Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Martin.
Jason, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In my youth, I had aspirations to be a jazz musician as a saxophonist and pianist. After high school, I attended the Dallas Sound Lab (Now known as the Media Tech Institute) where I learned how to mix music and write/produce radio commercials. This path lead me to the radio industry where I was an on-air personality and producer for 97.9 The Beat and 94.5 KSoul (Now known as Magic 94.5) then later produced for syndicated shows, The Rickey Smiley Morning Show, Tom Joyner Morning Show, DL Hughley Show, Doug Banks, Get Up! Mornings With Erica Campbell and Steve Harvey.
During this time, I became self-taught in the photography, video editing, and filmmaking fields. Mainly, because I wanted to learn it all. I saw so many moving parts and how they overlapped. So, when one aspect was finished the other needed to be carried out by someone who knew where to pick up. I didn’t want to have to rely on someone else so I started to immerse myself in everything creative.
When people would ask what I do for a living I told them, “I Create and Produce”. This was my first website that showcased all my talent from music, radio voice-over, radio production, video, and photography.
In 2017 I landed a position at COX MEDIA GROUP in Miami where I was the production director for 4 radio stations. Moving from TX to FL was a big change but I loved it. I had to start over with my connections and really network. While in South Florida I met some talented videographers and photographers and began to focus more on creative visuals.
At the end of 2020, I was released from my position at CMG due to covid layoffs. I ended up landing a remote position with iHeart Media and decided to move back to the Dallas Fort Worth area to reset and reassess my future.
My position was part-time so I began reaching out to friends who may know anyone that would hire me based on my creative talents. My friend Jessica Taylor connected me with Harold Haswell who is an entrepreneur as a Broker, crypto investor and owns a real estate photography business. After viewing my site, he realized I actually knew how to take photos and basically became my mentor. I truly appreciate what he has done for me.
Real Estate photography came easier than photographing people. There’s a calm about it. It was actually something I always enjoyed seeing but didn’t know how to quite get into the industry.
So, throughout 2021 I took notes, began to look at it from my marketing/radio eyes, and started to develop my own niche. Having a career in the entertainment industry allowed me to reach out to some of my wealthy connections and request to photograph their home to use for my site. Some of my friends are agents and now my goal is to become North Texas and South Florida’s number 1 real estate photographer.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
The biggest struggle has been the development of the website. If it were not for my creative and talented friends there is no way I could afford the type of design and functions I wanted for this site. So, I must thank my friend KCi (Kendrick Burks) because he spent over 3 months leading the development of my website.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Visual storytelling through photography and video is what I strive to do with my work. I enjoy helping an agent stand out to their clients while evoking an emotional response to the viewer. Basically, I approach real estate visuals as a filmmaker and music producer. Music and movies have always been my passion because they both feed my imagination and emotional tank.
As I stated earlier, I am a jack of all trades kind of guy. As a musician, I’ve performed for hundreds of people, and as a music producer along with my co-producers/writers, Eric Stinette and Will Allen Jr. we earned a song placement and movie credits in the movie Stomp The Yard 2: Homecoming. Our song was produced years before the movie was filmed, but the director felt it worked for a specific scene in the movie. That’s why I am not your everyday photographer or videographer hired to shoot a property. I am a creative director who chooses to go a step further and tell a visual story to achieve an emotional connection with my audience who happen to be potential buyers.
Lastly, attention to detail and follow-through sets me apart from others. Customer service is very important to me in my personal life, and it is the lack of customer service – in numerous industries – that allows me to step up when most are unwilling when it comes to selling a product or service.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am a calculated risk-taker. One way that I funded this business venture and others in the past was thru professional poker. When you’re the only one funding your dreams, you have to work the jobs you don’t want so you can fund your business. Luckily, poker was something I was good at that had a high ROI. I don’t recommend it to everyone because it takes a certain mindset but in life, you must take risk. If you don’t take risks then where’s the fun in that? Take the road less traveled by and hold on for the ride.
Pricing:
- PRO 1 Up to 2,500 Sq. Ft. $300 (Recommended for listings under $499k) 30 – 40 Marketing Images 10 Aerial Images Premium Retouching & Coloring 24 Hour Online Delivery MLS Image Sizes Branded/Unbranded Marketing Page 3D Home Tour
- PRO 2 Up to 2,500 Sq. Ft. $300 (Recommended for listings under $499k) 30 – 40 Marketing Images Premium Retouching & Coloring 24 Hour Online Delivery MLS Image Sizes Branded/Unbranded Marketing Page 3D Home Tour 10 Aerial Images
- ELITE 1 Up to 3,300 Sq. Ft. $450 (Recommended for listings under $499k) 30 – 40 Marketing Images Premium Retouching & Coloring 24 Hour Online Delivery MLS Image Sizes Branded/Unbranded Marketing Page 3D Home Tour Floor Plan 10 Aerial Images
- EXECUTIVE Up to 3,500 Sq. Ft. $600 (Recommended for listings between $499k – $899k) 50 Marketing Images Premium Retouching & Coloring 24 Hour Online Delivery MLS Image Sizes Branded/Unbranded Marketing Page 3D Home Tour 10 Aerial Images Floor Plan Neighborhood Features.
- LUXURY Up to 4,500 Sq. Ft. $1,200 (Recommended for listings between $899k – $1.5MIL) 60 – 80 Marketing Images Premium Retouching & Coloring 24 Hour Online Delivery MLS Image Sizes Branded/Unbranded Marketing Page 3D Home Tour Floor Plan 10 Aerial Images 60 – 90 Second Cinematic Video (Interior / Exterior / Aerial) 5 Business Day Delivery (Video) Royalty-Free Music
Contact Info:
- Email: info@mediaestatevisuals.com
- Website: mediaestatevisuals.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/mediaestatevisuals
- Facebook: facebook.com/mediaestatevisuals
- Other: https://vimeo.com/mediaestatevisuals
Image Credits
Walter Johnson Jr.
Jason Martin
