Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Kinder.
Hi Andrew, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I first got curious about photography and filmmaking when I was living abroad in Japan while serving in the United States Navy. Traveling to foreign countries gave me the inspiration to document as much as I could. I didn’t even fully own my first camera; it was an entry-level Nikon that I split 50/50 with a friend who was also interested in photography. This moment sparked my creativity and was the fundamental force that led me to today.
Skipping a few years, my Nuclear Engineering training in the Navy afforded me the opportunity to take a job with Siemens Health as a Cyclotron Engineer. That relocated me to Sacramento where I worked hard professionally and was able to begin taking online college courses. It was at this time (2014) that Instagram became really popular in culture, and I began to connect there with other photographers and creatives making a name for themselves. People began to recognize me as @avkinder. The Northern California area was full of talented creatives that I had the opportunity to collaborate and work together with, which only fueled my passion for photography even more. I took positions in Instagram community groups that were known locally and internationally (@agameoftones) and became a west coast liaison for them. Having met so many incredible artists through meetups and workshops is what kept me motivated and the inspiration to make a career out of it.
In 2017, I was admitted to the University of California – Los Angeles as a transfer student into their Design/Media Arts program. It was then that I promised myself that I would leave the engineering world behind and focus all of my energy towards my artist disciplines. Studying design and media arts formally was such an eye-opening experience for me who was completely self-taught and YouTube-educated. There were many things I picked up in university that I don’t believe I would have come across otherwise.
In the Spring of 2020, I graduated from UCLA with my B.A. in Design/Media Arts and a minor in Film, Television, and Digital Media. I am currently working as a freelance creative director with the services of photography, videography, social media strategy, and directing. I am also in the process of starting up my first media agency (Label73) where the focus is on creating a strong collaborative element between the artists that we invite to join us and fostering genuine relationships with clients so that we can all reach our goals together.
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?
I don’t believe there are many smooth roads to anywhere, and the ones that are, are exceptionally rare. Quitting a career you have put 9 years into in order to start a new journey was one of the most daunting things I have ever done in my life thus far, and is not something I recommend to anyone without a great deal of caution and research. The transition from a more senior role to that of an amateur can be rough on the ego and requires a lot of self-discipline to keep up with. Figuring out how to pay rent and bills is a constant worry of freelancers as jobs come and go like the wind, with no warning of what’s coming next. That being said, I still do not regret my decision to go into the creative industry.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
It’s hard to completely categorize me in any one type of creative discipline because there are so many that I work in. I am a photographer, a videographer, and a social media strategist. At times I can be a producer, a writer, and then of course I’m constantly aspiring to become a film director. I like to simply let people know that I am here to solve their creative problems. I am fully confident in my experience and abilities to create powerful solutions for my clients that can exhaust as little or as much creative power as they are looking to use.
Not many creative professionals in my space have the background that I come from. Having experience in the science-related field of engineering and 6 years of proud military service are not common resume bullets in my industry. I take pride in my diversity of experience and am constantly looking at ways to poise them to create unique pieces of art for others, whether it’s for a client or a passion project.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Absolutely. Networking and mentorship are instrumental to the success of anyone that wants to take their craft seriously. To be able to lean on the wisdom of those that came before you and take the advice of others to better yourself will reap your rewards in becoming a master of what you are working on. Don’t count out learning from young prodigies as well. We can all learn from one another no matter who they are. I’ve found much help in using social media to connect globally with others in my field and there are communities online everywhere for any type of interest. Finding others locally that you can meet with face to face and learn from in that way is the best way if that’s possible for you! Don’t be afraid to show up to community events and start introducing yourself, you will find yourself with new contacts and friends that have similar goals as you.
Contact Info:
- Email: andrew@avkinder.com
- Website: https://www.avkinder.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/avkinder/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avkinder
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/avkinder_
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiNqO3D8XnxyZh69wqyg-gw
