

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nick Braden.
Hi Nick, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a commercial filmmaker from Natchitoches, Louisiana. I got my first “camera” in 2007. It was one of those $20 camcorders from Walmart. Remember the ones that had the quality of a 90’s security camera? Initially, it was just something new to do because being from a small city means constantly looking for things to do. I never would’ve thought it’d lead me to where I am now.
Later, while attending Florida A&M University, I got my first DSLR, a Nikon d3100. In 2013, I started making promotional videos for my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, and it was then that I started to take things more seriously. My senior year I launched my first LLC – Luxury 9 Multimedia. At this point, I was mainly creating recap videos for events and parties.
I graduated from FAMU in 2015 and moved to Indianapolis, IN to work for a pharmaceutical company in the IT field. Due to technicalities, I had to dissolve Luxury 9 Multimedia, but in 2018 I launched Braden Visuals. I knew early on that Corporate America wasn’t for me but I didn’t know exactly my next step. While still working in Corporate America, I started to invest heavily in my craft both with time and finances. I started to buy more high-end equipment and really studying cinematography. At one point practically all my vacation time for the year was used up for traveling for video shoots. I was focused on building my portfolio and increasing my clientele so that I could leave my corporate job, but I never could pull the trigger.
In 2020, the trigger basically got pulled for me. I had just gotten back to Indiana from a filming trip to New Zealand. My director called and said that our team and my position were being reallocated (funny enough, it wasn’t because of COVID). He said my options were to apply for a new position or be severance from the company. Needless to say, I took the severance. So in November 2020 I officially became a full-time entrepreneur. Finally this past February, I left Indiana and moved to Atlanta and here we are now.
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?
It certainly has not been a smooth road lol. The biggest struggle was the mentality shift from doing video as a side hustle to running it as a business. My savings account protected me for almost the first full year so it wasn’t until then that I realized I couldn’t keep operating the same way. When I had a video side hustle, I would take projects as they came and post the finished video to social media hoping that would generate a few inquiries and repeat the process. On top of that, side hustle money is almost 100% profit. With a business, there’s marketing, taxes, project management, contracts, taxes, insurance, accounting, legal compliance, and TAXES lol. The major mindset shift that had to happen was understanding that just because there isn’t a video to shoot or edit at the moment doesn’t mean there isn’t work to be done.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Braden Visuals is a commercial videography company. We help businesses create video strategies to effectively engage and convert their target audience. In a world that is becoming more and more video-centric, it’s important to not only create videos but to create videos with a purpose. What sets us apart is the intentionality behind the videos we create. Our goal is to take as many of your potential clients down the pipeline from cold leads all the way to repeat and loyal customers.
The thing I love the most about the brand is how the journey shaped it. There have been so many different experiences that have all contributed to where we are now. Filming everything from music videos and short films to vlogs and interviews has given me an expansive tool belt to tackle any shoot. My background in IT has also greatly contributed to the direction of the business. Taking the UX and software development concept “don’t make me think” and applying it to video creation has helped create a unique lane for us in the oversaturated video market.
My most proud moment has to be filming the promotion material for the US Women’s Olympic Hockey Team in 2021.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
The best advice I can give to someone just starting out is to just shoot as much as you can. Do what you can with what you have and expose yourself to as much as possible. Waiting until you get more gear to “increase your quality” is the worst thing you can do. Find out what you like to shoot and do a lot of it. Try music videos, vlogs, real estate, commercials, etc, and build your portfolio. Don’t be afraid to DIY some things to get the job done.
If I could tell myself one thing back when I was starting out it would be that there is no one “right” way to do things. We all have our own paths and our own timelines. Indecision is the thief of opportunity so just make a choice and run with it.
Pricing:
- Consultations are free and can be booked on my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bradenvisuals.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/nickbshootin
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/bradenvisuals
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/nickbshootin
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCX7NbXCsk58GZ6cdN7oQ33Q