Meet Alyssa Young | Videographer & Editor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Alyssa Young and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alyssa, how do you think about risk?
Being a freelance videographer/editor, the freelance life is all about risk. There’s no guarantees unless you put yourself out there and take chances. Working as a creative, I’m constantly pushing myself to get better each day. I have to put out my content in hopes someone comes across it and wants to work with me, or reaching out and networking, which can also be very intimidating. But I had to overcome those fears I had early on in order to make a career for myself. When I was starting to put myself out there on TikTok in 2020, it was intimidating showcasing my work and my skills for people to judge or critique what I was making. But I looked at it as if I was inspiring one person with my content, then I’ve done something right. But little did I know that with me posting my tutorials or giving insight to what I’ve learned so far in my career would land me gigs I could only dream of. One of the biggest risks I took was finally deciding to move to LA in 2021, I knew it was where I always wanted and needed to be for what I do for my career. I didn’t have a job lined up when I signed my lease to my new apartment, but I just knew deep down something would work out. A week before I moved, my previous manager at Netflix came across my posts and edits on TikTok, and she was looking for an editor for her team. I hoped on a call, and moved to LA the next week starting my first day as a Netflix contractor. I just had a feeling something would work out and took that chance to get where I wanted to be the most.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
One day in high school, I was looking to pick an elective and saw Broadcasting as an option and thought that seemed “cool.” I signed up, and on my first day, I knew my life changed forever and that was what I was looking for. I fell in love and found a passion for video creation. I took the class all four years of high school, becoming a class manager and attending broadcasting conventions during my time in the class. I knew it was what I wanted to do, so that summer after I graduated, I spent every day watching tutorials on youtube, going out and practicing filming, doing anything to get my skills up and finding a purpose for what I loved to do. I ended up going to Sacramento State studying Communications and I didn’t take one film class. My freshman year of college, I came across a production internship for the Sacramento Kings and applied twice. I got an interview each round, but after the second try the following season, I got a yes and landed my dream internship. This taught me so much that I knew school could never give me, I had so many mentors and was gaining real life experience that I could have only dreamed of. After my internship, I connected with the Kings emcee who was looking for a videographer for her YouTube channel and officially started freelancing. I loved the freedom of making my own hours and working on projects that I actually enjoyed and got to be as creative as I wanted. From this point on in 2018, I’ve been freelancing ever since. It definitely wasn’t easy to say the least, having to reach out to people and getting ignore or hearing many no’s, worried about not making a lot of money some months, I really tried to not make it about how much I could make, and instead how it fulfilled me creatively. And I believed that helped me gain clients that felt fitting and was meant to be. During covid, I started posting every single day on TikTok, giving insights to what I had learned along the way or tutorials on how to make an editing effect I use in my videos. I gained a community and made amazing connections. Little did I know this would snowball into so much more and lead me to the most amazing gigs from people finding my work and wanting to connect with me. I’ve learned a lot about patience with this career and not getting too stuck up in “what’s next.” I really am grateful for the projects that come my way and only dreamed of the people and brands I’ve gotten to work with. But deep down, I just knew this was all going to work out how it was supposed to, even if I did get rejected from certain clients that I really wanted to work with at some point, those were just not meant to be. I wouldn’t change what I do for anything, it doesn’t ever feel like a job and loving what I do is a true gift that I’m extremely grateful for. Putting yourself out there, making connections, while being kind and a good person a long the journey goes a long way and has lead to the most amazing opportunities.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love getting to take my friends to my favorite spots and splurge on a fun LA weekend. First off, we have to start with coffee. Essential places are Coffee Dose, The Palm, Community Goods, Dialogue for brunch, or good old Alfred’s. You never know who you will run into at these places. We have to add dinner we splurge on in this mix, I would take them to Lavo, Ysabel, or Élephante. I also love planning weekends around a concert, so keeping an eye out for who’s in town is essential because shows are always happening. Hanging out at a good rooftop bar is where I have the most fun times with my friends, especially at EPLP. Most of these have included food options, but in the middle of my day, shopping at Century City, getting my nails done at Lanicure, or finding celebrities pop-up shops.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would not be where I am today without my mentors who have taught me what I know along my journey. I say I’m mostly self-taught, but I had the most amazing colleagues at my production internship in 2018 with the Sacramento Kings who gave me hands-on experience and knowledge that no school could teach me. The production team took a chance on me, and I only wanted to prove to them I was eternally grateful to work with such an amazing team who I admired so much. Specifically my good friend Carlos, he took me under his wing and constantly pushed me to become the best creative I could be. While also being kind and making sure I give back whatever he taught me to the next person. I would not be half the creative I was if it wasn’t for him and the Kings team.

Website: https://ayoungvision.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ayoungvision

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alyssayoung55/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ayoungvision

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/alyssayoung

Other: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ayoungvision

Image Credits
Tatcha; Alyssa Raab