Will Seattle grow Creatively?
Being a creative in Seattle can be a challenging experience. If you are looking to take wedding photos across the PNW, this may be a perfect environment for you. However, if you are looking to build production experience and work on larger creative projects, Seattle becomes less penetrable. Advertisement agencies, production companies, and marketing firms are more difficult to find in abundance against the rapidly growing tech industry. So, what does this mean for creatives in Seattle and will Seattle ever become a creative “hub” similar to New York or Los Angeles?
To begin, let’s take a look at a few of the factors behind why Seattle is not a hub for productions and creative services. Whether you have travelled to Seattle or not, most people know the city as the “rainy city”. There is without question, A LOT of grey and rainy months here. When it comes to film and photo, this creates turbulent scheduling. Consistencies in lighting falter at the hands of the weather here and for that reason, filming becomes difficult in Seattle.
Film Photo by CJ Marshall
Seattle has been rapidly growing over the past few decades due to the tech industry. So, what does tech growth have to do with the creative industry in Seattle? According to Seattle.gov, “As automation and technological advances impact the future of work, the “network economy” — where people work together across time and distance through technology and digitalization — [there] will be [a] high demand for workers and businesses that have strong creative skills”. Emerging technologies and large businesses increase creative demand in the long run. This pattern can be seen within some of the most major companies today that continue to hire more and more creative contractors to reimagine brands.
Here are a few examples:
Google: Google uses contractor creatives for a range of projects, from creating graphics and video content to designing interfaces and user experiences.
Facebook: Facebook hires contractor creatives for a variety of roles, including graphic design, copywriting, and marketing.
Amazon: Amazon hires contractor creatives for a wide range of projects, from designing websites and user interfaces to creating advertising and marketing campaigns.
Apple: Apple uses contractor creatives for a range of projects, including advertising and marketing campaigns, graphic design, and video production.
Microsoft: Microsoft hires contractor creatives for a variety of projects, including graphic design, web development, and video production.
Nike: Nike hires contractor creatives for a variety of projects, including graphic design, photography, and video production.
Coca-Cola: Coca-Cola uses contractor creatives for a range of projects, from designing packaging and labels to creating advertising and marketing campaigns.
Film Photo by CJ Marshall
It's difficult to predict the future with certainty, but there are some indications that Seattle's film and photography industry may continue to grow in the coming years. For one, Seattle is becoming an increasingly important center for technology and innovation, which could lead to increased demand for media production and content creation. Additionally, the city's unique geography and architecture offer a wealth of interesting and attractive locations for shoots, and the region's natural beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities continue to draw filmmakers and photographers from around the world. Finally, there are a number of organizations and initiatives in Seattle working to support and promote the city's film and photography industry, such as the Seattle Office of Film + Music and the Northwest Film Forum, which could help to attract and retain more production companies in the area. All of these factors suggest that Seattle may continue to be a growing hub for media production in the years to come.
Forbes: "How Contractor Creatives Are Disrupting The Advertising Industry" (https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveolenski/2019/08/08/how-contractor-creatives-are-disrupting-the-advertising-industry/?sh=621360be1ad2)
Business Insider: "A LinkedIn executive who's helped hire thousands of people says most bosses are getting hiring all wrong" (https://www.businessinsider.com/linkedin-tips-to-hire-contractors-freelancers-gig-workers-2018-7)
The Balance Small Business: "The Pros and Cons of Hiring Independent Contractors" (https://www.thebalancesmb.com/hiring-independent-contractors-398915)
City of Seattle Official Site: “Inclusive Creative Industries” Inclusive Creative Industries - filmandmusic | seattle.gov