Today we’d like to introduce you to Vashti K. Smith.
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?
Absolutely! My journey started in Illinois when I was 12, capturing moments on disposable cameras—nature, family events, and especially eyes. In high school, I dove deeper into film photography, learning to shoot with intention and develop photos in a darkroom. I even placed second at an art show, which really lit a spark in me.
Life took a turn in college at the University of Illinois Urbana- Champaign, where I studied finance with a goal to help my community through financial education. Photography took a backseat, but the creative pull never left.
After moving to Miami, my fiancé ( a Miami native) reintroduced me to photography with a Nikon starter kit. What started as a hobby quickly grew into a business. With my background in finance and operations, launching 3Live Productions felt like the perfect blend of passion and purpose.
Now, we specialize in five industries—Weddings/Events, Fashion/Beauty, Branding/Commercial/Product, Sports, and Portraits. We’re building a global creative community, hiring freelancers and traveling to bring visions to life. Our goal is to grow beyond just us, proving that being a multi-industry creative isn’t a weakness—it’s a superpower.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Definitely not a smooth road—but every bump taught us something valuable. One of the biggest challenges has been balancing our versatility in an industry that constantly tells you to niche down. We chose to embrace being multi-industry creatives, but that meant we had to work twice as hard to prove we could execute at a high level across the board.
Early on, we struggled with being taken seriously in fashion and commercial work because our portfolio was so diverse. We also had to learn how to market ourselves in a way that made our range feel like a strength, not confusion.
Another challenge was managing everything ourselves—client communication, editing, marketing, finances, and planning shoots. It was overwhelming at times, especially as we started getting more business. We had to grow from being hustlers to business owners, learning how to delegate, price our work properly, and protect our creative energy.
And of course, funding has always been a hurdle—investing in gear, travel, and team members while still staying afloat. But we’ve gotten creative with resources, applied for grants, and other financial programs to support our growth.
Through it all, what’s kept us going is our belief in the bigger vision: creating meaningful work, building a global community, and showing up for our clients with love and excellence.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about 3Live Productions LLC?
At 3Live Productions, we specialize in visual storytelling through photography and videography across five key industries: Weddings/Events, Fashion/Beauty, Branding/Commercial/Product, Sports, and Portraits. We’re known for our intentional approach—every project starts with understanding the “why” behind a client’s vision, then bringing it to life with creativity, care, and precision.
What truly sets us apart is our ability to move seamlessly between industries without compromising quality. We don’t box ourselves into one lane because our clients don’t either—they’re multifaceted, and so are we. We’re also problem solvers. Whether it’s adapting on the fly, finding creative solutions on set, or navigating client needs with clarity, we pride ourselves on making things happen—smoothly and stress-free.
We’re incredibly proud of the community we’re building—one that reflects our core values: Be You, Have Fun, Always Be Curious, Deliver Quality, Make It Better, Spread the Love. These aren’t just words—they guide every project, partnership, and client experience. We’re also honored to have been named Best of Florida in the Videography category, which speaks to the passion and dedication we pour into our craft.
This summer, we’re taking our mission a step further by giving back. We’re partnering with the Miami-Dade Youth Internship Program to offer local high school students a media internship at 3Live Productions. It’s our way of planting seeds, sharing knowledge, and empowering the next generation of creatives—especially those who may not otherwise have access to this kind of opportunity.
Our goal isn’t just to produce great content—it’s to create space, build community, and uplift voices that deserve to be seen and heard.
At our core, we lead with heart, deliver with excellence, solve problems with grace, and always leave a little piece of ourselves in everything we create.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories was getting my first disposable camera and walking around my neighborhood, trying to capture the “perfect” photo—even though I had no clue what I was doing. I’d take pictures of flowers, trees, clouds, random shadows on the sidewalk, and people’s eyes (I was oddly obsessed with how expressive they were). Then I’d beg my parents to take me to get the film developed, and the excitement of picking up those prints was unmatched. Seeing what came out, what worked, and what didn’t—it made me fall in love with storytelling through images, even if I didn’t realize it yet. That little camera sparked everything.
Pricing:
- Most services are on the website under Book Now. Weddings, Video, Ongoing content creation, and ongoing Sports are quote based.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.3liveproductions.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/3liveproductions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/18sgjCd1Ea/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/3live-productions-llc/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCu2WUiUAjLtYGVeLDVncbeQ
- Yelp: https://m.yelp.com/biz/3live-productions-miami-2
- Other: https://msha.ke/3liveproductions/
