Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Randall
Hi Austin, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My dad, Jeffery Austin Randall, is the inspiration behind JAR Productions – so I decided to take his initials and name my company after him. Many of the things that I have learned about capturing the world through a lens, I learned from him. When I was 12, my dad took me to an airshow – one of our cherished father and son traditions. This particular time, he brought along his camera and occasionally handed it to me to take some pictures. During the show, the planes performed these amazing, choreographed routines, reenacting historical aerial battles. I can still remember the moment my dad handed me the camera to capture the planes as they danced in the sky. Little did I know, one of those pictures would change the trajectory of my life.
Once we returned home, I sat with my dad to review the photos. Among them was this incredible picture of a plane with flames shooting out, as if it had been hit by an enemy. “Did I take that?” I asked surprised. “Yes, son… that all you,” my dad replied with a smile. With a few adjustments to lighting, saturation, and detailing, we had created the very first photograph that I was truly proud of. We submitted this photo to a few aviation magazines and one reached back out to let us know they would be publishing an article with the photo attached! The sense of accomplishment and joy I felt is a memory that I will always cherish. It was in these moments that little 12 year old Austin discovered his passion – a passion ignited by my dad.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
A smooth road? Not even close. From being wrongfully terminated from my previous job (resulting in me starting JAR Productions, to hitting the ground canvassing for new clients), to learning best hiring practices while hiring my first few employees – it has been a journey every step of the way.
Everybody loves an underdog story and when looking back on the inception of JAR Productions, an underdog story we have! I was working for a local marketing agency here in Atlanta early last year. I brought the idea of JAR Productions to my boss at the time who was verbally on board with everything. 3 short weeks later and I was given an ultimatum: work for our company or start your own. Did I mention that I had 24 hours to make this life changing decision? Looks like I made the right choice though, huh?
Starting out with virtually zero clients was tough, I’m not going to lie. One of my biggest motivators though was my friends and family who continued to push me forward and pursue this crazy idea of mine to start a marketing agency. Of my friends and family, I would say my biggest motivator was my boyfriend, Sam. He has been there for everything. From having virtually no income in the beginning, long nights editing clients’ projects, to my daily contemplation of whether or not choosing JAR Productions was the right decision… looking back, I know I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.
Fast forward a year later and we have three monthly clients, a large amount of one-off and project based clients, three employees, and a handful of contracted videographers that we work with. Did I mention that we just celebrated our ONE YEAR anniversary this month? Life is good.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
JAR Productions is a multimedia marketing company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Austin Randall, owner and lead photographer/videographer, has over six years of experience and has captured countless headshots, concerts, festivals, events, and businesses looking to take their photos and videos to the next level. With a passion for storytelling, JAR Productions brings our clients’ ideas to life through film, photos, social media, and more!
To date, we have worked with various businesses across the United States ranging from influencers like Elena Davies (Big Brother 19), Shark Tank’s Daymond John, and local Atlanta business like LIT Essentials, Injury 2 Wellness Centers, Emacity Threads, and Atlanta’s Porches and Pies festival.
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do. We work closely with our clients, understanding their vision and objectives, to create a final product that meets their specific needs. JAR Productions’ portfolio spans a wide range, allowing us to adapt to diverse projects and deliver exceptional results. At JAR Productions, we have had the pleasure of working with a wide range of clients, from small businesses, to families – even social media influencers!
Something that sets us apart from other marketing agencies (and something we pride ourselves in is being) is that we consider ourselves a boutique agency. What that means is that we work with anyone – and with any budget! No matter how big or small the project, we create packages to fit any need. Whether you are an individual, a brand, or an organization, we are here to bring your ideas to life through our lens and showcase your unique story. Let us be your creative partner and together we can create something that resonates, entertains, and inspires.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
Persistance. As I mentioned before, things haven’t always been easy for us at JAR Productions and in a town that has so many other talented creatives, it can be difficult to stand out. I think it is important to keep your head up and continue to always pursue new clients. We can hear 99 “no’s” but that one “yes” will be the driving factor that continues to fuel our passion of creating captivating photos and videos while telling our clients’ individual stories.
Social media marketing is another huge part of our business (persistence applies to this as well!). We are always trying new things to see what works: keeping up with trends, engaging our client’s followers through storytelling, and growing the accounts we work with in likes, comments, and follower count. If one post doesn’t perform in the way we want it to, we look at the post to see what might have not resonating with the audience and try again. It’s all about persistence, persistence, persistence!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://jarproductionsmedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jarproductionsmedia/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551671103724
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jarproductionsmedia
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jar-productions-media-brookhaven
- Other: https://search.google.com/local/writereview?placeid=ChIJR8hnA0n5cqoRPGw97MIGqyU&source=g.page.m._&laa=merchant-review-solicitation
Image Credits
All image credits are JAR Productions – I can give you more information on who the models pictured are if you need
