Josh Berendes here….
I HELP BRANDS CONNECT WITH THEIR AUDIENCE BY CREATING STORIES OF INSPIRATION + ENTERTAINMENT
The Why Behind What I Do
I made this video as part of an application to work for a Youtuber several years ago. Though the footage needs to be updated my “why” still remains the same.
From rural Iowa to creative entrepreneur
For what felt like a very long time, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. It wasn’t until I was 24, on a 10-day trip to Italy, that I had a moment that forever changed my life. (more on that later)
My whole life was laid out for me when I was born. If you’re from the midwest you understand tradition is everything. As a third-generation son whose grandfather passed down the farm to my dad, I was expected to keep the family business alive and follow the footsteps that lay before me. Especially since I was the last and only son.
It wasn’t until I was 24 that I had any interest in anything creative or artistic. I went to an extremely small school (I graduated with 23 kids in my grade), and we didn’t even have an art class in high school. Coming from a town that only had one stop light there weren’t many who valued the arts. It really was just for “weird” people.
I now value and respect “weird”.
AT AN EARLY AGE I WAS TOLD “YOU CAN’T”
When I was in 8th grade I started experiencing health issues. After a lot of tests at one of the more prominent hospitals, Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN I was diagnosed with P.OT.S. which stood for Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia syndrome.
Long story short I had a racing heartbeat, my highest BPM clocking in over 210 beats per minute, it felt like I had a constant cinder block on my chest, I had chronic fatigue and many other issues.
I have this vivid memory of freshman year sitting in the cafeteria talking to a counselor who specialized in dealing with kids with disabilities. When I told her I was interested in moving to Colorado to be a forest ranger (ayyeee still made Colorado happen!) or something similar she straight up told me…
“You just aren’t capable of doing things other people can do. Why don’t you pick something where you can be inside? Plus there’s always air conditioning”
I remember walking away from that meeting pissed off and a little hurt. While it took a long time to ignite, that day lit a spark deep inside of me. A spark that told me I’m capable of anything I set my mind to.
A MOMENT THAT CHANGED MY LIFE FOREVER
In the spring of 2014, I booked a trip with my college to go to Italy for 10 days. It was my first time going to a new country to experience a different culture.
And it forever shaped the person I am today.
Coming from dirt roads and corn fields to seeing the Sistine Chapel of Rome and cobblestone streets where the Renaissance was born in Florence, I was totally overwhelmed.
In the most amazing way.
My brother-in-law had given me a GoPro 2 to film the trip. At the age of 24, I had never touched a camera. Didn’t even know what a DSLR camera was.
But it was on that trip I found what I was going to do for the rest of my life.
Making a highlight video from that trip was my first video and I was instantly hooked.
I got back home and applied to a university where I studied video production and advertising. Eventually, I went back to Italy where I studied design, photography, and video along the Arno river in Florence.
FAST FORWARD TO DENVER
In the summer of 2018, I moved to Denver to dive right into freelancing.
Since then I’ve:
Started a successful business been featured on the news for my work
Lost my business due to Covid, moved to Florida, and moved back
Had my most successful year the following year
Grew in so many ways
I’ve learned persistence, grit, talent, and a whole lotta passion can get you pretty much anywhere you want to go.
Over the years I’ve realized this whole time I’ve been chasing my dream, I’ve been living it.
Through my lens, I’ve discovered more about myself and the world than I could have ever imagined.
Let’s Work Together
Or if you want to know what my favorite type of pickle is that’s ok too…