None of this started as a plan.
Filmmaking, speaking, and Smartphone Storytellers each grew out of real moments that changed how I understand storytelling and why it matters.
Filmmaking
I grew up watching my father and grandfather use video not for an audience, not for recognition, but just to make the family laugh. That sense of joy and accessibility stuck with me.
I first felt the real power of video one Easter while running a camera feed for an overflow room at church. When the pastor briefly walked off screen, I later learned that people in the other room physically leaned, as if he’d stepped behind a pole. They were that locked in. That moment changed how I saw video - not as something people watch, but something they experience.
As I continued making videos through college and early ministry work, I realized something else: beautiful images don’t mean much without a meaningful story behind them. I became less interested in what looked “cool” and more focused on stories of life change - stories that help people feel seen, understood, and not alone. That calling crystallized years later while filming in Kyrgyzstan, telling the story of a farmer whose life and community were being rebuilt. Standing there, camera rolling, I realized this wasn’t just a job. It was something I get to do.
That mindset still shapes how I work today. Authenticity matters. Trust matters. Especially in a world increasingly skeptical of what it sees, I approach every story carefully - committed to telling the truth without exaggeration or manipulation, knowing trust takes years to build and seconds to lose.
Live Speaking & Teaching
Live speaking grew out of teaching, not ambition. After I began sharing practical storytelling lessons online, a former mentor reached out and invited me to speak - seeing something in me I hadn’t fully recognized yet. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of speaking at conferences and events around the world.
What I bring to the stage isn’t polish or performance - it’s permission. Permission to make mistakes. Permission to learn publicly. Permission to stop waiting until everything is perfect. I share failures as openly as successes, not because they’re entertaining, but because they’re honest - and because failure is often where the real learning happens.
I still get nervous before speaking. And mid-talk, I get in my head and it often feels like it’s not landing. But time and again, people come up afterward to share how much it resonated. Over time, I’ve realized why: people don’t listen because they think I’m an expert on a pedestal. They listen because they know I care. I don’t see the stage as something I deserve - I see it as an opportunity to serve the room.
Smartphone Storytellers
After years of traveling and telling stories around the world, a pattern became impossible to ignore: there are far more stories worth telling than people equipped to tell them. Every trip uncovered dozens of powerful stories that would never be captured - not because of a lack of cameras, but a lack of confidence and knowledge.
The bottleneck isn’t gear anymore. Nearly everyone already carries a capable camera in their pocket. What’s missing is the knowledge how to use it - what to capture, why it matters, and how to use what you already have well. That realization led to Smartphone Storytellers.
The core belief is simple: people don’t need fancy gear to tell meaningful stories. They need a good story - and the confidence to tell it. Smartphone Storytellers exists to meet people where they are and help them see themselves as storytellers. Not professionals-in-waiting, but people already surrounded by meaningful stories of life change.
At this stage of my career, equipping others matters more than doing it all myself. Even if I filmed full-time, thousands of important stories would still go untold. My goal is to help organizations and individuals share the stories they’re already witnessing - so those stories can reach the people who support, believe in, and are changed by the work they’re doing.
What People Are Saying
“I’ve been Blessed to have had the opportunity to work with Adam for over 9 years! His technical expertise ranges from sound & lighting to production. He has a tremendous “eye” for capturing the moment and really breaking through the 4th wall to resonate with the audience. Adam is an absolute pleasure to work with, from his patience to his demeanor, he puts everyone at ease- in order to pull out their best. He has made me better in front of the camera, because he is behind the camera! ”
— Peter David Brown, Attorney“Adam is the partner you love to work alongside! Fair, honest, professional, and polite. And...affordable! Adam has a great eye for detail, and always goes the extra step when editing to make our productions pop. Highly recommend! ”
— Wes Koch, Page 23 Media“Adam and his team are consummate professionals, who make working together an extremely enjoyable and easy process. Adam’s attention to detail and creativity have helped us efficiently and effectively share important messages for clients. And, his unwavering teamwork has even helped us win national awards for the work produced!”
— Michael Mulé, UPT Strategies