Located in Salinas, California, LC1 Productions provides video production services for businesses of all sizes throughout California and across the country. With a portfolio spanning a wide range of creative projects, founder and owner Luis Contreras and his team have shot commercials, headshots, internal company videos, and promotional content for brands like McDonald’s and Toyota. By any measure, LC1 Productions is the best video production company in Salinas, CA.
When I discovered LC1 Productions, I made it my goal to understand what drove Luis to start a production company — and what has made it successful. His story deserves to be told so that others who grew up like him can see that they, too, can build something of their own.
Inside LC1 Productions: An Interview With Founder Luis Contreras
Tell us about your business. What services does LC1 Productions offer?
My business is a video production company. We provide Video Commercials, Internal company Videos, Testimonials, etc.
How did you get into cinematography? What is your background?
I’ve always been fascinated by technology and gadgets, and that passion ignited my journey into video production. My venture began in 2014 when I delved into flying drones, capturing footage that initially intrigued me but eventually became monotonous. Tired of the same old aerial views, I decided to diversify by recording from the ground, prompting me to invest in the first phone gimbals available. This marked the beginning of my foray into video recording.
Starting with iMovie on my phone, I quickly outgrew the platform within six months, upgrading to a $600 DJI Osmo camera with an attached gimbal. Transitioning to Adobe Premiere, I delved deeper into video editing, steadily expanding my repertoire.
In 2016, during a trip to Mexico, I created a video showcasing my parents’ hometown. Inspired by the positive response, I launched a Facebook account for Lc1 Productions, which gained immediate traction. Within 24 hours, the video garnered 20k views, propelling me further into the world of video production.
Motivated by this success, I received my first wedding booking from a family member in Denver, Colorado. Investing $7,000 in film equipment, I specialized in wedding videos for two years before discovering my true passion for creating promotional videos.
In 2019, I took a bold step and quit my job to pursue videography full-time. Seizing the opportunity, I documented behind-the-scenes footage of a movie, impressing the directors. The pandemic, which struck three months after my career shift, provided a chance to refine my skills, ultimately leading me to film behind-the-scenes in Hollywood.
Nowadays, I’ve shifted my focus to my local community in Salinas, CA, dedicating my expertise to assist local individuals and businesses with compelling video content.
What makes LC1 Productions unique?
We are unique because our team does this out of passion, not merely for the money.
Why is your video production company based in Salinas, CA?
Salinas is my hometown, where most of my family resides, and I love being here.
What challenges did you face while building your company?
No more spending money on fancy toys; all the money will now go towards my business.
What advice would you give someone starting their own video production company?
To ensure genuine passion, given the high maintenance costs associated with achieving top-quality work, it’s crucial that they truly love it.
Who supported you along the way?
My parents supported me all the way, and my wife also showed trust in my expenses and travels. That’s the only path to success—having unwavering support from your significant other.
What has been your most rewarding project?
I believe working for McDonald’s has been the most rewarding; they took care of us and appreciated the final product.
What does the future look like for LC1 Productions?
For my company to grow, create more jobs, and also contribute more to the community.
What did you learn about yourself through this process?
My younger self was someone with many dreams of becoming someone, but I didn’t envision myself as a business owner.
How did you grow your video production business?
I had a full-time job for a while, then I had to let it go so my business could thrive. Clients won’t take you seriously if you have more than one job because they perceive that you won’t focus on their project as much
What aspects of your business are you currently working to improve?
I’m working on better quality and bigger clients!
What did you learn about yourself while building your business?
That I was capable of doing a lot and was more creative than I thought I was.
If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?
Investing more money into my business from day one.
How to Hire LC1 Productions for Your Business Videos
f you’re a small business owner in California looking for help with promotional videos, commercials, headshots, or social media content, LC1 Productions is worth your call. Reach out to Luis Contreras directly through the LC1 Productions website.