Today we’d like to introduce you to Tyler Maxwell.
Hi Tyler, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My creative journey began in 2011. When growing up, shooting video and working with cameras was literally the last thing on my radar. I came from a family that didn’t have much involvement with art, music, or design. Creativity and artistic expression were part of a totally unknown world for me. It wasn’t until 2011 when I suddenly found a spark of interest within still photography. One of the things I was intrigued by was how some photos had beautiful bokeh and how some did not. After a few months of shooting photos on a dslr, I noticed the camera also included a video function. Once I learned how to use the Canon T2i for video, I never looked back. It opened up a door for me that changed the course of my life.
As the years went by, I continued to learn and develop my technique while filming things in my daily life. I watched a particular film by a cinematographer from Austin, Texas. That film in particular is what inspired me to push forward and take filmmaking seriously.
I remember spending month after month learning from Vimeo’s film school blog and watching the early years of Vimeo staff picks. In 2013 I began freelancing shooting anything I could get my hands on: concerts, live events, small local business projects, and a handful of wakeskating videos.
A couple of years after film school, I did some slow travel through the Western US. My experiences throughout California and our National Parks have led to a world of inspiration that influences my work today.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe everything worth doing has inherent obstacles. I’m still pushing that boulder up the hill now and always want to be. Honestly, that is all part of evolving as a creative and continuing to make work you can be proud of.
I’m also not a “that’s good enough” person, on shoots I always want to give 100% every time.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in architectural films and commercial narratives. Over the past 3-4 years, my love and appreciation for architecture has taken off. I’ve been able to use my filmmaking to help architects and designers capture their completed projects. A lot of residential architecture isn’t really seen once the residence is finished. To shoot a film capturing a project is a cool way to magnify the amount of eyes on the architect’s work.
Contact Info:
- Website: tylermaxwellfilms.com
- Instagram: @Tylermaxwellfilm
- Other: vimeo.com/tylermaxwellfilms
Image Credits
Photos by Benny Everden Video Stills by Tyler Maxwell Films
