Today we’d like to introduce you to Rocio Cortez.
Hi Rocio, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I never expected my life to look like this. I wasn’t the artistic kid in school. I wasn’t naturally talented at anything. And I definitely didn’t grow up with a camera in my hand. For the longest time, I felt lost—drifting through life without a clear direction. But everything changed when I finally started taking chances on myself.
After graduating from college, I dove headfirst into martial arts—wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and MMA. Training forced me to confront my fears, push my limits, and embrace the uncomfortable. That same mindset would later shape my journey into videography.
My media career didn’t start until I made one of the hardest decisions of my life: dropping out of grad school. At the time, I swore I’d never go back to academia, but I found myself returning because I couldn’t see another way out of my small town. While there, I developed valuable professional skills, but what really interested me was storytelling. I kept gravitating toward creating—capturing visually striking photos and videos, crafting compelling narratives, and making people feel something through my work. I started filming my friends’ fights and jiu-jitsu matches just for fun, but soon, that passion turned into something much bigger. Before I knew it, I was live broadcasting for sports promotions like Tap or Scrap and Main Character Jiu-Jitsu.
Leaving school to pursue videography full-time was terrifying—but I was all in. I kept showing up. I worked for free until my skills spoke for themselves. And then, I started charging. Austin’s media scene is thriving, and I found myself right in the middle of it, sharpening my craft with every project I took on.
Not a week goes by that I don’t look around and feel immense gratitude. I get to tell the stories of some of the most inspiring people I know. I get to help businesses grow. And most importantly, I get to do what I love—every single day.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
This journey has been anything but smooth. I’ve had plenty of setbacks and moments of doubt. There have been days I let my insecurities get the best of me. It’s easy to get stuck when you’re faced with life changing decisions but at some point, you will have to make them. Whether it’s taking on a new project you don’t feel qualified for or leaving school to pursue your dream full-time, you risk becoming complacent and losing opportunities you wanted but allowed doubt to hold you back. I have to remind myself that I’m not perfect but I am dedicated and I know I have what it takes. We all have goals and sometimes life throws us curve balls. We lose friends, loved ones, and sometimes it feels like we’re losing ourselves. Don’t worry, growth is painful. Just remember why you started in the first place and keep going.
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?
Right now, I don’t have one specific specialty in the videography world—I’m still in the early stages of my career. But what drives me is the thrill of new projects. The process of bringing an idea to life—from storyboarding to crafting shot lists to capturing action-packed scenes—fuels my passion every single time.
I thrive on creating videos that hit hard, make people feel something, and leave them hyped. Whether it’s a high-energy fight promo, a cinematic brand story, or a dynamic social media reel, my goal is always the same: to create something that blows people away.
What sets me apart? I see the story in everything. I don’t just film—I craft moments, emotions, and experiences that resonate. And while I may still be early in my career, I approach every project with the intensity and vision of someone who’s all in.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
It’s hard to say since I’m not locked into one specific avenue of videography just yet. But if we’re talking about media as a whole—film, video, social media—I think we’re already seeing the biggest shift: your online presence is everything.
Right now, the most valuable asset you can have is the ability to tell your story and connect with people. Whether you’re a brand, an athlete, an artist, or an entrepreneur, your success is increasingly tied to how well you can capture attention and build a community online.
In the next 5–10 years, I see storytelling becoming even more personal and immersive. Short-form content will continue to dominate, but high-quality, cinematic storytelling will set people apart. AI tools will make content creation more accessible, but creativity and authenticity will always be the difference-makers. The ones who stay ahead will be those who can adapt, innovate, and consistently create work that resonates.
Pricing:
- Videos for Social Media: $150 fro 1 hour of filming and 1 edited video
- Live broadcasting: $450/half a day
- Live broadcasting: $800/full day
- 2nd Shooter: $250 for 2-3 hours (no editing)
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stories/rockin_rocio/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rocio-cortez/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Rockin_Rocio
Image Credits
@Fotosbysom
@gnarcorp
@estherharris
