We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Zackery Weaver . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Zackery below.
Zackery , 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’m human , so I occasionally have creative blocks and feel stuck. The best remedy for keeping my creativity alive is to challenge myself to create a certain amount of content and to learn a new technique on a weekly basis . I often find inspiration to create from watching my favorite movies, listening to different genres of music, scouting locations for future projects , and mostly from watching my kids take up the same crafts I do creating their own content . I think that we can overthink things at times and watching them create is a reminder to make sure you are having fun while you are creating . Another key to keeping my creativity alive is by constantly monitoring my mental health.
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?
My name is Zackery Weaver . I am a cinematographer that was born and raised in Stone Mountain, Ga . I truly have a passion for capturing the beauty of Atlanta , the culture , the events that are hosted here, as well as the people living in our beautiful city . I fell in love with cinematography as a child going to the movies with my father and uncles. I’ve always had a love for cameras, but became more serious with my craft in 2018 . I have been filming with cameras and flying drones ever since . I love seeing the reactions of my clients after I show them completed projects and I really love seeing that light in children’s eyes when they see a drone for the first time . I feel like I am inspiring future photographers and cinematographers .
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Three skills I have learned over the years are
1.Communication
2. Sharpen your weaknesses
3. Plan for the worst
Communication also includes listening . I learned its best to listen and learn how your client envisions their project coming out. If there is any confusion or questions , they should all be cleared up in advance prior to the day of the shoot. The better communication you have with your client , the better their shoot or video will come out .
Nobody is perfect , but we all have areas of weakness we struggle with. Maybe you aren’t the best editor or you struggle with a method of videography. You should take extra time to practice and learn the method through instructional videos. This will help you become more skilled and build your confidence .
Living in Atlanta , the weather can be unpredictable at times . Rain can ruin an outside shoot . I’ve found it best to save an extra date around the booking date just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate or to have a back up indoor location .
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was pouring into me and supporting me with whatever I wanted to pursue as a child . Whether it was sports or extracurricular activities my parents would support my aspirations and bring me to practices with no questions asked. That helped me more than they will ever know.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @liftedblkranger & @giza_media
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gizamedia9628
Image Credits
Shot by @giza_media
