Today we’d like to introduce you to Evan Johnson.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I got started working with media in high school. I always opted to do video projects where I could, as I was inspired by YouTubers and the like, but I was convinced by some friends to join the Broadcasting class during my senior year.
The first semester I spent remote making videos on my phone and my last semester of high school I was back in person and that’s when my love for cameras and editing truly formed. I got my hands on equipment and got to work with others and it truly sparked something in me. From there, my broadcasting teacher got me my first paid gig doing event videography and I haven’t looked back since!
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
After getting my first camera and trying to find work I ended up doing a year of community college at KCKCC. I earned a certificate in Multimedia/Video Production and made some amazing friends, some of which I still work with today.
I wasn’t getting a lot of work for a bit and then I moved with my parents to Manhattan, KS. After about a year, I managed to land a job doing wedding videography on the weekends and I worked retail jobs during the week.
I tried to get more video or photography work besides weddings, but all I got was one off gigs and some jobs that fell through. That is until I got hired by a few different companies to be a contractor. I upgraded my camera, and got all the other necessary equipment to do weddings (I was using loaner equipment before) and that allowed me to do more work for these companies that hired me.
Through all of that the biggest struggle was being between gigs or weddings. Whenever I worked my stressful and sometimes boring retail jobs I always felt like I was just wasting time or doing it just to make money, whereas any media work I did fulfilled me. There’s also the struggle of being a young person trying to figure out how to make your dreams happen while also trying to be an adult for the first time, work, do everyday house hold things, be two hours away from your girlfriend, trying to maintain friendships, and all of the other things that come with being in your 20’s.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Right now I primarily work for a Real Estate Media company called Roche Media Group during the week, I also still do weddings on weekends for a couple different companies, and sometimes I’m a camera operator for a Manhattan based broadcasting company. When I’m not doing all of that, I am making short films with friends and colleagues.
So far I have made two short films called Shadow Buddy and Mimic, they are both available on YouTube. I was a grip on the set of a student film called Perfect Machines and I also participated in K-State’s 48 Hour film challenge where my team created a film called Custody, where I was the cinematographer and editor. The project I am currently working on is a short film called Coffee Shop Blues. I’m currently in postproduction and working with a composer friend of mine based out of Seattle.
I work with my close friend and creative collaborator Max DaMetz on short films that we write and direct. We do these as passion projects and I use them to practice my cinematography, where my passion truly lies. I love the whole process of filmmaking, but cinematography and camera operating is where I find myself most drawn to. Recently on Coffee Shop Blues I noticed how much I have improved and it’s only my third film. It makes me think about how much my cinematography will improve in the next year, five years, or even ten years!
Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Not only am I a wedding videographer, but I’m also ordained and can officiate weddings! I actually officiated my sister’s wedding before I even started wedding videography!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hiimevanjohnson.myportfolio.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiimevanjohnson?igsh=cHpwajFsM2I2andx
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hiimevanjohnson?si=znEdQA31HNzNSQwG
Image Credits
Pictures by Austin Swegle
