Meet Matt Dewar | Videographer & Digital Marketing Professional

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

Hi Matt, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My main goal with starting my own business is to escape any current 9-5 job and be able to take control of my time and money. To take it a step further, my primary motivation behind this goal and what I’m doing is to find happiness. Although I am nowhere near where I want to be, it’s a start. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial side along with videography/photography skills. I studied marketing and entrepreneurship at the University of Montana and gained a huge interest in being a business owner. I’ve put out a lot of great photos and videos for fun over the years, and I started receiving inquiries from people I knew to do their senior photos, engagement photos, etc. a few years back. I’ve wanted to go through the process of starting an actual business myself for years and because a few great opportunities started popping up, I took advantage of it.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve had a really diverse career so far. During college, I started as a part-time video editor for ViralHog, a video licensing tech company. I graduated and worked my way up to the head of the video licensing team (sales). I then left a few years later to help a friend start a business as the marketing director for an off-road brand. I’m proud of the work I’ve done because each company I’ve worked for has grown tremendously while I was a part of it. But I’ve always wanted to be able to do that for myself.

I want to make it clear, I’m not some guy who’s “made it” or has it all figured out. Starting and trying to grow a business with very little funds is not the easy path.

My biggest challenge has been delegating time this venture while holding down a full time job. Between that, going to the gym, meal prepping, dealing with the challenges of daily life, and keeping up with the clients I do have, it’s been a grind. I’m at a crossroads in my head of the direction I want to go in all the time because I have so many ideas. While I am still working a sales job, I’m aiming to take the full leap very soon and I’ve got weddings and other gigs popping up more and more. I’ve had lots of people see my work and go, “Why don’t you do this full time?” I wish it was just that simple, but the goal is in sight.

Researching and learning constantly, along with working with other talented people, is the primary way I’ve been able to continue to progress. Remembering all of the things I’ve overcome in my life previously helps me get through those extremely difficult times.

I think what sets myself apart in the wedding videography game specifically is the fact that I come from filming motocross which is high speed and high risk. You blink, and you miss the shot. And one thing you do not want to do is miss a major shot at a wedding! I grew up racing, and took the filming side of things and turned it into a marketing platform for my own racing program. I’ve been able to transition that skill into filming weddings and taking on other various marketing, video or photo projects.

I’ve learned that you have to be all in and see the long-term vision for anything to work. If you aren’t fully bought in, you won’t be able to progress or grow nearly as fast as someone who is. And there is ALWAYS someone out there working harder than you trying to surpass you, so you need to keep that in mind and make sure you outwork your competition.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Being new to the Phoenix area, I’m still exploring and finding new places. I’ve actually only been here for about a year and it’s been a difficult adjustment coming from small town Montana. Regardless, I’d do everything I could to come up with a fun itinerary for a friend in town. I prefer to hangout at spots with some character that have a good vibe and a great atmosphere – that almost matters more to me than the food! Local breweries like four peaks or San Tan check those boxes for me. I love walking around downtown or by water at night. Anywhere with a nice patio, I’m on board. We’d probably spend a couple afternoons downtown Tempe or Phoenix, and go hiking or biking during the day. Downtown Gilbert and Chandler have some great places as well. We’d go float the salt river if it’s open, and hangout at my grandma’s pool in Scottsdale. Being from Montana, I’m an outdoor guy through and through. If one of my friends who rides dirt bikes comes to town, we’d be out on a singletrack ride deep in the mountains getting into a real adventure!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First of all, I want to shoutout my parents and the friends who constantly believe in me, no matter what it is I decide to do.

I’ve had a lot of great mentors and friends over the years to help guide me down the right path. I’ve taken many different paths that led down the wrong road, but I believe I’ve taken slightly more that led to something great. In terms of Hyline Media – my good friend and fellow videographer Will Ulmen with Elevate Media opened up the door for wedding videography for me a few years back. He’s constantly pushing me and trying to help me to “Elevate” my own game! Like I said before, my family is 100% supportive of anything I do and that’s huge to have them to lean on.

I’ve also had huge support from fellow videographers, photographers, and media agency owners. They always tell me that I’m going in the right direction and that is huge for me.

Website: https://www.hylinemedia.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hyline_media/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattdewar/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090828128132

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@hylinemedia/featured

Image Credits
Matt Dewar, Hyline Media