Shay’s Story: How a failed YouTube travel influencer built a multi-media adventure brand
What to expect on this episode of the Hey, Thriver Podcast:
Shay’s Story: How a failed YouTube travel influencer built a multi-media adventure brand
In this episode of the Hey, Thriver podcast, Shay chats about:
How she has always wanted to be a published author above all else
Learning photography, videography, ~graphic design~ lol and other techy nerd things in high school, while having a parent that normalized remote work
Going to college for communications + creative writing and feeling superrrr burned out from studying, working as a waitress, and freelancing
Lovingggg YouTube + starting to vlog as a creative outlet
How her Montana hiking vlogs accidentally had great SEO lol -- she ended up getting interest for wedding + brand projects before she even had a real camera
Graduating, moving to a small town for a boi, and struggling to figure out her path forward as a professional
Growing the business, shooting anything and everything, growing a lil fam...allll while other photogs starting asking questions about video
Starting an education brand based on teaching photographers videography
Niching down to shooting mostly adventure elopements/destination weddings
Here we are! Partnering with the coolest woman alive, living in the most beautiful place on earth, and scaling/growing alongside YOU!
Shay’s Story: How a failed YouTube travel influencer built a multi-media adventure brand
In this blog post, Shay details her ~origin story~ from her nerdy lil teenage internet interests to accidental local Montana SEO hero
The ol’ podcast lol
When I first started my podcast, I had a grand vision. My goal was to shine a spotlight on creatives, acting as a sort of armchair expert therapist for them while they, in turn, became my therapists. Living in Montana, I had this dream of interviewing local talents and exploring their creative minds. But life, as they say, had other plans.
Longggg story short: photogs wanted to know how the hell I did both photo and video
My career took an unexpected turn when I started gaining traction in the education space for the photo and video industry. Surprisingly, this happened despite not having a massive following. I'm just your regular person who happens to be pretty good at videography and photography. My newfound path led me to teach fellow photographers how to incorporate video into their businesses. And then, the pandemic hit, causing a surge in interest in video content thanks to TikTok and YouTube shorts.
Let’s do this bbys — my photo/video story. Again.
Devin and I decided it's time to share more about ourselves through separate solo episodes. We figured this would help you get to know us better and decide if you "click" with us. I have to admit; it feels a bit self-serving to retell my story after having a podcast for so long. But hey, let's dive in!
just a hipster that won’t grow up omg
Ever since I was a kid, I've been obsessed with stories. I harbored dreams of becoming an author someday, and that dream still burns within me. However, I've kept it on the down-low for a while, sharing it only in safe spaces. The pressure to succeed as a writer by a certain age or to feel legitimate as an artist has always loomed over me. This held me back from going all out with my online presence, especially given that I'm more known for making "silly" videos in flannels with messy hair.
Finding YouTube hahaha
During high school, I was consumed by YouTube. It was during those teenage years when YouTube really took off, and I had my favorite creators. I loveddd creators like Jenna Marbles, Grace Helbig, and John Green. Little did I know, YouTube's rise was a sign of what the future held for online content creation and content marketing.
High school was where I encountered a tech program that was out of this world. Our tech teacher ran an office-style classroom with multiple subjects going on simultaneously. We even took on independent studies and had opportunities to work on real graphic design projects. It was an environment that worked well for me. I mastered the art of batch work — focusing on video projects at school, and photography and graphic design assignments at home, because I didn’t have a video editor at home.
Not Scared of the Online Space
Unlike many, I wasn't scared of the online world. My dad was a remote worker, a webmaster, and that was just the norm in my household. I knew people made a living online, which gave me a head start when I entered adulthood. I attended college for communication studies and creative writing, but I realized that the traditional academic path wasn't my cup of tea. (Screamingggg at how diplomatically my blogging software put this so I’m keeping it in — but real talk: I was the world’s worst student.)
The travel diary era
During my college years, I found solace in watching travel influencers on YouTube. One creator, in particular, caught my eye: Hailey Devine. She was more than just an influencer; she was a videographer who seamlessly integrated cinematic masterpieces into her vlogs. It was her artistry that rekindled my creative spark after a long hiatus.
The Creative Awakening (jk my crusty vlogging era)
My creative journey has a unique twist because I didn't really think I could do what Hailey did at first. But as I watched more wedding films on YouTube, the idea started to take root. It was the first time in ages that I felt genuinely inspired.
Now, I've recounted this story countless times, each time feeling like I might be leaving out important details or embellishing a bit. But I want to keep it real, so if you have questions, feel free to ask.
Taking the Plunge
Let me be clear: I had no grand plan back then. I didn't know where this creative journey was taking me. All I wanted was to do something that didn't involve writing and wasn't too serious. I didn't fully grasp the business side of things either, which made me doubt if I'd ever be taken seriously as a writer, given my "silly" videos.
My Unique Blend of Content
My content consumption in high school paved the way for my unique blend of storytelling. I loved humor in my videos but still took my art seriously. I didn't envision myself becoming an influencer, but I didn't shy away from the online world either.
Montana Diaries: The Turning Point
The turning point came when I started a series called "Montana Diaries." These videos showcased the beauty of Montana, a place I still believe is the most beautiful on Earth. At the time, there wasn't much Montana-specific content on YouTube, which gave my videos excellent SEO. Looking back, I could have capitalized on this more, but hey, we live and learn.
From Free Work to Paid Gigs
As I kept creating content about Montana, I started to get inquiries for weddings and brand shoots. I said "yes" to every opportunity that came my way, even though I didn't always have a system in place. I worked with fly fishing guides, outdoor clothing companies, and even a tourism board. I made my way in the industry through trial and error.
The College Years and Beyond
After college, life took another interesting turn. I moved to a small town with my fiancé, who had a year left in college. I juggled waitressing with photography and videography, and that summer, I did five weddings for free. It was a tough period, but it led to valuable vendor relationships and portfolio content that propelled me forward.
Growing our fam
Fast forward to the present day, and I'm a mom to two incredible kids. My husband has found success in his teaching career, and I'm scaling my service business.
Our Thrive Vision
Devin and I have strong visions for Hey, Thriver, and we want you to see that there's no one-size-fits-all path to success. We come from entirely different backgrounds, but we've both found a way to build businesses that align with our values and bring us contentment. You're allowed to want both financial stability and creative freedom. So, welcome to Hey, Thriver, where we're all about making it work, whatever that may look like for you.
And with that, I hope I never have to do another "about me" episode ever again. Stick around, Thrivers, because exciting things are in the pipeline, and we can't wait to share them with you!
Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, keep thriving! 💪🚀
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