Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Morales.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My name is Ricardo Ivan Morales, but I go by Ivan. I was born in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico, and moved to Anaheim, California, at the age of 12. Moving to a new country came with its challenges. Adapting to a different culture, learning a new language, and adjusting to a new school environment were all experiences that pushed me outside of my comfort zone. However, those challenges never stopped me from pursuing my goals. At the time, my biggest goal was to attend college, even though I had not yet decided what I wanted to study.
In 2015, I moved to Dallas, Texas. Because I was considered an out-of-state resident, I had to wait a year before I could begin taking classes at Dallas College’s Richland Campus. I initially pursued an associate degree in Multimedia and Web Design, which introduced me to the world of digital media and design.
I wouldn’t necessarily say that I discovered my passion for video production—it found me. As part of the Multimedia and Web Design program, I was required to take a video editing course. That class completely changed the direction I wanted to take. I fell in love with the creative process and the ability to tell stories and create engaging experiences through video. I enjoyed it so much that I decided to return to college and pursue a second associate degree, this time in Video Technology at Dallas College’s North Lake Campus.
During my time at North Lake, I had the opportunity to explore many different areas of video production, including camera operation, lighting, sound, live production, directing, and producing. Toward the end of my time there, I was honored to receive the Judges’ Choice Award at the school’s 24th Annual Video Showcase for my short film, Like It Never Happened.
After graduating in 2024, I began working as a freelance videographer under the name Morales Videography. Since then, I have had the opportunity to work with a wide range of clients and projects, from weddings and events to short films and everything in between. Each project has allowed me to continue developing my skills while learning how to bring different stories and creative visions to life.
In 2025, my friends Lukas, David, and I decided to take the next step by creating a team that could offer both videography and photography services. We founded MOJ Media, with the name representing our last names: Morales, Oliver, and Jackson.
Today, we are focused on building MOJ Media into a creative media brand by producing engaging content and working closely with people and organizations within our community. Our goal is to continue growing, expanding our creative capabilities, and building meaningful relationships through our work.
Ultimately, I hope to see MOJ Media become a recognized media company throughout the Dallas–Fort Worth area and, eventually, across the country. What started as a young immigrant’s goal of simply attending college has grown into a passion for storytelling, creativity, and visual media—and I’m excited to see where that journey takes me next.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road to where I am today has not been easy. Throughout my journey, I have faced a number of challenges, beginning with the language barrier I experienced when I first arrived in the United States. As I continued my education, I also had to balance working in my family’s business with attending school in order to pay for my tuition and expenses.
Building my career in media has brought its own challenges as well. Purchasing the equipment necessary to grow as a videographer and photographer has been difficult, especially while trying to save money and invest in my business. Both my personal business and my family’s business have experienced periods where finding clients has been challenging, making it difficult to consistently set money aside for new equipment and other resources.
Despite these obstacles, I have continued to move forward. Each challenge has taught me the importance of patience, persistence, and making the most of the opportunities available to me. Rather than allowing these difficulties to stop me, I have used them as motivation to continue developing my skills and building the future I envision for myself and my business.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My primary focus is event videography, specializing in capturing meaningful moments at weddings, birthday celebrations, conventions, and other special events. However, I have also had the opportunity to work on a variety of projects outside of traditional event videography. Some of these experiences include working as a camera operator for a national cheerleading competition and serving as a production assistant on a television series, among other projects.
Although I am not yet where I ultimately want to be in my career, I am proud of the effort I have put in and everything I have accomplished so far. Every project and experience has given me the opportunity to learn, grow, and continue developing my skills as a filmmaker.
What I believe sets me apart is that I do not approach videography simply as a way to make money. I genuinely enjoy what I do and value the opportunity to use my knowledge, creativity, and passion to create something meaningful for my clients. Whether it is capturing a wedding, a family celebration, or an important milestone, my goal is to give people something special that they can look back on and cherish for the rest of their lives.
How do you think about luck?
I would not say that luck has played a major role in my life. I believe I am where I am today largely because of the decisions I have made and the effort I have put into pursuing my goals. Have I been fortunate at certain points along the way? Absolutely. I recognize that there have been moments when circumstances worked in my favor. However, I do not believe that luck is what has defined my journey or determined the success of my career and business.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morales_videography?stkn=YTQwczRiY2E1eDdm
- Other: https://linktr.ee/morales_videography?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=f48572cf-7aee-44cf-811e-a188b120b072
