Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason “Jay” Albright.
Jay, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’m originally from Detroit, Michigan, but went to college to study Radio and Television Broadcasting here in Greenville, SC from 2003-2007. After graduating right around the “Great Recession,” I had trouble finding any decent work around the Detroit area and was just working random odd jobs, while living in my parents’ basement. So, when I got a call from a close college buddy asking me to join him and another close friend as their third roommate back in Greenville, it seemed like a no-brainer for me. I moved back here to Greenville at the end of May 2008 without a job or any prospects, but was able to quickly land an interview and was hired on at a small video production and photography studio. I worked there for nearly 3 years and learned a lot about production work and technical application, but I think I learned most about what works well and doesn’t work so well in attempts at connection with people. I had cool opportunities to work with all types of people from all different walks of life — from C-level executives to their entry-level factory workers, from entrepreneurs to stay-at-home parents, and everything in between.
In 2011 I was beginning a serious relationship with my now wife, so it felt like time for a change. I moved on from that first “real” job and started quite the adventure with my career. I went from about 4 years working my way up the ranks to a management role at the Apple Store, to nearly 3 years traveling the world with a distribution company, which ended abruptly on a random Friday afternoon in August. All employees received an email message from HR, informing us about the ownership plans to file for bankruptcy and politely telling us we would not be returning to work after the weekend. With two little girls at home — one still recovering from a tonsillectomy at the time — my world was shaken from the sudden, unexpected news. I obviously didn’t realize it at the time, but this life-altering experience would ultimately put me on the path that led me to this very interview!
In all honesty, I floundered in every way for about 18 months after that —mentally, physically, emotionally, financially, and on. I had opportunities to stay in that industry with similar salaries, but it just didn’t sit right with me. So, I took what appeared to be several steps backwards and ended up back in retail in order to take a breather and figure myself out. That “breather” went on over a year longer than I expected and it wore on my mental health significantly. So when the first opportunity to get out was offered, I jumped on it and ended up with a position at a local workforce development office. During my short stint there, I was working directly with local businesses to connect them with individuals in need of new opportunities. As a result, I was able to connect with the local community, I was able to see stories of struggle and triumph, and I was able to see stories of new opportunity turning into growth. All of that was critical in my journey to not only re-connect me with my passions, but also to re-inspire me to get back to my roots. So, I started editing again and doing some small freelance jobs to try and build back a portfolio and some confidence.
Then COVID hit. My wife and I found ourselves expecting our 3rd child as things intensified locally. With some concern for her health in the midst of a global pandemic and related concern over pending changes to my position at the time, we agreed it was the right time for me to move forward with starting my business. So in June of 2020 Albright Creative was born! Just over 5 years later I’m still working towards growing this business in order to keep doing what I love.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I think I expected it to be much bumpier than it has been in reality, but it certainly hasn’t been smooth. For some reason, my business has been mostly seasonal and that brings some pretty significant stress in the slower seasons. I think at least once a year since the beginning, I’ll have an internal crisis and start looking for jobs that might be more “secure.” And every year, something random seems to come out of nowhere and whatever it is seems to inspire me to stop looking at those soul-crushing jobs. Somehow in the midst of that, I’ll find enough courage to just keep going after what I love.
Aside from that, one of my biggest obstacles is pursuing growth in a way that’s actually manageable. When I started out, I think I agreed to do anything and everything because I was desperate to make it work. While I’m grateful for every client I’ve had the opportunity to work with, not every client or project has been the right fit. In the first couple of years, I did so much work for so little pay I just wasn’t proud of that work. Probably because I didn’t have much of my personality in those projects. I sacrificed a lot of my creativity and my authenticity and I really lost touch with myself in order to collect a very underwhelming paycheck. One of the biggest challenges I continue to face is recognizing which projects may or may not be the right fit for me before I say yes. It’s always a hard balance when I find myself feeling desperate for money and growth opportunities, but also want to stay authentic to my brand.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
It sounds cliché to say “I’m a storyteller, man.” But that’s honestly what I think I specialize in and do really well. I love connecting with people and finding common ground. I love helping people feel more at ease when they’ve got all the nerves or stage fright from a camera and a bunch of lights in their face. And I’m really proud of the ways I’ve been able to pull good stories and content out of some of the most unlikely places. For example, I was just on a shoot with one of my regular clients a few weeks back and while I was setting up in the background, I overheard her giving me one of the nicest comments I’ve ever gotten about my professional work. She was trying to subdue some nerves or anxiety from a person who was going to be involved in the project. So, she brought up a story from one of our first projects a few years ago. She told them about a colleague, who was such a major wreck from being on camera that we could hardly shoot a full sentence without having to stop for them to try to regain composure or catch their breath. Eventually, even as the camera was still rolling, another colleague had to step in and actually offered to pray with them to try and help calm them down — though, I must add, it was a sweet moment of compassion to catch on camera. At the end of her story, my client told them, “J is such an incredible editor that he was able to somehow make even [that person] look great in the video.”
I may not have all the gear I wish I had or all of the latest and greatest tools, but I’m good at using what I’ve got in the most creative ways I can. I think I’m a problem solver, who happens to have a talent for putting story puzzles together from a surface-level that may seem like just mess of shapes, colors, and sounds. Others are good at that too, but I think what really sets me apart is that I crave authenticity and genuineness in my personal life. That happens to be a great fit for telling the best stories I can in my professional life.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
You need mentors, or advisors, or trusted friends, who will look you in the eye and give you the hard, constructive criticisms that are necessary for fine-tuning your focus. I started out so very broad that it’s no surprise that I lost myself in the process rather quickly. After a good friend invited me to join a business cohort he was involved in, my experience there changed the trajectory of my business entirely. I was already in business for close to two years at that point, but it gave me direct access to seasoned mentors and to other peers who were working on startups or other small business ideas. That group sort of lovingly picked apart my pitch, my customer targets, my pricing, etc., but they simultaneously helped me pick up those pieces to build something more focused, more valuable, and more authentic. Shortly after that experience, I gave a quote to a client I’ve now been working with for over three years — my biggest client to date. I don’t think I would’ve landed that gig, if it weren’t for those mentors and peers picking apart what I thought was already great.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://vimeo.com/showcase/Portfolio-AlbrightCreative
- Instagram: @jayalbright | @albrightcreativeco
- Other: https://vimeo.com/albrightcreativeco
