That Feeling Before the First Shot

There’s a certain buzz that kicks in before a shoot—the kind that pulls you out of bed before the alarm and keeps your mind spinning through the night. You charge batteries, clean lenses, double-check gear you’ve already checked three times. You google the weather reports and adjust your pack accordingly. And even though you try to plan for every scenario, you already know—most of it won’t go as planned.

But that’s the point.

The unpredictability is part of what makes it feel alive. You’re chasing something unseen, something that first stirred your curiosity enough to say, there’s a story here. And now you’re setting out to find it.

In the quiet moments before the first frame, you feel the pull to play it safe. To shoot it the way you always do. But you know better. That’s not how you’re wired. You look for the angle you’ve never tried. You take the risk. You test a new technique, even if it doesn’t land. Because maybe the moment of clarity won’t happen while you’re filming. Maybe it’ll come in the edit. Or maybe it won’t come at all—not this time. Still, you keep looking.

Because you’re not just chasing the story. You’re chasing evolution.

This work—making short documentaries—it’s not just a job. It’s a relationship. And like any meaningful relationship, I want to keep showing up for it. I want to grow with it. Challenge it. Let it challenge me back.

This weekend, I’m heading out of state for a new project. Out of respect for the integrity of the operation, I can’t say much right now—but trust me, the story is worth the wait.

So if you’re reading this, I hope you’ve got something that sets you ablaze too. Whatever it is—that spark, that calling, that idea you can’t let go of—don’t ignore it. Life’s too short to be stuck in something that drains you.

Follow the burn. Let it guide you to wherever your story’s supposed to go.

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