Meet Henry Dombey

Hi Henry, thanks for sitting with us today to chat about topics that are relevant to so many. One of those topics is communication skills, because we live in an age where our ability to communicate effectively can be like a superpower. Can you share how you developed your ability to communicate well?
I always say, ‘you don’t create beautiful work by mistake – you have to be intentional’ and this intentionality comes from clear communication. The first step of every project is to align all of the stakeholders and figure out their vision and aspirations for the final deliverables. By proactively getting everyone on the same page we develop a clear intention for the work, add value to the client, and set my team up for success. In the early years of starting the company more than 10+ years ago, it was a crash-course in trying to find my voice – from my offerings and pricing to producing the shoots and delivering the final product – so there was a lot of trial and error involved. At this point in time I find myself spending more and more time on the pre-production to make sure that nothing is missed and that when the shoots come around we are working intentionally to make something beautiful that has a clear message and purpose.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
My name is Henry Dombey and I’m a photographer and filmmaker who runs Clubsoda Productions based in San Francisco and the West Coast. We are a production company focused on creating honest, meaningful, and original content for companies, individuals, brands, and editorial clients. Every project starts with a large dose of curiosity as we try to get inside our client’s head and then figure out a plan to realize their vision and create something unique and beautiful. Whether it’s a documentary-film or a portrait session we’re not going to be successful unless we have spent the time to align our expectations, determine the vision, and produce an organized shoot.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
My passion for photography grew from a keen desire to be an active participant in the world. There is no greater joy for me than being hired to deliver my vision of an important moment, event, or story and that is the essence of what we do. I think the three main qualities that set this up are curiosity, a desire to talk to people, and a focus on the craft of photography and filmmaking. Let me explain: All of this starts with curiosity – I’m genuinely interested in what people are doing with their lives and how things work. As I figure out what people do from a structural and logistics framework, I’m trying to find an angle to connect with people on an emotional level and engage them to share their insights and world with me. Once we’ve figured out the ‘how’ and the ‘why,’ we get to the craft of photography and filmmaking and I’ve made a real commitment to ’embrace the craft’ of what I do. This means that I have accepted the adage that, ‘a day with a camera in my hands – is a good day.’ This simple mantra helps me stay true to the craft and the creative process. For those who are just starting out, I would recommend you spend some time thinking about what a great day of work looks like for you and then work backwards from that intention in order to figure out what your role is going to be in the business and who you need to hire.

Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
My ideal client is someone who wants to push the boundaries to create something unique that makes an honest statement and tells a clear story. Every project is a collaboration between the client and my team, and the best clients know how to support the work that we are doing but can also find a tasteful and professional way to push everybody slightly out of their comfort zone in order to find the electricity that makes the product and the process especially meaningful.