Meet Justin Peay: Wedding Filmmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Justin Peay and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Justin, what’s one piece of conventional advice that you disagree with?
I would like to preface by saying that, while I wholeheartedly disagree with this statement, I understand that it is an unpopular opinion. I, for one, think opinions are silly. They’re based around past experiences and mistakes made and what our parents taught us and just life in general. What’s true for one isn’t the same for another. Don’t take this as gospel. Just how I live my life. So, this is what I disagree with: “It’s not about the gear.” I know, boooooooo. Hear me out. The motive behind telling this to a new/unseasoned filmmaker is one based around pride. We’re essentially saying, “I got to where I am today because of my own talents.” Not entirely true. We got to where we are today because we used the right tools for the job. So instead of telling aspiring videographers what it’s not about, maybe we should tell them what it is about. I’ll get to that later. Much like a thriving graphic designer isn’t using Microsoft Paint or a Formula 1 driver isn’t racing in a Ford Taurus, as filmmakers, we’re only as good as our equipment. The gear is what limits us. And in some ways, that’s kind of exciting. But in others, we simply cannot do our jobs without better cameras, better lights, or better software. If this statement is true, there are a few questions I have. Like, why don’t I see more industry leaders using a Nikon Coolpix A100? Why aren’t more scenes lit by an iPhone flashlight? Where are the summer blockbusters using low poly instead of high poly (ptsh, nerd)? When I started filming weddings, I was using a Canon 7D. It was a great camera. Much better than the GL2 I was using before. But there was one major limitation to this camera. If I went above an ISO of 1600, my shots were pretty much unusable. And being in a profession where 1/3 of your event is in a dimly lit venue (aka the reception), I had to find a way to make it look good. I couldn’t channel my inner talents to magically make the reception brighter. Instead, I had to buy a camera that had better low-light settings. It was expensive! But if I wanted to make a living out of filming weddings, I had to get better gear. So if it isn’t about the gear, then what is it about? It’s like that one kid in your group project that shoots down every idea, but never has a solution to offer. It’s definitely not about pride. No room for it. Especially in filmmaking. Let me offer up an alternative directive. It is about the gear. But it’s also about the user. Learn what gear you need to get the job done (whether it’s through mistake or listening to your elders). And remember, this is just an opinion, and opinions are silly.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I am a self-taught wedding filmmaker, and I’ve had the privilege to travel all around the world for my job. In 2012, my buddy Jon took a risk on me and asked if I would film his wedding, even though up to that point, the best video I had made was a remake of the Inception trailer that had 23 views on YouTube. I went from 3 weddings a year, to 15, and now we have over 60 weddings booked for 2021 that take place in Georgia, California, Vermont, Colorado, New York, and Ireland. I’m extremely lucky and happy to do what I do. On top of filmmaking, I started a creative co-working space called Divvy Desk, and I get to work around some of the most talented individuals in the area. Inside of our conference room, we have a statement displayed on the wall that says, “Be the person you needed when you were younger.” It’s not anything I came up with, but it is absolutely how I try to live my life. If it weren’t for the people who poured into me, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Take some time to invest in those who take an interest in you and your work.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I live in Statesboro, which is about 3 1/2 hours from Atlanta, and though it maybe a small town, there are a lot of unique places for food and entertainment. Three Tree coffee is the place for breakfast, Del Sur is the place for lunch (or really just tacos, which could be any time of the day), and Coconut Thai is the place for dinner. Honestly, I would just put this on repeat for the whole week.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
He doesn’t know who I am, but Philip Bloom has had a lasting impact on me as a filmmaker. He selflessly teaches about new gear on his YouTube channel, and I think to myself, “I paid $30k for a degree, and learned more from this stranger on the internet than I did 6 years at a university.” Thanks Philip.

Website: justinpeay.com

Instagram: jpeaypro

Image Credits
The McNairs