The Shot List Newsletter
Ex-scientist turned creative entrepreneur. Founder of Weston Pixel, an indie film & creative agency helping creators & entrepreneurs navigate the digital world. I write about business, creativity, and content strategy.
š You wonāt believe how it all started
What's up, Reader? Itās my first month of being my own boss again. Last issue, I talked about how I got my employer to hire my business. Now itās official, and Iāve been able to dedicate serious time to building my personal brand. And since Iām free, I can afford to tell you the truth: I never actually intended to be a photographer. It just happened. I first picked up a camera in 2016āI was a trippy boy, doing a lot of psychedelics. Most of the time, it wasnāt even recreational; it was a way...
How I Turned My Employer Into a Client
What's up, Reader? itās ya boy, Eli. Today, I want to share some updates, tips, and a story from my entrepreneurial journey. Pricing as a Tool for Selecting Clients In April 2023, I made my side hustle my full-time hustle. While working my 9-5, I was primarily taking on one-off clients, mostly on an hourly basis. It was inconsistent, frustrating, and unsustainable. I didnāt want to be a traditional photographer - I wanted to work with businesses and entrepreneurs. Once I went full-time, I...
10,000 Hours You Didn't Expect
What's up, Reader? Itās ya boy Eli. Iāve been keeping a secret. My 10,000 Hours: Not What You Think My 10,000 hours is not in photography and marketing. Itās in sitting and breathing. Iāve studied and practiced Tibetan Buddhist teachings under the guidance of a teacher for over 10 years now. When I first encountered the teachings at 21 years old, I realized how silly and lackluster my spiritual understanding was, so I held back from sharing my thoughts and discoveries publicly. Keeping quiet...
I broke up with her and now I want her back
What's up, Reader? It's ya boy, Eli. Last week, I made mistakes. A few, actually. Mistake #1 - I cheated on my main chick (writing) for a side chick (streaming). Mistake #2 - I failed to realize that while thereās a method to Ye-style marketing, it requires a very loyal audience. It is best to use it sparingly when building an audience (as Iām trying to do). Though the Martin Louis the King Jr. tactic worked (the post is currently most viewed on my website), it was a mistake to switch my...
How to Monetize Acting a Fool Online
What's up, Reader? It's ya boy, Eli (or should I say Easy?) Iām not going to lieāI didnāt have much time to write this week. Itās 1:00 this morning, and Iām just going off the dome. Hereās what I did last week: 3 YouTube Videos (Check out my channel) 1 Twitch Stream (Catch the replays here) Wrote a Solo Creator Business Plan (Link to the plan) Filmed a tour of OPAC for a YouTube video (coming soon) Shot 2 Concerts No wonder I had no time to write. Why Iām Shifting from Writing to Streaming I...
The Day I Discovered My Black Coworker Was a Secret Conservative Influencer
What's up, Reader? Itās ya boy Eli. If youāre new here, welcome aboard! Itās good to have you. You can check out previous broadcasts here. The New Hire About 2 years into my job in clinical research at UAB Medicine, a new hire came on the scene. Back then I was usually the guy to help onboard people, so I got ready to have him follow me around. I heard he had played football at JSU, got his degree from Auburn, and had moved to Birmingham recently. He & I both had degrees in kinesiology (hence...
3-Years Cancelled
What's up, Reader? It's ya boy Eli. When I was 27, I was cancelled online for expressing an opinion on rushed vaccine development. At least, thatās what I suspect got me thrown in Internet-jail. All I know is I tried to login to Facebook one day and was greeted with this message: āYou have been permanently banned from Facebook & Instagram for violating community guidelines.ā No option to appeal. No option to contact support about the issue. My personal and business accounts on Facebook and...
Living in a Van & Reading Crazy Books
What's up, Reader? Itās ya boy Eli again. Last week, I shared why I left my 9-5. Catch up on previous broadcasts here. This week, letās dive into the ideas that gave me the confidence to make that leapāideas that surfaced during a rather challenging chapter of my life: living in a van. Van Life Reality Check At 27, I moved into a van to save on rent, pursued a masterās degree while working at my university, and planned to travel afterward. I planned to share my journey, educate an audience on...
What I've Learned from a Year of Full-Time Photography
What's up, Reader? Itās ya boy Eli. Long time, no see. Sorry I havenāt been in touch. Iāve been very busy on this entrepreneurial journey and things have changedā¦ a lot. Newsletter Rebrand First, when you subscribed to the newsletter, it was called āThe Zephyr Lettersā. Now, Iām going to call it āThe Shot Listā. Iām going to start creating more content centered around photography and my personal philosophies that helped me leave a 9-5 and work on my own terms. Taking the Leap I took a wild...
Ex-scientist turned creative entrepreneur. Founder of Weston Pixel, an indie film & creative agency helping creators & entrepreneurs navigate the digital world. I write about business, creativity, and content strategy.