Life & Work with Justin Ingram

Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Ingram. 

Hi Justin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Unintentionally, what started my creative journey was messing around with some friends recording YouTube videos on our iPhones in between college classes. Once we were getting some great feedback, I thought it was time to make the next step in purchasing my first camera for the sake of our “audience’ of course. Leaving Best Buy that day seemed to be the beginning of this wild ongoing rollercoaster. From that day on, it seemed like I was studying YouTube Videos on how to work the actual camera for months. It opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of what I could do with a camera. From lens to frame rates, I quickly understood that this little camera could take me way further than YouTube pranks. 

For the next 6 months, I was obsessed with learning more on cameras, from the latest gear to evoking certain emotions with a strong story. Not knowing how to take the next step with all the information I had until my friend who knew about this creative voyage I’ve been on and put me in contact with a family friend with a Web Design & Digital Marketing company who was in need of content creation. So, there I was, an unexperienced 19-year-old suddenly working with established clients with very high expectations. For the first few months, I felt very out my depth but quickly got over those feelings the more projects I got under my belt. 

With that confidence, I finally started my own video production company, ‘Justin Jamal.’ I grew up loving music and figure that creating music videos would be a great nice that I could fit in and make my own. A couple years in, I hit my first million views on Worldstar HipHop all the while dealing with a handful of headache clients which seemingly pushed me to leave the music scene seeking something more fulfilling. 

With quarantine, I was picking up one-off clients and ended up parting ways with the Web Design company I was with all those years. Then in March, I was hired by Xenith, a football helmet company in Detroit, and was brought on as their Video Content Creator which has been great combining my two favorite things, cameras & football. It has also been great finding my directorial voice and not being too meek in bringing up new ideas. I recently directed my first commercial for Xenith’s campaign “Gameday Doesn’t Start on Friday” which was a great experience and finally proved to myself that I belong in this space and that I am an artist. 

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Not at all; from dealing with bad clients to battling with your inner self, if felt like it was almost always an uphill. Battle for something. 

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a videographer & content creator based in Metro Detroit. I specialize in using media to drive a bigger story and evoke emotion from my audience. I would say I’m known for my work around the city but it’s probably a combination of my music video work and now my work for football helmet company, Xenith. Recently shot and directed my first commercial campaign called ‘Gameday Doesn’t Start on Friday’ for Detroit’s very own, Xenith. 

What sets me apart is my approach to certain projects and being able to look at a story from multiple perspectives which helps me produce top quality every time. 

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
To always be able to be quick on your toes. Time isn’t going to wait for you, so you have to be proactive. 

Contact Info:

• Website: justinjamal.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/justinjamall

Image Credits
Justin Jamal