Today we’d like to introduce you to Sebastian Gaines
Sebastian, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Since early middle school, I was into filmmaking simply as a hobby, learning from YouTuber’s and mimicking their work through my own original short films shot on my iPod or my best friend’s iPhone. The summers between fifth and sixth grade were spent writing, storyboarding, filming, and editing short films consisting of suspenseful horror plots or action-packed thrillers. During this time my hobby slowly became a passion as I watched hours upon hours daily of tutorials and educational YouTube videos teaching myself the basics of cinematography and how to operate a mirrorless camera. During the summer going into seventh grade, I spent my savings on my first ‘real’ camera, a Lumix G85 for around $700 at the time. I continued to learn and my motivation and ambitions grew as my confidence lagged behind. I spent roughly three years soaking up as much information as I could get and would film my surroundings, putting together short montages to practice my cinematography and editing. During this time only a couple of my friends knew about my hobby and the Youtube channel I would post my work on was mainly a secret. It was not until after my first summer job in the summer of 2021 I decided to invest all of my earnings into a more professional camera to take my passion more seriously and put my work out there for all to see. Shortly before Harvard Football’s Media Day, I proposed a plan to Yulander Wells, the Deputy Athletic Director at the time and now a mentor of mine. Yulander’s gracious decision to take a chance on me ultimately changed the trajectory of my life in the best way possible. After photographing the Media Day, I began posting my work on Instagram under the handle @gainesvisuals. Gradually, my work began to be shared online and through word of mouth and the growth of my new business was rapid. At fifteen, my parents were kind enough to drive me from high school football games, basketball games, and miscellaneous events as I gained experience and relationships that shaped this period of my life. Since then I spent the rest of my three years in high school growing my business working with NBA, NFL, and Division I college clients. Finally, I was able to reach my biggest short-term goal of being accepted into The University of Texas at Austin where I am studying film and a student creative Intern for Texas Football.
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?
Early on, the initial attention and opportunities I received were all very beneficial in building my brand and portfolio but the learning curve on the business side of things was definitely a challenge at my age. The formalities of filing for an LLC and others were not the main issues although, dealing with individuals who would try to take advantage of my skills by going back on their word whether it was for payment or no-shows was an issue that I eventually mitigated with a more formal business structure. Additionally, when I first started my business many of my peers and even adults ridiculed me for embracing my passion and made a joke out of the massive risk I took. It was not until I established a major presence in the Greater Boston area and Massachusetts, eventually spanning across New England that the same individuals often came back to me in an attempt to capitalize off my success. Ultimately, I am thankful for the obstacles I faced since they taught me how to navigate real-world problems at a relatively young age and led to stronger relationships with the individuals who supported me unconditionally.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m currently a Sports Cinematographer working as a Student Creative Intern for Texas football. My full-time job during most of high school was running my Sports Videography Business, Gaines Visuals LLC in the Boston Area. While running Gaines Visuals full-time, I filmed and photographed names like Dwayne Wade, Jack Harlow, Swae Lee and more. Additionally, I was able to travel to over twenty different cities and states working with clients from all over the country while amassing millions of views and a solid following. I primarily filmed sports at the high school and college level where I was the lead Content Producer for Harvard Football and Basketball and Tufts Football. I specialize in producing cinematic short-form content for social media that is featured on @texasfootball and @gainesvisuals primarily. I’m most proud of my most recent short film ‘Davon McNeal : A Short Film about Gun Violence’ since the message behind it is very important to me and I aspire to eventually become a cinematographer for narrative films similar to that.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
In terms of finding a mentor, I have found the most success through putting myself and my brand in front of people in a genuine way. While it is important to showcase one’s skillset and talents, I believe leading with your character and authentic personality will draw individuals who are truly invested in you and want to see you ‘win’. Finding a mentor can be difficult at times since it can feel daunting to reach out to others who may be more accomplished and experienced. However, my closest mentors have always been eager to offer me guidance in any way they can and have always made time to sit down and talk despite their busy lives.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gainesvisuals/
- Twitter: https://x.com/gainesvisuals/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@gainesvisuals5217
Image Credits
Dylan Waguespack, Kyle Barkle, Jake Flynt, Praiya Smith, Aric Shah
