Today we’d like to introduce you to Khami Auerbach.
Hi Khami, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I’ve been creating multimedia work ever since I was a kid. I used to make PowerPoint designs on my moms computer when I was probably around 7 years old, I used to make Microsoft Movie Maker videos with my cousins in their basement when I was around that age too, but it really wasn’t until my mom gave me a point and shoot to take to summer camp that I really found my true love and passion for creation. That, and when a friend of mine put me onto editing photos on my iPod Touch when I was around 12 years old (which led to me making fan pages and edits nearly every few days)…. and when I made a channel with my best friend Teegan (which we ran for a few good years together making skits, fan music videos, reviews, and much more). All of these things growing up built the foundation for what I do today. By the time I got to high school, I was deeply entrenched in editing, photography, video, and design. During those years, I ended up joining my Broadcast/Film class & team for around 4 years, where I finally learned the Adobe Suite, finally collaborated with a group of people, and really built my skills as a creative. I also started working in production as a career around that time for my local museum (which I worked at for many years on and off until around 2024). Following high school, I briefly worked as a photographer for a Golf Course / Camp over the summer, then bounced from South Florida and went to Ithaca College to get a bachelors in Television & Digital Media (and minor in Design… and Health), which was an over-encompassing major that allowed me to learn all facets of production and essentially build my own pathway in my studies within multimedia and production. During my time in college (and after a brief pause during Covid), I worked within so many different roles for photoshoots, films, and content productions mainly produced or co-produced by friends or classmates of mine, all while working as a Promotions Director for our college radio station VIC Radio (and also hosting a show called VIC Slumber Party on said radio… throwback to the bedroom pop era !!!). I was very busy making stuff that I loved and was super proud of, and I knew I wouldn’t be stopping there. Once I graduated, I legit took calls with so many different industry professionals and connects I could get my hands on….and not even 2 months into being graduated I got my dream job (or one of them at least LOL!) as a Production & Fashion Assistant for a magazine I loved, Flaunt Magazine. Not even 2 days after my lease ended, I flew to LA and moved into my cousins living room (fun fact: I lived on a couch for 6 months thereafter). Anyways, There I helped to produce and execute photo and video shoots, assisted on set, worked with some amazing photographers & artists & stylists, helped with editorial needs, pitched some amazing stories (one being the 50th Anniversary magazine’s piece on Brian Cranston and Aaron Paul — which I not only pitched but also got to help style and assist for !!!). I worked with some iconic figures like Sasha Colby, Charlie D’melio, Eva Longoria, Vic Mensa…. The list goes on. I also worked on the side as a photo assistant & graphic designer on my off days, where I got to design for insanely huge music companies like UMG & Republic Records (to name a few). I was really making a name for myself at this point. However, due to some financial matters and other circumstances I had to move back to Florida. I was super nervous at first given that I hadn’t been back year round since I was 18 (for one!). But not even a few months in, I was starting to production assist and do art department for huge productions in Miami (ie: Amazing Race, PFL, Spotify) and was able to work with more and more local artists (and continue creating remotely for work as well!). I was deeply entrenched in doing mainly design and editing work when I wasn’t working on set, at least when I first moved back. I worked at a social content agency for about a year or so too, which had me filming and photographing work in hospitality, fashion, beauty, medicine, construction, you name it… but I quickly realized I was denying myself of greater opportunities as a freelancer and for not much of a worthy price either. Quitting that was the best decision I ever made, because shortly after I was getting booked for huge jobs. I worked on Simon Cowell’s show Simon Needs You (Netflix), where I was essentially a prop and art department head… then production assisted a show for Tubi…. A WNBA documentary…. a Bossman DLOW video/shoot (cam assisted!!!). a commercial for La Quinta (my first time traveling for a video production!)… LIV GOLF (cam assisted this one!!!)…Edikted (cam assisted this too hehe)… Express… and finally most recently a doc for ABC (which may or may not have b cam footage filmed by me in it!). All while building up more of my work as a photographer (which I thankfully do more commission work for that now!!!) and continuing in design and editing. Like damn I shot for BAPE and NIKE just
This past year! I also hosted a radio show on Twitch under Miami Community Radio called FOLLOWING: Very Cool Shit! I also work part time at two of my favorite local venues: I’m front of house at Miami Beach Bandshell and a photographer for Zey Zey. I also joined in on a production and design agency that I own with my friends called YOGER. We threw 3 pretty successful events in Miami last year as well, where I personally booked, planned, and designed/made content for each alongside my team. At my third event, I DJ’d for an event for one of the first times too… and now I get booked to DJ about twice a month in Miami/Soflo… and am about to play my debut show in Gainesville soon! There’s so much more in store for me (and for YOGER as well)… I still feel like even after all this I’m just getting started!!!!! I just actually wrapped up a really huge design project TODAY that I had been manifesting for years …. But more on this later….!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In the grand scheme of things, I think that it’s been a pretty smooth road with a few bumps along the way. I won’t say it was particularly very easy or something that really happened overnight for me as if it was very much a long time coming, but I have been pretty fortunate in most of my experiences working in production and media. I’ve dealt with disrespect for a number of bigoted or greedy reasons in much of my career, I’ve lost precious hours up to weeks of my life for a project I wasn’t sure was worth it, I worked unpaid or for jaw dropping rates just to get my foot in the door, I’ve dealt with jealousy from people I expected support from, suffered a few breakdowns in my time, been left unpaid (not by many people thankfully….) and more. But even with this being said, I have seen many more positives in my line of work than negatives. For one, I get to do what I love for a living!!! I get to create for a living!!!! That in itself is always a blessing to me. And thank god, because I really do not see myself doing any other line(s) of work.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I actually do a number of things for work!!! I’m a photographer, videographer, photo editor and retoucher, video editor, graphic designer, creative and live event producer, set designer/props/art department head, production & cam assistant, and DJ! I’m known for mainly working with other people in the creative sector, especially musicians. One of my biggest collaborators across this work has been alt-pop Florida band 5LOKO. (Most members are also working with me in YOGER now too!!!) and it’s been an honor to work with them for so many years on so many different projects. Honestly, I’m proud of it all, but if I had to choose, some of my biggest accomplishments have been shooting a majority of the art for a number of artists (the one closest to my heart being 5LOKO), doing art department for Netflix, working for Flaunt and so many of the shoots I helped put together during my time there, making graphics for a certain client I have yet to share, spinning on Masisi Radio recently, when I got to show my artwork at Always Lunes’ show a few years ago (my first show in years) alongside so many artists I hold close to my heart today, the fact that our first event last year went so amazingly well and everything else that followed, also the sheer number of projects I’ve been a part of!!!! Also being able to mesh photo and design in so many of my recent projects in a way I want to!!! The list goes on. And what sets me apart from the others is that not only do I work hard, but I make sure everything I create meets not only my needs but the needs of the client I’m working with!!! And if you need anything done creatively, I’m your guy. I think my versatility and skill in various corners, as well as my passion for creation and the arts, is what makes me really stick out like a sore thumb.
How do you think about happiness?
Being able to do what I love, music, being surrounded by art and a creative city, nature, being with my partner and friends and family, creating. They all make me happy for different reasons of course but just being able to surround myself in love and art has turned my life around for the better.
Pricing:
- email khamijade@gmail.com for pricing!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://khamiauerbach.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/khamiiiii
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/khameronauerbach?utm_source=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=member_ios
- Twitter: https://x.com/khamiiiiiiii?s=11
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@khamiiiii?si=vGM5xCj3D4G0G5RS
- Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/hMMIivt2vpgF3mN9OE
- Other: https://linktr.ee/khamijade
