Our Work is Telling Your Story

“It has been said that next to hunger and thirst, our most basic human need is for storytelling.”
— Khalil Gibran

At his core, Matt Wilson, founder of Wilson Video Productions, sees himself as a storyteller. In fact, when people ask him what he does for a living, that’s his standard reply. And at its essence, both photography and videography are forms of storytelling.

“My favorite thing is learning about a company and its driving force, a product or person, and then finding the perfect way to tell their story through my lens,” Matt said. “The goal of all media we create is to help connect people, whether it’s by donating to a nonprofit, which in turns helps someone receive services from that nonprofit, through manufacturing training videos, product demonstrations and reveals, or promoting cities and towns to out-of-town guests through tourism pieces.”

It’s that zeal, and his love of working with passionate people, that keeps Matt invested in each and every project he works on, whether it’s the annual campaign video for the Franklin County Area United Way, a product training video or photos for a brochure. “I work with awesome people,” he shared. “I love getting to know my clients and earning their trust to tell their stories — and I love a good challenge.”

Wilson Video Productions: A Brief History

Matt was first introduced to videography at the start of the millennium. While attending Washington High School, Matt took a television and radio course for two years. His senior year, all his free time was spent either shooting video or in the editing suite. A teacher noticed Matt’s budding passion and presented him with a special project of producing a video for the orchestra before a trip to Chicago. The video was shown to the class right before they left.

“I can still picture the orchestra teacher to this day,” Matt recalled. “As the video finished, he was looking down with his hand on his forehead and he said ‘Everyone is dismissed.’” The emotion was palpable. Matt was invited to travel with the orchestra to premier the video, and though he wasn’t able to attend, the energy from that very first big project is something that he still carries with him to this day.

In 2003, while attending East Central College, Matt started Step Productions. Initially, his videography business was dedicated to weddings, special events and training videos. He then attended Webster University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Video Production. In 2006, Matt started working for another production company, where he was involved in producing content for a nationally televised bass fishing show. As a cameraman and field producer, Matt filmed everywhere from the swamps of the Louisiana-Texas border to the open waters of Lake Erie, and the footsteps of our nation’s capital on the Potomac.

Building Business, His Community

Over the years, Matt continued building his business, buying one new piece of equipment at a time and continuing to hone his craft. As his skills and abilities grew, word got out and companies began contacting him for commercial opportunities. Now, working for businesses and nonprofits is Matt’s mainstay. In 2009, he transitioned to focus solely on Wilson Video Productions, and the following year, Matt became a father for the first time, strengthening his desire to stay close to home.

Matt is active in his community, serving on the boards of the School District of Washington and Washington Youth Sports Association. He also is a baseball, softball, and soccer coach and a member of the Washington Area Chamber of Commerce, where he was a member of the 2018 Class of Outstanding Young Professionals. Matt works closely with the Franklin County Area United Way, producing its annual campaign video and shooting special events for the nonprofit that helps more than 50,000 people in 35 area communities each year. Matt is a multiyear recipient of The Missourian Reader’s Choice Awards.

When Matt’s not shooting video or photos, you can find him spending time with his wife, Clara, their two children and their dog.

Our Values Are Behind Everything We Do

It’s in the logo. It’s the (unofficial) mission and goal for every project. It’s the lens through which every project is viewed:

Focus: A play on words. While imagery is in focus, Matt also focuses on each individual client. He learns their desires, needs and goals, and tailors his work to that. Every time.

Create: Wilson Video Productions creates exactly what you need, when you need it, at an affordable price point.

Inspire: The ultimate goal is to inspire people to action, whether that means donating to a nonprofit, purchasing a product, changing careers, going back to school, or whatever drives your business.