About
My background, projects & ethos.
Hi, I’m Justin.
I’m the founder of Brand Stories™, Creator Frameworks & BetterMatches.com, a photography company that’s located in 10+ cities in North America (including NYC, Chicago & LA).
I would’ve never guessed I would be a “business owner”. In fact I was happy working in tech for most of my career. Then a few years ago I stumbled into business and discovered my passion for creative business.
Now my goal is to build the lifestyle I’ve always wanted. One that’s optimized for creativity, connection and new experiences. I truly love what I do, and I’m grateful for the clients I get to work with each day.
I’ll share more insights about my businesses & frameworks below.
👨💻 My Projects
Here’s a list of my current & previous projects.
⚡️ Creator Frameworks
This is the ultimate resource for creators who are looking to build a business from their passions. We offer ultra-premium Squarespace & Canva templates designed for creative entrepreneurs. They are built to be fast, easy to use & optimized for conversions.
❤️🔥 Better Matches
What started as a side project grew into a thriving business that operates in 10+ locations including NYC, LA and Vancouver. I’m grateful to have a team of photographers who help me create meaningful transformations in our clients' lives.
🎬 Brand Stories™
I launched Brand Stories™ in 2018 to help local businesses develop their brand with video production. Within three years I was working with incredible clients such as The University of Victoria, Kraft-Heinz, Spud and Coldwell Banker.
👨💻 Previous: Career in Tech
Prior to building my own business, I spent the majority of my career in tech:
I was also the lead educator for BrainStation’s flagship Digital Marketing course. This is where I developed my passion for teaching.
💡 Ideas I live by
1. Lifestyle Design
Some people go into business for money, or the prestige of being a “CEO”. I don’t care about any of that. For me it was about achieving autonomy over my time so I could do more things that I enjoyed.
This includes:
Working 20 hours/week
Working on projects I enjoy
Fully remote & location independent
Spending time with family, friends, dogs
Prioritizing health, sleep & time outside
Ability to travel when/where I want
Financial stability & investments
2. Essentialism
Essentialism, as described in Greg McKeown's book, is a concept that I live by. It encourages me to focus on what is truly important in my life and prioritize my time and energy accordingly.
By filtering out the noise and distractions, I am able to achieve more meaningful and fulfilling results in both my personal and professional life. It helps me make more deliberate choices and pursue a simpler, more focused lifestyle that aligns with my values and goals.
Essentialism has become one of the guiding principles in my work/life, and I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed or behind in life.
3. Creativity + Analytics
Although the idea that there are right-brained and left-brained people is a myth, I believe using both your creative and analytical sides is one of the best ways to get ahead.
If you’re a designer that understands the business impact of your work, you’ll get more jobs.
If you’re a videographer that understands how to automate business processes using video, you’ll have unlimited clients.
And if you’re a creative entrepreneur that understands sales, SEO and marketing - you’re basically unstoppable.
