Today we’d like to introduce you to Graham Kuhn.
Hi Graham, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I started Focus Films almost by accident. In 2017, someone offered to pay me for a video, and that unexpected moment sparked the beginning of something real. By 2019, my wife and I were having honest conversations about whether this could become a full-time thing. In 2020, just days before the world shut down, I quit my job to go all in. Within a week, I lost over $100,000 in committed projects. It was terrifying. I had three kids and no backup plan.
But we pushed through.
Fast forward to today, and Focus Films has grown into a trusted partner for businesses across the country. We’ve been fortunate to work with amazing clients and help them tell their stories through strategic, results-driven video content.
My path here has been anything but traditional. I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin, working farm and construction jobs. I wrestled from the time I was four all the way through college, and even coached for a few years. I was an opera major in college and spent nearly 20 years as a professional singer (doing anything but opera).
That combination of grit and vulnerability gave me a unique lens for storytelling. I learned how to connect with people emotionally, while still keeping things grounded in purpose and discipline. That mindset is at the core of Focus Films.
We’re not here to just make pretty videos. We dig deep, figure out what makes your business special, and build authentic, story-driven assets that actually move the needle. Whether it’s a brand story, a testimonial, or a social media reel, every video we make is tied to a clear goal and a long-term strategy.
At the end of the day, I just want to help good people doing good work get the recognition they deserve. Because in a noisy world, the right story told the right way can make all the difference.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Definitely not a smooth road. Like I mentioned earlier, I quit my job to go full-time with Focus Films in March 2020… and three days later, the world shut down. I lost over $100,000 in booked work almost overnight. That was terrifying. I had three young kids, a mortgage, and a wife who was understandably panicking. For two weeks, I sat on the couch and drank every day, wondering if I’d just made the biggest mistake of my life.
But that season forced me to get clear, fast. I stopped trying to compete on tactics and started leaning into what I actually believed: that service beats sales, that story builds trust, and that relationships are the backbone of any real business. I focused on helping people (sometimes for free) just to stay in motion. And slowly, the work came back.
Another challenge has been overcoming skepticism. A lot of businesses have been burned by video people who didn’t deliver or who made flashy content with no strategy behind it. So I’ve had to earn trust by being different, leading with clarity and story, not just production value. I don’t just make videos. I help businesses figure out what they’re actually trying to say.
And honestly, one of the ongoing challenges is managing growth without losing myself in it. I’ve spent years flying all over the country for shoots, and at a certain point I realized I didn’t want to live like that. I don’t want to live to work, I want to work to live. So I’ve shifted to building local partnerships, focusing on the right clients, and saying no to projects that don’t align. I still love what I do, but I’ve learned that building a sustainable business means protecting your energy and your time.
It hasn’t been easy. But every struggle has made the business stronger, more focused, and more aligned with what actually matters: serving people well and telling their stories so they can succeed.
We’ve been impressed with Focus Films, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business is called Focus Films. We’re a video production company that specializes in creating strategic, story-driven videos for service-based businesses. That includes everything from Brand Story videos and client testimonials to social media reels, process explainers, sales videos, and more.
But we’re not just “videographers.” We’re partners in storytelling. Our mission is to help good companies become the best-known companies in their space, not just by looking polished on camera, but by deeply connecting with their audience through authentic messaging and a clear video strategy.
What sets us apart is that we don’t just show up and hit record. We take a psychological and marketing-driven approach to every video we create. That means understanding the emotional core of a brand, the pain points of the audience, and the business goals behind the content. Then we build videos that actually get results.
A lot of companies are used to video producers who just make cool visuals with no follow-through. We do the opposite. We go deep on story, simplify complex services, and help our clients actually use their videos across platforms from websites to emails to paid ads.
Brand-wise, I’m proud that we’ve built something people trust. We’ve worked with everyone from solo business owners to national franchises, and we’ve built a reputation for making people look and sound like the absolute best version of themselves.
At the end of the day, our videos help businesses attract more of the right clients, save time in the sales process, and build long-term credibility. So if you’re a business owner who knows you offer something great but you struggle to get that across to your audience, that’s where we come in. We’ll help you stand out, and we’ll make sure your message lands.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
First and foremost, my wife. She believed in this business before it even was a business. She supported me through the leap into full-time self-employment, even when it meant financial uncertainty and watching me spiral on the couch for two weeks when COVID hit. She trusted a 45-year old quitting a job with a decent salary and benefits to take a chance.
My kids, too. They don’t even realize it, but they’re the reason I keep pushing. I want to build something that makes them proud and shows them what’s possible when you bet on yourself.
From a business standpoint, I’ve had incredible mentors. Marcus Rideout taught me that business gets better when people stop trying to hoard and start trying to help. That one sentence became my compass. He’s the reason I lead with generosity instead of scarcity.
Wendy Kinney and the PowerCore community taught me that referrals aren’t luck, they’re built on clarity, consistency, and showing up as the same person every single week. That discipline changed how I communicate and how I help my clients tell their stories.
I also have to give credit to my clients, especially the ones who took a chance on me early, back when Focus Films was still finding its footing. Many of them became repeat clients. They all became friends. All of them helped shape how I approach this work.
And finally, I’ve been lucky to work with a network of creative professionals, editors, other videographers, marketers who make the final product stronger. I’ve even referred big projects to competitors because they were better suited for the work, and they’ve done the same for me. That’s the “collabetition” mindset – we all rise together. There’s plenty of work for all of us to win.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that building a business isn’t about having the best tactics. It’s about surrounding yourself with great people and actually caring about them. I’ve been fortunate to do just that.
Pricing:
- Brand Story Video – $5,500
- Client Testimonials – $2,200 each or 3 for $4,800
- Process or Explainer Videos – Starting at $2,500
- Social Media Reels (Retainer) – $2,500/month
- Sales Videos & Product Explainers – Starting at $1,800
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.focusfilms.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focusfilmsllc
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focusfilmsllc
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gkuhn1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FocusFilmsATL
