Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Payne.
Andrea, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Telling stories has always been a passion of mine whether through words, photographs, or video. I love to think of it as everything in life has a unique backstory to be told in a compelling way. I remember I began writing short stories as a young girl on my own time and would even spend extra time in school for various writing assignments, exams, projects, and the like. During state testing days, the English and writing portion of the exam was always my favorite and I always scored the highest on each section. One of my elementary school teachers recommended journalism as a career path for my future during career day and I was eager to discover what the field was all about.
My passion grew over the years, from writing to editing, film, and photography. After high school, I made the decision to become more serious about the craft while attending Texas Tech University. During my three years as a transfer student, I have had the opportunity to work with FOX Sports and ESPN, the Big XII, KAMC/KLBK-TV, and various freelancing opportunities within the city of Lubbock and Houston. I began filming short documentaries and interviewing growing music artists, designers, tattoo artists, athletes, etc. I became a May 2020 graduate from Texas Tech University with a degree in journalism and looking forward to going back to continue to grow my brand.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to where I now have definitely not been easy. There have been quite a few failures, restless nights, tears, sweat, and constantly being told “no.” Despite these many struggles, what sets me apart from the rest is the positive mindset I have on life as a whole. Everything I want to accomplish will never just be handed to me without me putting the work in. When some doors have closed on me, others have opened in the process and I was successfully able to work with clients to have their stories depicted in ways it has never been told before. I have doubted myself a few times along the way. However, God has always led me down the right path to assist others.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I am currently a journalist for my company, Andrea Payne Media. I did not want to be the type of journalist that only specializes in one thing, so I keep my horizons quite open. I write, broadcast, conduct interviews, film, produce, photograph, and edit for my clients. As a journalist, I have worked on stories in music, crime, film, court, sports, nature, maternity, celebrations, holidays, weddings, and the like.
As a brand, I am proud of producing content that has been published on my own. Whenever a new or existing client reaches out to me, they are guaranteed my professionalism, timeliness, quality work, and knowledge, whether I am filming, photographing, writing a story, or a combination. I set myself apart from others by pushing myself beyond limits to know my clients before an interview or meeting even takes place. I have learned to conduct research on clients through social media or asking simple questions to understand their likes and dislikes. Taking the time to know and understand others assists in knowing which kinds of content to create instead of doing something you feel fits your own needs.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
The proudest moment of my career has been interviewing and filming short documentaries on rising music stars over the past year. Last spring, I began meeting different music artists at Texas Tech University and after hearing each of their stories in our conversations, I wanted to know more about them to put it in writing and video. I have written and filmed profile pieces and documentaries that have been published and aired on local television stations in Lubbock and built a strong rapport with all the artists I have worked with thus far. I recently began managing and doing PR work for two artists and hope to gain more along the way.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 832-727-3634
- Email: andreapayne90@yahoo.com
- Instagram: _dreatheslayer
- Facebook: Andrea Payne
- Twitter: _DreaTheSlayer
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