Today we’d like to introduce you to Chris Harmon.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Chris. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
In the beginning, I never knew that I would be in the place that I am now. I attended Grambling State University and majored in Mass Communication with plans on going to film school. While attending Grambling, I was involved with the campus newspaper (The Gramblinite), the GSU TV Station, my Fraternity Omega Psi Phi, and I was SGA President.
When I graduated, I moved back home in Monroe, La and worked two full-time jobs! I worked at JP Morgan Chase from 6:30 am-3:00 pm and then worked at a call center for Boost Mobile from 3:30pm-Midnight. My plans were to buy a camera and save my money for film school. After a year, I got declined from all of the film schools, so I gave up and took a job at CBS news in Monroe. One of my friends in Dallas encouraged me to move and work at Enterprise Rent A Car.
Once I got to Dallas, I met a lot of local professionals that needed Video work. I gained a lot of experience with them, and at the same time, a few of my friends from college were doing the same thing. We got together and thought it would be cool to start a company that offers Videography, Photography, and DJ. That’s when we created Harmland Visions as what it is today! Beforehand, Harmland Visions was more into entertainment and music videos, but the transition sent us directly into Weddings and Corporate events.
We did the Dallas Bridal Show and started off with a terribly built small booth and admired all of the big companies in the city. We worked our hearts out year after year to grow and become better at our craft. Our knowledge was very little in the Wedding industry as it is completely different coming from Louisiana. Many peers didn’t take us in or educate us on things when we first arrived, so we probably wasted a lot of time and money doing trial and error moves.
People always talked against us saying that One-stop Shops would never work, or focusing on too many things won’t be good for business, or no one will ever take you seriously. We simply just ignored it and continued to educate ourselves and get better. Now we are in our 6th year as a legit company where we reside in a 3000 sq ft studio near downtown Dallas! I am personally on the Board of the Society of Wedding Professionals and the board of DFW NACE.
Currently nominated for several awards within 3 organizations and created two sister companies, Chris Harmon Films (which specializes in Music Videos and Short Films) and High School Hype (which focuses on DJ, Lighting, and Photobooths for High School Proms and Homecoming Dances.)
Has it been a smooth road?
Not a smooth road at all! Like I mentioned before, we had no education on a lot of things and people never want to see you do better than them, so they stay quiet and distant from you for awhile until you begin to figure things out. It’s hard trying to convince people that you offer a great product and that there are more than one option available. People do not like change and they do not like to try new things, so when you are a brand new company, coming from a different state, you definitely have to learn how to think outside of the box to showcase your products and prove that you are a worthy vendor.
Another struggle is that I am actually shy. It wasn’t until I got into the wedding industry, that I forced myself to be more vocal. I use to walk into a room filled with people I didn’t know and walk out not knowing anyone still. What I had to do was get to know two or three people, and become their friends on Facebook. From there, I would friend more and more of their friends who were in the industry. Once I had them as friends on Facebook, all I would do was post and show off my natural personality to get people entertained and laughing. Made them interested in me. That way, they had no choice but to see all of the products and services we offer!
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Harmland Visions story. Tell us more about the business.
Harmland Visions is an Entertainment and Production company that was started by a group of college students at Grambling State University. The company focuses on producing Videography, Photography, DJ, Lighting, Special Effects, A/V and Photo Booth Services.
I am a Videographer personally. I also own the business and I manage everyone else. The company is known for the DJ side, and especially the birth of High School Hype. I myself can sell videography to anyone, because people gravitate towards me and what I do.
The one thing that I am most proud of our company is that we did everything that we wanted to do and stuck to the plan regardless of any of the negative feedback or opinions that we received. It’s very hard being a black-owned business and there are a lot of things that you have to consider and hear about, but to be one of the top companies around is a blessing, considering that we came from Louisiana with little to no knowledge in this industry.
The thing that set us apart from everyone is that we are always looking for creative and innovative ways to attack the market and impress our clients. Our philosophy is that we can do ANYTHING, that ANYONE else can do, but here is what we are doing or what we can do, that no one else is doing or can do. We do a lot of researching in various areas of the US to get inspiration and ideas on things that we can incorporate into our brands that many others aren’t doing.
Where do you see your industry going over the next 5-10 years? Any big shifts, changes, trends, etc?
You never know dealing with technology and how the world is constantly changing. As long as people are getting married, and as long as High Schools are having proms, I think we will be alright in the next 10 years! The key is remaining relevant, maintaining Value, and keeping up with change and the times. No one likes change, but if you do not adapt, you will get left behind!
Contact Info:
- Address: 11127 Shady Trail #103 Dallas, TX 75227
- Website: www.harmlandvisions.com
- Phone: 318-791-5861
- Email: ChrisHarmon@harmlandvisions.com
- Instagram: @HarmlandVisions
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/harmlandvisions/
- Twitter: @Harmlandvisions
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
