Meet Gabriel Fogleman

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Gabriel Fogleman. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Gabriel, appreciate you making time for us and sharing your wisdom with the community. So many of us go through similar pain points throughout our journeys and so hearing about how others overcame obstacles can be helpful. One of those struggles is keeping creativity alive despite all the stresses, challenges and problems we might be dealing with. How do you keep your creativity alive?

I think one of the biggest contributors to my creativity staying alive is not allowing myself to become complacent. There’s always so much to learn. I’m very passionate about what I do and how it can also benefits others. I love going on social media and seeing what other creatives are doing and I also love trying new things. Whether it has to do with my camera when I’m shooting or in the editing process, I love seeing something that I’ve seen online and trying to duplicate. Not only is it fun to try new techniques, but it also becomes another tool that I can put in my toolbox. I feel that the tools I’ve picked up along the way are also what helps me to stay creative while I’m shooting.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am a long time creative who has been involved in everything from video and music production to graphic design. Since I was kid, I’ve always had a love for the arts, picking up my first camera in 8th grade to be able to make my own documentaries about my life, to teaching myself how to use Photoshop so I could put myself onto the Madden cover, and eventually teaching myself how to play the guitar after I graduated high school. As a kid I didn’t really think to much about these things because they were just hobbies.

About 4 years after graduating high school, I ended up putting my art skills to use at a small promotional company screenprinting t-shirts by hand before eventually moving into the art department. At the same time I was also a part of my church’s worship team playing the guitar before eventually moving into the music director role. Over the course of the 2010’s I was highly involved in the church, serving with the youth, band, Easter and Christmas productions. Whenever the church was open and whatever the church needed, I was there.

In 2020, I took a full time role at that church as Creative Director. It was starting this full time position that I bought my first camera as an adult and reignited my passion for film making and photography. Over the course of the next four years, I would have the opportunity to really sharpen my tools and my eye, shooting everything from random candid church footage, to intimate video testimonials. It was during this time that I realized I really have a passion for coming alongside people and help to create content to help get their story and message to people in a really beautiful way.

That’s what I’m focusing on. It is my goal to help people get their message out there. I’ve recently reconnected with a coach of mine from junior high and we’ve shot a short documentary titled “Re(connected): Chip X Gabe”. This short documentary tells our story in a really beautiful way but also tells the purpose of how it is so important that we surround ourselves with great people so we can all help to build each other up.

So as of now, I’m starting to build my business helping others to grow with long-term plans of becoming a full Creative Agency helping others to build their brand through graphic design, photos and videos.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

The first quality that I feel like has made the biggest impact, and to me is probably my main quality, is doing my best to be a great observer. That has helped in so many areas. As a musician and director, it gets me out of my head and allows to me to really listen to the music and figure out where do I fit, what’s needed in a specific place, what’s the emotion I’m trying to convey. Being a great observer or listener helps to create a great palatable product without just trying to shove it down someone’s throat.

The second thing that I feel like has been impactful to me is my ability to see or hear something and duplicate it. As a creative it’s easy to use “creativity” as a cop-out to just do what you want to do. But there really are certain nuances and qualities about professional music/videos/art really make them standout from the pack of amateur work. So I’m fortunate to have learned to have a good eye/ear for some of these things. Now I know I also don’t have this all down. But I’m also self aware enough to know that I don’t. And it’s this self awareness that helps to motivate me to want to be a better creative.

The third thing that I feel like has helped me has been to just try and not take things personally. Creativity is subjective. What I may like, someone else may hate. That’s okay. And working with people or for people, they may have a specific vision in their head. And most often times if you can listen to feedback, you really do end up with a better product.

The biggest piece of advice I could ever give to somebody is just be a student. Stay humble through the process. It allows our knowledge to grow but it also makes us easy to work with!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?

I feel like my purpose in life is to come alongside people and help them. And we really all need help! I’m looking for people like me who are wanting that help. Help to elevate themselves and their brand but also to help get the message out that God has placed on the inside of them. MY purpose is to help others fulfill THEIR purpose. So those are the people are wanting to work with and help to build.

If that’s you and you’re looking for that help, you can email me at [email protected]

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gabefogleman.mypixieset.com
• Instagram: gabefogleman
• Facebook: gabefogleman