When I first tried to figure out my life’s passion, I struggled just like everyone else. As a teenager, I tried all sorts of things: dropshipping, building websites for friends, and even selling lollipops at school to make some extra cash.
I didn’t start making real progress until I got to college. One day, during a group trip, I asked my friend Abu if I could use his camera to capture the experience. That simple moment ended up being the turning point that led me into cameras and filmmaking.
That night, I stayed up late watching editing tutorials and practicing with free, low quality software since I couldn’t pay for a subscription. I spent days teaching myself how to edit the footage from that trip, sometimes even putting off schoolwork to focus on my creative work. I was running on excitement and the feeling that I had finally found something that made me feel alive after all that time searching.
Growing up in an African household, my parents always preached that school was the only path to success. But as I kept learning how to shoot and edit, I started to feel successful in my own way. It might not have been the way my parents envisioned success, but I knew I was learning a valuable skill that could serve me well into my future. During those long nights of learning and editing, Yerba Madre became part of my routine, something I reached for when I needed natural, steady energy to keep creating and pushing ideas forward.
Soon, my mindset shifted from “I love filming” to “how can I make money doing this?” Filmmaking became my plan A. My confidence grew with my skills, but so did the instability of a gig based career. I never had a 9 to 5, so if I went broke, I went broke. Burnout and fatigue hit hard, sometimes keeping me from picking up a camera unless I was paid. Balancing shooting for art and shooting for a check was difficult.
Watching how others market and sell online helped me understand the business of creativity. My skills improved, though some months stayed tough. If it were easy, everyone would do it. Despite the challenges, I’m grateful. I’ve filmed for artists I admire and toured while sharing my life online. As my work began to grow, I realized my environment mattered just as much as my effort.
So I decided to move to Atlanta to chase my dreams in a city that matched my liveliness. I believed that if I worked hard and met the right people, I’d find where I belonged.
Even before my plane landed, I knew I would like Atlanta. The people here are friendly and truly want to see you succeed. The city welcomes filmmaking and content creation, and people understand the value of creative work, which gave me more space and a sense of community as I followed my path.
My camera has opened doors and brought me into places I never thought I’d be. What I love most about Atlanta is how much space it gives you to create and be noticed. Everyone I meet has a story worth telling, and people don’t judge you for having a camera out on the street or at the gym.
Whether I’m editing in a coffee shop, heading to a shoot, or winding down with a Yerba, it all feels like one journey. Every project and every moment has brought me here. In Atlanta, I have found my home, my purpose behind the camera, and a rhythm I am proud to claim as my own.
Yerba Madre is a natural propellant that helps me stay in motion, stay inspired, and keep building. This is how I come to life.
