Life & Work with Melissa Jacob

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melissa Jacob.

Hi Melissa, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always been — what my parents lovingly call — artsy-fartsy. I graduated with a degree in Graphic Design from UGA. Worked for amusement parks with their signage/tickets/maps/shirts… and then painted portraits for family with a military move stranded us in the middle of the desert; 30 minutes from even a Walmart.

Immediately before I started Striking, I had been working full-time as a Creative Director for a publishing company in Atlanta, GA for over a decade. After a change in management resulted in an owner who put his employees last on his priority list, I decided it was time to move on.

Around the same time, one of my closest friends who has her own law firm wanted a Christmas video made for her company. Though I had no experience in that medium, I’m always up for an artistic challenge and told her I’d be happy to put something together. That single request changed my career trajectory.

I LOVED it.

After that, I set my sights on photography and videography. Trying out different niches, ranging from wedding videos to restaurant food shoots,… real estate photography to testimonial videos for businesses… I’ve landed in a place where I’m exploring this field and loving the variety that brings. I love bringing my customers’ visions to life and surpassing expectations.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
The road starting out has not been easy. The first four months after I started my business, I was still working full-time as a Creative Director for a publishing company. When the heavier workload part of the month would come, I would be so stressed out, I realized I needed to just make that jump. I cut the overload with the Creative Director position so I could focus on my business. That helped immensely.

Another struggle is just being seen in a world flooded with content and media; how to stand out and gain a following. This one is something I am chipping away at everyday, figuring out what works and what doesn’t. As someone who never saw herself as an “entrepreneur” the business side feels far more challenging than learning a new medium and programs.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
What I love is creating something out of nothing. Getting that reaction from a client of, “oh my goodness… it’s so much better than I imagined!” Those things have made it impossible for me to turn away from this path.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Of all the artistic mediums I’ve worked in, photography by far has been the most satisfying. And it’s the one medium I did not take a class for in art school at UGA.

Contact Info:

• Email: melissa@strikingvideo.com
• Website: www.strikingvideo.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/striking_video/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/strikingvideoproductions
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChm_JKtzAMBxyMsrS0u5fIg
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/striking-video-productions-oviedo-2?osq=striking+video

Image Credits
Photo credit: Melissa Jacob, Owner | Striking Video Productions