Today we’d like to introduce you to Josh Potter.
Hi Josh, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Started with an entry level position, Morning Show Photographer at WITN.
Worked my way up, gaining experience (covering major weather related stories, to broadcast packages for TV, and 30 sec commercials).
Learned the demanding, quick-turnaround nature of live television—mastering how to shoot, edit, and produce a complete, high-quality video under tight deadlines.
Moved into Creative Services and ultimately became the Promotions Director.
Won multiple industry accolades during this time, including three RTDNAC awards and a prestigious ProMax North America Award.
Community Connection: Through my work at the broadcast station, I worked closely with local people and business owners within the community making videos for them. Hearing their stories and building those relationships sparked a lot of support—their encouragement pushed me to finally believe in myself to step out and do something much bigger than what I was currently doing.
The Dec. 2019 Leap & The 2020 Pivot:
Left the stability of my position to go full-time freelance in December 2019—right before COVID-19 hit.
Every year, I set a personal professional challenge for myself. My goal for 2020 was to figure out multi-camera livestreaming, so I had just bought an ATEM switcher right before the pandemic.
When lockdowns started, that skill became exactly what the community needed. I was live-streaming funerals, graduations, church services, and other events so others could stay connected. This carried my business and rapidly got my name out there.
Shifting to Corporate & Studio Ownership (Last 6 Years):
My work is more focused on what I call “corporate videography”.This ranges from event recap videos, website videos, educational materials, and a little bit of everything else. Music related things have always been a passion of mine and will always be my favorite thing to capture.
Blessed with an incredible slate of repeat clients who consistently return year after year and refer me to other business owners.
Two years ago, I had the opportunity to take over a local recording studio space that already featured an infinity/cyclorama wall.
Upgraded the studio by rigging it with professional lighting and converting the old audio recording booth into a dedicated, high-end podcast room with professional lighting and multiple camera angles.
Over the last two years, balancing the high-end videography business with running this physical content studio has been an incredibly rewarding blessing.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
While at the broadcast station, I always wanted to create high-end, top-tier video productions.
I was constantly hit with the pushback: “That’s bigger market stuff—it won’t do well here because we’re a smaller market.” * That answer never sat well with me. I constantly questioned why a smaller market shouldn’t have access to the absolute highest quality video. That frustration stuck with me and ultimately fueled my desire to prove it wrong.
The Leap of Faith vs. The Safe Path:
I could have easily stayed at my stable job, lived a low-stress corporate career, and retired there years later.
Instead, I believed so much in my vision of raising the local production standard that I took a massive leap of faith to build my own business. I couldn’t have done it without the immense love, belief, and encouragement from my family and friends.
Navigating the Pandemic & The “Sought-After” Gear:
The first major roadblock out of the gate was COVID-19 hitting right after I went freelance.
Luckily, my self-imposed challenge of wanting to learn livestreaming paid off instantly. Because I had pre-purchased that specific ATEM switcher—a piece of equipment that suddenly became backordered and impossible for anyone else to get their hands on. This really carried me through the 1st part of going out on my own.
The Challenge of Scaling a Creative Business:
A major ongoing business hurdle has been learning how to scale. Videography is naturally such a hands-on, deeply creative process, making it difficult to expand beyond just myself.
Taking over and operating the physical studio space for the last two years has been the ultimate catalyst for my growth, teaching me how to scale from a solo shooter into a full studio operator.
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 work closely with a large number of local organizations and businesses.
My work transitioned naturally from the broadcasting side of making commercials to doing it as a freelancer. However, the landscape has changed dramatically over the last several years.
The biggest shift is the medium: instead of the commercials I shoot being viewed on traditional TV, they are now primarily viewed on social media platforms and websites. This requires a completely different approach to pacing and formatting.
Beyond commercial advertising, I do a lot of event videography, specializing in high-energy event recap videos.
1413 Creative Studio: Built to Operate Independently:
The studio is designed to operate seamlessly without me needing to be hands-on for every booking; I regularly rent the space out to other local content creators so they can bring their own visions to life.
Solving Creator Pain Points: We provide all the heavy, cumbersome gear that creators hate to travel with—professional lighting, C-stands, paper backdrops, and specialized grip gear are all included with the space.
Community Inspiration: I also create and showcase my own custom creative tools on my Instagram, using those videos to push other shooters to think outside the box, experiment, and truly get creative on their shoots. I love seeing what others create and being a source of encouragement for the local community.
The Two Infinity/Cyclorama Walls (The Big Summer launch)
The Smaller Wall: Catered heavily toward photographers who absolutely love the space and use it frequently for portrait and product work.
The New Larger Cyc Wall: Currently under construction to eliminate the limitations of our current space. Because modern media has shifted heavily toward vertical content, standard walls can restrict your framing. This massive new wall is being built specifically to handle wide video angles and vertical formatting.
Lighting Upgrade: The new wall features a massive professional lighting grid overhead, giving filmmakers total control.
The Podcast Studio (Instant Delivery & Polish):
We offer a professional podcast room that comes with an on-site technician for every recording.
Walk Out the Door Ready: The technician live-switches the cameras, monitors the audio, and syncs everything in real-time. When the client leaves, they are handed a fully finished, multi-cam episode that is ready for upload with very little editing needed.
Post-Production Add-ons: We also offer full editing packages for those who want extra polish, including trimming and adding intros/outros.
The Lobby Concept Sets:
We utilize our studio lobby as an active, rotating set. Typically, we keep it decorated with a neutral or a distinct 70s retro vibe, featuring a record player and vintage inspired artwork.
Seasonal Transitions: We host rotating seasonal sets. We had a great Christmas setup this past year, and we currently have a Spring set up that runs until June 1st (coinciding with the grand opening of the new wall).
Fake “Natural” Light Innovation: In the lobby, we installed a custom setup using Aputure Amaran tube lights diffused behind a curtain to perfectly imitate soft, natural window light. This has become an absolute favorite feature for local natural-light photographers who need consistent lighting regardless of the weather outside.
We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
The Podcast Studio Gamble:
Taking over the studio two years ago and launching a professional podcast space felt like a massive risk.
I genuinely didn’t know if the local community would catch on or understand the value. Audio/video podcasting is still a relatively new frontier for Eastern NC—not just for businesses looking to market themselves, but for local personalities who simply have something to say.
Solving the Two Biggest Hurdles:
For years, I heard local people talk about wanting to start a podcast, but they always ran into the same two obstacles: expensive technical equipment and lack of a professional space.
I realized I was uniquely positioned to mend those problems. Thanks to my 2020 pivot into high-end livestreaming, I already owned the specialized multi-camera and audio switching gear. By combining that gear with my new physical studio space, I wiped out both hurdles for creators overnight.
From Slow Start to Major Reward:
It was definitely slow to start, but the risk has completely paid off. The podcast studio has officially taken off, and watching creators use it successfully has been incredibly rewarding.
The Next Big Risk (The New Cyc Wall):
Now, I’m jumping into my next major calculated risk: the massive, brand-new infinity/cyclorama wall opening soon.
It’s a significant financial and structural investment for the business. I am incredibly hopeful that this new addition will be just as rewarding as the podcast studio, that the local creative community will embrace it, and elevating the production capabilities of our entire region.
Pricing:
- Videography Services: My freelance videography services are custom-priced as a base rate per project, tailored specifically to the unique scope and creative needs of each client. Affordable Studio Rental Rates (1413 Creative): We deliberately keep the studio highly affordable to support and encourage local creators. Option 1: Rent the smaller cyclorama/infinity wall plus the fully styled lobby set for just $65 per hour. Option 2: Rent the brand-new, larger cyclorama wall space for $65 per hour. Podcast Studio Pricing & Booking Info: Recording Rate: $100 per hour. This includes full use of the space along with our dedicated, on-site technician who handles the real-time multicamera switching and audio syncing. Full Editing Packages: $175 per hour for clients who want us to handle post-production (trimming, intros/outros, graphics, etc.). Booking Requirement: Because we provide a live technician for every recording to ensure you walk out with a polished episode, we ask that clients contact us directly prior to booking so we can arrange staffing for their session.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1413visuals.com
- Instagram: 1413_visuals
- Youtube: 1413 Visuals
- Other: https://linktr.ee/1413visuals
