Meet Tyler Ellison | Creative Director, Photographer and Commercial Videographer/Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tyler Ellison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tyler, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I grew up in Quitman, Tx. My parents were always huge supporters and encouraged me to dream and pursue my passions. My Dad had his own business as a florist and restored antiques. He also played music at the church. He and my mom were always very thoughtful in decorating their home and showed me the importance of intentionality in design and aesthetics. Growing up in a creative home, I got involved with music at a very young age; I started writing poetry and playing drums and piano. After Highschool, I went to college for music, and soon after I left school, I started leading music in churches. I did that for ten-plus years and, in that time, learned a lot about communications, photography, and video production. When the pandemic hit, a lot of things changed for us. We felt not only shifts in the world but in our personal lives. The world became smaller, and brands started reaching out to creators living locally that could produce a shoot from start to end. That’s what shifted for me. Many doors opened up, and I could pursue many jobs and make connections with clients that were previously out of reach. In 2021 I went full-time into the freelance world and now am a full-time photographer/videographer and the owner of a creative agency that handles full-scale marketing projects.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I keep returning to relationships with the business—the better the relationship, the better the end product. When people are looking to hire someone, they already assume you can handle the project. They aren’t worried about the photo, video, logo, or design. What they want is reassurance that it is money well spent. If you give people an excellent experience, the money becomes secondary. What I have learned about myself as a business owner has been eye-opening. I am a natural starter, and I love that energy. I like to network and get the ball rolling. I’m not great with the organization or laying the administrative foundations, so I knew early on I would need some people in my corner with those skill sets. That is essential for any business, especially in the creative field. It would help if you surrounded yourself with strong people in areas where you’re weak. That’s hard to admit because, as Americans, we want to appear strong and good in every area, but that’s crap and unrealistic. I needed to offload some of the administrative back-end work, which didn’t make me happy. So, I hired people for those roles that will thrive in them! It’s one of the most valuable things I have learned from other business owners. Free yourself up to do what you love and are good at!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, I live outside the DFW area now in East Texas.

I would start with Coffee at Silver Grizzly Espresso in Longview, Texas.

Then lunch at Wright On Taco in Harleton, Texas.

From there, I would go shopping at Brands and Threads & Velvet Vintage in Tyler, Texas, or head to Heirloom Home in Marshall, Texas.

Then Dinner at The Grove in Tyler, Texas, and I would end the night with Drinks at Greenside Beverage Co. and dessert at Wild Honey Creamery in Longview, Texas.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
First and foremost, I couldn’t do what I do without my wife, Jennifer Ellison. There are a lot of long days and jobs that take me out of town. Without her support and encouragement to create, I wouldn’t be where I am now.

My parents gave me a lot of confidence to run after my dreams as a kid, which is one of the best gifts I have ever been given.

My Dad and Grandpa taught me to work hard to pursue goals in life, a value that has served me well throughout my personal and professional life.

My wife and close friends encouraged me to take the plunge into the freelance world, even though it was terrifying.

My buddy, Justin Ward, gave me his dad’s old 35mm camera, which sparked a love for film photography.

The list goes on and on. I have always had fantastic family and friends that encourage and support me. It takes a village. People see something I have created, but the older I have gotten, I see all the people behind me telling me I can do it. Supporting me, watching the kids, letting the dog out, affirming me when I want to quit, and creative team members that lift me up and take the work to a new level. It’s not just me doing something. It’s all the people in my life collectively helping me create.

Website: www.tylercellison.com

Instagram: @tylerellison

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tyler-ellison-666602a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tylercellison/

Image Credits
Brands to Credit: Taylor Stitch Stetson Kyser Capos Fender Guitars Models: Kirk Thurmond Nathan Irwin Sarah McInroe Covenant Olatunde Jenna Clark