It started at a hospital in Marysville where Tyler Johnson made an honest wage working in central supply. The career was good enough, but Johnson always felt the need to scratch a creative itch.
Having gone to school for audio engineering, he’d previously envisioned using his skill to progress as a musician. Instead, he soon found himself caring for a family, stuck in a job that supported their needs but deprived him of passion.
“I was just trying to make it work,” said Johnson. “Whether it be just on the weekends, breaking out my audio or video stuff … but I knew that where I was at the hospital wasn’t where I was supposed to be.”
As luck would have it, Johnson was referred to Ashton Imagery to help him shoot a music video for one of his bands. He quickly hit it off with the company’s owners, Kayla and Lonnie Webb, who asked if he’d be interested in helping them collect wedding footage.
“I’ve always loved taking pictures and I’ve always loved capturing the moment, but I had no experience at all with professional cameras,” said Johnson. “But they really seemed to like my vibe and were willing to train me. I worked for free for a couple weekends and then started getting paid as an assistant and then as a second shooter.”
Through the Webbs’ comprehensive mentorship, Johnson was able to establish himself as both a talented photographer and videographer. His background as an audio engineer greatly enhanced the quality of his films, putting him that much more in demand. He knew obtaining a business license would be the next phase in legitimizing his newfound career, but taking this step would mean leaving behind a steady paycheck at the hospital.
“I felt torn,” said Johnson. “I wasn’t going to quit because I was comfortable and I’d been working there for over 10 years. I knew I wanted to get out of that job, but I couldn’t just jump the gun because I had benefits and a family.”
While Johnson contemplated his next move, fate took matters into its own hands. In 2021, Johnson was part of a pandemic-related mass layoff and essentially had no choice but to pursue videography. After quickly establishing Tyler and Co Films, Johnson doubled his income in his first full year and this past year he said he tripled the salary he would have made working at the hospital.
“I feel so thankful and blessed for the connections I’ve been able to make and that I get to pursue this,” said Johnson. “I’ve had some insane opportunities. I did 46 weddings this past year, 15 commercial videos, and 30 other projects.”
The new year is already off to a great start for Johnson who is actively lining up new gigs and looking for ways to expand his brand. He currently has an office in the Marysville Hart Building and is happy to be pursuing collaborations with local business and nonprofits such as 93Q radio.
“My goal is to make long-lasting solidified relationships with my clients, capturing their vision and bringing life to whatever they do,” said Johnson.
Creatively speaking, Johnson gains inspiration through collaborating with his clients, spending time with family, and watching documentaries. He is also an avid drone flier and enjoys collecting aerial footage from a variety of scenic locations.
Aside from expanding and refining his business, Johnson also hopes to pursue his own documentary projects in the coming year.
