We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Trace Bodin. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Trace below.
Hi Trace , really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
You know, growing up, my friends and I were always filming. Skating, wakeboarding, goofy skits, just capturing whatever we were doing. We didn’t think of it as storytelling, we just wanted to relive those moments and have something to look back on.
Looking back now, I realize a big influence was my high school English teacher, who is also my best friend’s dad, Peter Philebar. Pete sees the world in stories. He studied film at the University of New Orleans. His house was, and still is, filled with iconic VHS tapes and nostalgic classic rock records. When I would go to his house we would watch and listen to them on repeat. I would day dream about what my life was going to look like and the endless possibilities in this world. At the time, I just thought it was cool, but now I realize how much that shaped the way I see things.
When I got my first 360 camera, something clicked. I realized I wasn’t just filming random stuff anymore. I was capturing an experience, pulling people into a moment in a way that made them feel like they were there. That’s when I started to understand the power of storytelling.
Now with Visual Production Studios, that’s exactly what I try to do. It’s not just about making cool videos. It’s about telling stories that actually connect with people. The best stories don’t just look good, they make you feel something.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Right now, I’m focused on helping businesses, especially in industrial and service-based industries, use video to build trust and connect with their audience in a real way. A lot of companies know they need video, but they’re not always sure how to use it effectively. That’s where we come in.
Lately, we’ve been working with brands in industries like construction, manufacturing, and even niche spaces like rare disease research. The goal is always the same. Capture what makes them different and turn that into video content that actually moves the needle.
At the same time, I’m working on growing the business the right way. Strengthening the team, refining our process, and making sure every project we take on is done with strategy and purpose. It’s a constant evolution, but that’s what keeps it exciting.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
At first, I thought being good at video production would be enough. I had the creativity, the technical skills, and the passion. But I learned pretty quickly that talent alone doesn’t pay the bills, and having a vision doesn’t mean clients will just show up. I poured everything into my work, but for a while, the results weren’t there. I’ve had plenty of nights sitting at my desk, staring at my bank account, wondering how long I could keep going. Those moments of doubt were real. The kind where you start questioning everything.
What kept me going was knowing that other people had figured it out. I started seeking out those who had built what I was trying to build. I listened, I learned, and I realized success wasn’t about having all the answers. It was about showing up, even when things felt impossible.
That mindset of pushing through came from years of trial and error. Skateboarding, learning guitar, juggling. None of those things came easy. I would wipe out, miss notes, drop the ball, but I kept going until something clicked. Business turned out to be the same way.
The biggest shift happened when I stopped thinking like a freelancer and started thinking like a business owner. I’m not just making videos. I’m solving problems, creating value, and building something bigger than myself. I don’t have everything figured out, but I’ve learned to embrace the process. The struggle wasn’t just something to get through. It shaped me into the person I need to be to keep moving forward.
What has been your biggest area of growth or improvement in the past 12 months?
Over the past year, the biggest shift for me has been learning how to truly build something sustainable. Not just creating good videos but making sure they have a real impact for the businesses I work with.
One of the biggest lessons has been stepping back and looking at the bigger picture. Figuring out how to make everything work together, from the creative side to the strategy to actually helping businesses use video in a way that moves the needle. It is not just about making something that looks good. It is about making something that works.
I have also put a lot of focus into building a stronger team and setting up systems that allow things to run more smoothly. That has been a whole learning process in itself. Trusting others, refining workflows, and making sure the business is not just dependent on me.
I am still learning and adjusting but looking back I can see how much things have evolved. It is not about having all the answers. It is about staying in the game long enough to figure them out.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.visualproductionstudios.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tracequatro?igsh=OTBvM29sNGZub2tn&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/visualproductionstudios?mibextid=wwXIfr&mibextid=wwXIfr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trace-bodin-65811010a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Yelp: https://yelp.to/wO9Jl4UNPK
Image Credits
Jacob Levine
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