Today we’d like to introduce you to Lancelot Watson.
Lancelot, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Looking back, there were two moments that completely changed the direction of my life.
The first was when I had the opportunity to help my aunt on a photography shoot. Watching her take control of the room, direct the session with confidence, and create something meaningful through her camera made me realize that photography was more than just taking pictures, it was storytelling. I remember thinking, *”I could see myself doing this.”*
The second moment came not long after at an event. I watched a videographer operating a massive camera crane, capturing sweeping cinematic shots, and I was completely fascinated. Seeing the scale of the production and the impact that one person behind the camera could have on telling a story solidified it for me. From that point on, I knew I wanted to become both a photographer and a videographer.
That realization led me to enroll in the Digital Video Production program at Durham College. While the program gave me a strong foundation in filmmaking, photography, lighting, editing, and storytelling, I knew that simply attending classes wasn’t enough. I wanted as much hands-on experience as possible.
To immerse myself even further, I applied for a job in Durham College’s equipment rental department while I was still a student. Every day I was surrounded by professional cameras, lenses, lighting, and audio equipment. I signed gear in and out for students, maintained equipment, and helped others learn how to use it properly. It became a second classroom for me. Being around the equipment every day gave me confidence and allowed me to develop technical skills much faster than I would have through coursework alone.
During my time at Durham College, I also had the opportunity to work as the On-Site Media Manager for the Summer Shorts Digital Media Camp. Every week I documented camp activities, special events, and guest appearances before producing a 10-minute highlight film that was shown to campers and their families at the end of each week. Working on a tight production schedule taught me how to capture meaningful moments quickly, edit efficiently, and tell engaging stories under real deadlines, skills that continue to shape the way I work today.
After graduating, I landed my first full-time role as a Digital Inventory Merchandiser at Markham Honda. It was there that I discovered my passion for automotive photography. Photographing vehicles every day taught me consistency, attention to detail, and how to create images that not only looked great but also helped sell a product. I was fortunate to have an incredible mentor who challenged me to improve every single day, and after a year of hard work, I was promoted into a regional position with Dilawri Group.
As Regional Social Media Field Specialist, I travelled across Ontario creating photo and video content for 18 dealerships. Every dealership had its own identity, audience, and goals, so I learned how to adapt my creative approach while maintaining a high standard of quality. It was an incredible opportunity to refine my skills in both photography and videography while gaining experience in marketing and social media strategy.
Around that same time, I was introduced to the Yorkville Exotic Car Show, where I volunteered my creative services. What started as helping a friend quickly became one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. For the past seven years, I’ve had the privilege of documenting one of Canada’s premier automotive charity events. Beyond capturing incredible cars, it introduced me to an amazing network of people and opened doors to new clients and opportunities outside of my full-time work.
Like many people, my journey wasn’t without setbacks. While working at a luxury dealership, I experienced the loss of a loved one, and for a while I stepped away from photography to focus on myself. That time reminded me how important creativity had become in my life. When I was ready to return, I accepted a role with Toronto Auto Brokers, where I was responsible for photographing luxury vehicles, creating marketing content, producing 360-degree vehicle videos, and managing the dealership’s digital presentation.
Today, I have the privilege of working with businesses of all sizes through Freelance Productions. Every project is different, which is exactly what I love about this career. One day I might be producing instructional videos for Mitsubishi Electric, the next I’m creating mouth-watering restaurant content for Rouge Kitchen, photographing product campaigns for Bio Seaweed Gel, covering large charity events like the Yorkville Exotic Car Show, or helping local businesses tell their story through commercial photography and video. That variety constantly challenges me creatively and reminds me why I fell in love with this profession in the first place.
When I first picked up a camera, I wasn’t completely confident in my abilities. That’s why I sought every opportunity to learn, through school, through work, and by saying yes to experiences that pushed me outside my comfort zone. Every opportunity, whether it was signing out cameras at school, documenting a summer camp, photographing cars, or producing commercial content for businesses, became another step toward becoming the creative professional I wanted to be.
Looking back now, every role, every project, and every person I met along the way helped shape the photographer and videographer I am today.
At the end of the day, my goal has never changed. I simply want to tell stories that people remember.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Like most creative careers, it has been a mix of both. There have been moments where everything seemed to fall into place, and there have been moments that challenged me both personally and professionally.
When I look back, I realize how fortunate I’ve been to have an incredible support system. My mom believed in me before I fully believed in myself. She bought me my very first camera and gave me one year to prove that I could turn my passion into something real. That vote of confidence meant everything to me and gave me the motivation to work as hard as I possibly could.
I’ve also been incredibly lucky to have supportive aunts and uncles who have always been willing to share advice, whether it was about pricing my work, handling clients professionally, or making smart business decisions behind the scenes. Having people who wanted to see me succeed gave me confidence during those early years when I was still figuring everything out.
Professionally, I owe a lot to the mentors and coworkers who pushed me to become better. One mentor in particular constantly challenged me to improve. He never let me settle, and because of that I became faster, more efficient, and much more confident in my abilities. Looking back, I genuinely don’t think I would have earned my Regional Social Media Field Specialist role without the encouragement and confidence that my coworkers had in me. I remember feeling overwhelmed when I first stepped into that position. I told them how small I felt compared to the responsibility of the role, and instead of letting me doubt myself, they reminded me why I was there in the first place. Sometimes all it takes is someone believing in you before you’re able to believe in yourself.
Of course, life has a way of reminding you that the road isn’t always smooth. Along the way I’ve experienced the loss of loved ones, moments where I questioned myself, and opportunities that, looking back, I wish I had approached differently. Those experiences take a toll, both personally and creatively.
But I’ve learned that those difficult seasons don’t define your journey, they become part of it. You carry those lessons with you, keep moving forward, and trust that every challenge is shaping you into a better person and a better creative.
When I look back now, I don’t just see the work I’ve created. I see all the people who believed in me, encouraged me, challenged me, and helped me become the photographer and videographer I am today. I’m incredibly grateful for every one of them.
We’ve been impressed with Freelance Productions, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Freelance Productions was built around a simple idea: great visuals should do more than look good—they should tell a story, create an emotion, and help a business achieve its goals.
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to work with clients across a wide range of industries, from automotive dealerships and luxury vehicles to restaurants, product brands, charities, and corporate businesses. That variety has taught me that every client has a unique story to tell, and no two projects should ever be approached the same way.
While photography and videography are at the heart of what I do, I don’t see myself as someone who simply shows up with a camera. I see myself as a creative partner. Before I even press the shutter or hit record, I want to understand what the client is trying to accomplish. Is the goal to increase sales? Launch a new menu? Introduce a product? Build trust with customers? Once I understand the “why,” I can create content with purpose.
Today, Freelance Productions specializes in commercial photography and videography, automotive content, product photography, restaurant and hospitality content, event coverage, and branded social media content. Whether I’m photographing a luxury vehicle, creating product imagery for Bio Seaweed Gel, producing instructional videos for Mitsubishi Electric, or filming restaurant content for Rouge Kitchen, my focus is always the same: creating visuals that leave a lasting impression while helping the client communicate their message.
One thing I’m especially proud of is that many of my opportunities have come through referrals and long-term relationships. To me, that’s one of the greatest compliments you can receive as a creative. It tells me that clients aren’t just happy with the final product, they enjoy the experience of working together.
I also believe in constantly evolving. The creative industry changes quickly, and I enjoy experimenting with new techniques, editing styles, and storytelling approaches. Whether it’s incorporating new trends or refining a cleaner, more cinematic look, I’m always looking for ways to grow while staying true to my style.
At the end of the day, I want Freelance Productions to be known for more than beautiful photos or cinematic videos. I want it to be known for professionalism, reliability, creativity, and storytelling. My goal is that when a client receives their final gallery or film, they don’t just see what happened, they remember how it felt.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’ve never thought of myself as someone who takes reckless risks. If anything, I believe in taking calculated risks ones that challenge you to grow while still giving yourself the best chance to succeed.
One of the biggest risks I ever took was deciding to pursue a creative career in the first place. Photography and videography aren’t always viewed as traditional career paths, and there’s no guarantee that things will work out. I was incredibly fortunate that my mom believed in me, and knowing someone had invested that much faith in me made me work harder than I ever had before.
Another major leap came when I was offered the opportunity to become the Regional Social Media Field Specialist at Dilawri Group. The moment I found out, I was over the moon. I remember trying my best to stay professional while thanking my mentor for believing in me. As soon as I walked outside, though, all of that professionalism disappeared, I jumped what felt like six feet into the air. It was one of those moments tons of hard work, long days, and constant learning finally felt like they had paid off.
That excitement quickly turned into a healthy dose of reality. Once I stepped into the role, I realized the responsibility ahead of me. I was traveling across Ontario, creating content for 18 different dealerships, each with its own team, expectations, and brand identity. At first, I felt small compared to the size of the job.
Instead of letting that overwhelm me, I focused on one dealership at a time. One visit became two, two became ten, and before I knew it, I had settled into the role. What initially felt intimidating became second nature, and I spent the next four years growing not only as a photographer and videographer, but also as a marketer, storyteller, and professional.
Starting Freelance Productions while working full-time was another calculated risk. After spending full days creating content for my career, I dedicated my evenings and weekends to building something of my own. Every shoot, every referral, and every new client became another building block. It wasn’t easy balancing both worlds, but I knew if I wanted to build the business I envisioned, I had to be willing to make sacrifices long before I saw the rewards.
The hardest challenge, however, wasn’t professional, it was personal. After losing someone close to me, I stepped away from photography for a period of time. Returning to the creative industry after that wasn’t easy. I had to rediscover my confidence, rebuild my momentum, and remind myself why I fell in love with this profession in the first place. Sometimes the biggest risk isn’t starting something new, it’s finding the courage to begin again.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that growth usually lives just outside your comfort zone. Every opportunity that has moved my career forward has started with a little uncertainty. Looking back, that Regional role taught me one of the biggest lessons of my career: even the opportunities that seem too big at first become manageable when you stop looking at the whole mountain and simply focus on taking the next step. “There is no Mountain too Great”
For me, risk isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about believing in yourself enough to take the next step, even when you don’t know exactly where it will lead.
Pricing:
- Event Photography: Starting at $600
- Product Photography: Starting at $375
- Commercial Videography: Custom quote based on project scope
- Drone Services: Available as an add-on
- Automotive Photography: Starting at $450
Contact Info:
- Website: https://lancelotwatsonlw.wixsite.com/lancelotwatson
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/freelanceproductions?igsh=cjlobWpkZWthbmho&utm_source=qr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancelot-watson-256682105/
