Julian Thomas (Twin Cities Videographer)

Julian Thomas is a videographer who operates out of the Twin Cities.

Originally from Virginia, when Thomas was a young boy, his family moved to the Twin Cities.

As Thomas went through his formative years, he developed into an amiable yet countercultural individual who also derived immense joy from experimenting with music.

“I was the kid who wore skinny jeans, black nail polish, eyeliner, and band shirts in hopes that I could sell tickets to my band’s shows,” Thomas recalls with a hearty laugh.

Post-high school, Thomas enrolled at Northern Michigan University to study film, and for the first couple years of his higher education journey, he thrived in the upper peninsula of Michigan.

But things later changed when Thomas’ then-girlfriend, who was also from Minnesota, moved into his off-campus apartment.

“She got homesick and convinced me to leave Northern Michigan, and that’s how I ended up at SCSU [St. Cloud State University in Minnesota],” Thomas says.

“She also convinced me to drop out of film school because she didn’t think that I would have a successful career.”

Unfortunately, Thomas’ relationship with that woman didn’t survive his shift back to Minnesota, but he still ended up earning a degree in Business Administration from St. Cloud State.

Like many business majors, Thomas immediately jumped into Corporate America.

“I was trying to follow in my father’s footsteps,” Thomas shares, which helps explain how he ended up securing a position as a general manager at Sky Zone, a company that has indoor trampoline parks at several locations across the Twin Cities.

Right away, Thomas was making good money, but he was also working long hours that soon left him physically and emotionally drained.

“My goal was to climb the proverbial ladder into higher upper management roles,” he says, but when Sky Zone was later bought out, Thomas’ role changed, leaving him with less autonomy in his day-to-day work, a reality that crippled the artistically gifted Twin Cities native and ultimately led to his departure from Corporate America.

“That’s when I then started getting into the music scene doing sound tech,” adds Thomas, who over time fostered a litany of relationships with artists, and when those same musicians needed video done to promote their brands, Thomas recognized that there was a void in the marketplace he could capitalize on.

“After I created a couple videos for a few artists, and they liked what I did, more people started reaching out,” Thomas says, in describing a snowball effect that soon had him questioning his career path, albeit in a positive way.

From there, Thomas’ portfolio continued to expand as he leveraged his skills and relationships to land gigs in other industries.

Today, the St. Cloud State alum says that he is currently working on a project for an animal rehabilitation center, among other things, which is a testament to his vast array of video skills, but also his ability to ingratiate himself to clients across a spectrum of different niches.

“For the animal rehabilitation center, we’re creating almost like a docu-commercial,” Thomas says giddily, his passion for each project he undertakes on full display.

In fact, it’s this same ardor that enables Thomas to distinguish himself against the hundreds if not thousands of other videographers in the Twin Cities, but it should also be noted that unlike many videographers, Thomas brings up to five cameras to his shoots, whereas many shooters will only bring one or two.

“Especially for live events, I like having multiple cameras going. That way nothing gets missed,” insists Thomas, whose editing style could be considered bold and avant-garde, all while remaining within the framework and direction that his clients give him.

“My ability to go outside of the box separates me from the single cut, fade-in/fade-out aesthetic that you see a lot of video companies employ.”

Looking ahead, Thomas mentions that he will continue to refine his shooting and editing skills while simultaneously striving to bring his clients elite video content.

At the same time, Thomas also recognizes the need to evolve from a one-man operation into a full-fledged video production company, a move that not only would allow him to service more clients, but also give aspiring cameramen and editors ample opportunity to grow as talents.  

“Currently, I love what I do. I don’t find it frustrating or tedious. I’m excited every time I go to a shoot,” Thomas emphasizes.

“But I also want to bring on some more shooters and editors that will allow me to scale and take on bigger projects and produce them faster.”

Of course, maintaining financial integrity as he assembles a team around him will be paramount, and while Thomas certainly doesn’t profess to have the business expertise to elevate corporate tax brackets in the foreseeable future, he also understands that anything short of taking action will be detrimental, which is why he recommends that other aspiring entrepreneurs focus less on their financial status, and more on establishing attainable benchmarks that can be reached in due time.

“This gets overlooked often, but it’s crucial to set realistic goals that you can reach. If that means budgeting money every week as you plan for the future, then that can easily be done, Thomas starts.

“But ultimately, no business is easy to get going. You will have to put in the work.”

Moreover, Thomas is also quick to point out that if people can forge onward in the face of fear or adversity, then no matter the outcome of a specific venture, eventually success can be achieved.

“A lot of businesses fail, and for a variety of reasons, but if you don’t let that break you, you’re more apt to get up and try again,” Thomas reminds readers.

“Often people find various levels of success after they have encountered hardship, taken the hit, and then responded, whereas so many others would simply have given up.” QS

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