photography when I was around 8. I was helping clean up the garage at my aunt’s house and the reward for my free child labor was this palm-sized digital camera. I ended up taking it everywhere and making it my personality as a kid does when fascinated with something new. Fast forward a few years, I kept using that camera but would always window shop for my “dream camera” that was way out of my parent’s budget BUT for my 13th birthday they bought my first ever point-and-shoot camera. From days at co-op (I was homeschooled my whole life), sports, church, random skits, and vlogs… I fell in love again with photography and videography to the point of knowing that’s what I wanted to do with my life.
So, during my high school summers, I worked different jobs solely to purchase my own gear, software, and training. I shadowed two different photographers, one being my God brother Andre Thomas (Covenant LX) and Jill Matthews who are both extremely respected photographers in Kentucky and the Southwest Ohio region. I learned a lot through them in the stressful environment of weddings. I loved it, being able to problem-solve while creating something worth sharing was truly fun. I always took the initiative to make the bride & groom to be as comfortable and clear-minded as possible. Working with Jill, introduced me into the space of commercial photography & videography. Now, I’m fresh out of graduating high school at this time in 2020, so I already had a plan to start my own company during my junior year in high school, but the pandemic really took a toll on me. From April 2020 to April 2023, I picked up my camera 8 different times. My mental and spiritual was definitely wavering, but I still made time to learn what it would take to make the vision of running a production company a reality. I spent most days in my room studying at YouTube University, like most of the world and was confident in the idea of what could happen. The last hurdle that is still a constant is the foul thought of “None of this is going to work.” which was repetitive in my head all throughout high school. Watching all my friends succeed while taking the route that I convinced my parents wasn’t right for me was a scary sight. Time is the most crucial currency and I started feeling like I was wasting mine away which honestly, I did because fear immobilized my dreams. I had the idea of what to do since 2016 and everything I needed in 2020, but never made anything of it out of fear until 2023.
The moment I made the switch was after my birthday in November 2022. I didn’t want to waste God’s gift nor let it rot away because I feared the worst. I’m a confident Introvert, confident when people need a solution but reserved from any form of spotlight. So, I finally put that to the side and created the website that was empty for 2 years and put myself out there on social media and networking events. That’s when I gained my first commercial client Kai Lewars (Founder of Kaiker Development & Construction) through LinkedIn. He messaged me on a Friday night, and we hopped on what was supposed to be a quick call on Saturday that turned into an hour-long call to share each other’s visions, goals, and aspirations. It was a headache to get the project started, it was a 3-month period before we ever began shooting. 3 months of questioning if I messed up or did something wrong, but I wouldn’t have traded that experience for anything because patience landed me a client, but it also landed me a friend that I love working by their side. It led to meeting the mayor of Cincinnati along with numerous members of the city’s leadership, prominent people in the commercial/business industry, and plenty of unique individuals who are just a pleasure to have a conversation over tea.
I never cared so much about money being a driving force in my business but building my brand while helping others shape their own. It helps me to focus on connecting as friends first, then friends that work together on a project, which is where I find being the business model for me. People recognize me from the work produced through my clients but also the word of mouth because I try my best to carry myself in a manner that is consistent no matter who is surrounding near me. I personally hate the idea of “selling myself” through sharing what I know I can produce. It feels transactional, and more pressure to perform. That’s why I remain authentic in myself and my brand before tapping into someone else to see if they reciprocate that same mindset. I’m proud to say that at this moment, all my clients are just friends who want to see me grow just as much as they want their own businesses to grow. We talk about God, goals, ideas, and business, and I’m truly grateful to live this dream that is only orchestrated by God because I could never fathom this a year ago.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Everyone’s journey isn’t the same; I truly believe that because, unlike most entrepreneurs or creatives, I haven’t experienced many business hardships, if at all. I’m extremely blessed to have a family that believed in my dreams even more than myself at some points. By no means are my parents rich, but they are well off to the point that I could continue to stay at home even after graduating so I wouldn’t have the financial stress of juggling a 9-5 (Which some days I do wish I had one instead) and starting this Digital Branding/Production company. Also, I like to believe that I have the greatest creative support (Christina Jones and Adam West) who have helped me understand any hiccups in the business process that I was ignorant of or couldn’t find the answer that was the right fit for me. They have been a huge blessing to me and brought so much counsel, wisdom, and relief on this journey.
I will say that the biggest struggles that I have to constantly check internally are: Patience, Consistency, and Intentionality. The creative side of me wants to be more on the whim and run before thinking, which serves its place, but not every place serves it as well. So, I continue to try to find the happy balance of what’s necessary and what’s holding myself, the project, or the brands back from fully flourishing.
For me, I can only look at how everything has transformed in my life through the lens of “Wow… okay God I see you”. In many ways, I’ve found situations all too perfectly tailored for my skill set, personality, and beliefs to just be considered a coincidence. Entering well-respected rooms as the obvious outlier (My baby face is still strong) and leaving those same spaces with new opportunities and supporting relationships all while remaining authentic is mind-blowing to me. From mentors, family, friends, work projects, and consistent growth in my network, I confidently stand on saying this is all God, ain’t no magic.
Pricing:
- Commercial photography, videography, and social media management is project-based
- Headshots: start at $250 per person with a minimum of 2-person team
- Branding Consultation: $250/Hr
Contact Info:
- Website: www.refinedvisuals.
com - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ refinedvisualsllc/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/RefinedVisualsLLC - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/in/goaskdaniel/ - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/@refinedvisuals - Company Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/company/ refinedvisuals/
Image Credits
Refined Visuals
Aislyn Sharp
AJ Brandy
