From Vision to Video: The Founder’s Journey of Capture the Moment Media
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How we became an award-winning video production company in Vancouver
If you know Capture the Moment Media, you know that we are a ‘people first’ creative agency. And it all starts with our founders, Mathew Collings and John Hilhorst!
Meet Our Founders!
“It really started with two guys just wanting to get out there, be creative and tell stories!”
What started out as a couple of film students capturing the magic of the wedding industry, turned into a dynamic duo leading the industry of strategic content creation for CPG brands. Mathew, our resident Sales Director (and funny guy), is the first face our clients meet when they connect with us. His talents include high-quality ‘chit-chat’ and dad jokes BUT above all he makes sure that every company walks away with the right service for their needs and budget.
John, who doubles as our Marketing Director and educational mastermind, spends most of his time behind the scenes. Our go-to for all things strategy, John is a solution-oriented guy and makes sure that the team and our clients are all supported. Between the two, they’ve got the perfect balance of drive, charisma, focus and humour.
Keep reading for our interview with Mat and John, where they walk us through how Capture the Moment Media became an award-winning video production company in Vancouver.
‘What Made You Want to Start Your Own Creative Agency?’
[John] In 2010, we started our journey, initially focusing on video production. Mat and I were knee-deep in all aspects of the business, from brainstorming concepts to managing finances. Over time, as word spread about our work, clients began requesting additional services like photography and social media. By 2015, we realized the importance of specialization and decided to expand our team with specialists in directing, lighting, photography, and more.
[Mat] A big part of how we became CTM was actually COVID. We wanted to start working with different agencies and brands, once COVID happened it forced us to reach out and work with other creatives more frequently. We realized that we started to build great relationships with other creatives and they brought different things to the table that allowed us to create exciting projects. There were things we were good at and other things we weren’t, but what we knew was that we were really good at talking to clients and getting to the bottom of what they needed in order to curate a team that could bring that to life.
[John] We realized the importance of specialization and decided to expand our team with specialists in directing, lighting, photography, and more. This not only improved our services but also simplified things for our clients, who no longer had to manage multiple vendors. Instead, they could rely on us for all their content needs, ensuring consistency and easy communication. It's been a rewarding journey, growing alongside our clients and becoming an integral part of their brand evolution.
‘Why Did You Choose to Specialize in Working with Food & Beverage Brands?’
[Mat] The kind of work that we do, content creation, to be honest is not the kind of thing for every single industry. We realized that when we work with CPG brands, food & beverage companies, the work that we were doing was really having a big impact. Not only that but there are a lot of companies out there that we can help in that space so we thought it made sense to niche down and focus on that area.
[John] They're just a blast to work with! The industry's always buzzing with new products and campaigns, giving us endless opportunities to flex our creative muscles. Whether it's dreaming up unique concepts or capturing mouthwatering visuals, it's never a dull moment. And let's be real, who doesn't love getting tasty samples or taking home a box of goodies after a day of shooting?
‘What Inspired the Creation of Capture the Moment Media?’
[John] As for 'Capture the Moment Media,' it all started with a little side hustle filming weddings. It was exciting rubbing shoulders with celebs and filming glamorous events, but we realized the wedding grind wasn't for us.
[Mat] I used to work in the film industry, I went to film school with John. We actually grew up in the same town together. I was working on a TV show and it had just finished, around the same time John was also finishing something up, it was just perfect timing. He gave me a call and said ‘Hey do you want to get out there and film a wedding and do something creative?’ We did weddings for a while and then our passion took us into a different direction.
[John] So, in 2015, we pivoted to corporate and commercial work, eventually honing in on our passion for working with consumer packaged goods (CPG) brands. That's where we found our sweet spot and where we believe we can make a real impact.
[Mat] When CTM started it was just two guys that wanted to get out there, tell stories, and be creative. Now look at us!
‘What Is A Defining Moment Or Milestone That Has Shaped The Direction Of The Business?’
[John] If I had to pick a milestone that really shaped our journey, it would be when we introduced our workshops. We noticed a common problem: clients were investing in content but seeing little return because there was no strategy behind it. Our workshops changed all that. They not only get everyone on the same page but also align everyone toward a common goal, making the whole process a lot less guesswork and a lot more results.
[Mat] Probably for me personally it was having my kids and really made me want to have a little more time to be with them. Being here, in front of my computer and having zoom calls with clients, and trying to help people with their problems is really what I’m great at anyway. So being able to work with other creatives that are out there doing this full time and realizing that my real strength was working with people, and now that I don’t have to be on set I can find people who are amazing at that to help us and the projects we’ve been working on.
‘What 3 Words Would You Use to Describe Your Partner in Crime?’
[Mat] He’s tall hahaha, is the first one. That’s a funny one! John is forward thinking, I would say for sure. He’s always looking to the future and trying to figure out how best we can grow and improve. I’m a little bit more in the here and now, I think that’s why we’re great partners. A third thing, he is genuine. He’s definitely the kind of person who is very honest, when you talk to him you know what you are getting. That’s a great trait of John’s, and I think it’s shown in how we’ve been able to work together for 15 years.
[John] Ah, and my partner in crime, Mat? Well, he's a real joker, always keeping things light. Plus, he's as chatty as they come, but in the best way possible. And don't even get me started on how friendly he is—dude could make friends with a rock!
‘What Is the Biggest Thing You’ve Learned As A Business Owner?’
[John] Processes are key. And knowing when to delegate to folks who excel where you don't—that's a game-changer. With the right team, you can make waves not just for your business but for the brands you work with too.
[Mat] Life is short and you really have to make sure you’re prioritizing the things that are important. Figure out the one thing that you do, that no one else can do, the one thing that makes you unique and brings the most value to your company. Focus on that! Everything else, you can find other people that are great at those things, that love doing those things. So find the one thing that you love doing, that you’re good at, focus on that and let everything else go!
Conclusion
We’ve been through our fair share of twists and turns here at Capture the Moment Media, and with each one Mat and John have been at the forefront leading with the business’ 3 core values: humble, hungry, and solution-oriented.
Whether you’re looking for some strategic video content, a social team to take over handling your brand’s social media, or even just a killer dad joke, our founders have got you covered and will make sure that you’ve got all the pieces to make your brand shine!
Interested in learning more about Mat and John beyond the founder story? Book a call and have a chat with them!