Producing media is similar to racing a sailboat.

I currently race a Beneteau 42' sailboat in Rhode Island and look forward to racing with our crew every week. Growing up, I had the privilege of racing on a Herreschoff 40-foot class R boat built in 1927. The fleet of 'R'' boats raced in Cleveland, Ohio, and built in Bristol, Rhode Island. This experience taught me a lot about teamwork. In sailing, you have a captain and four other crew members, all with specific duties and responsibilities. We were a team, working together with one particular goal in mind to cross that finish line first.

Racing a sailboat requires a lot of coordination and communication. Every crew member has a job, and we all must work together to ensure the boat is sailing as efficiently as possible. The captain is responsible for making decisions and giving orders, but it's up to the crew to carry out those orders.

One of the most important things I learned from sailing is the importance of trust. When you're out on the water, you need to trust your crewmates to do their jobs and do them well. You must also trust the captain to make the right decisions and communicate with the crew.

Another important aspect of sailing is communication. We had to be able to communicate with each other quickly and effectively, even when conditions were less than ideal. We conveyed information to ensure everyone was on the same page.

These skills I learned from sailing have carried over into other areas of my life, including photography and video production. In these fields, teamwork is just as essential as sailing. You need to be able to work with others, communicate effectively, and trust that everyone is doing their part.

Multiple people are often involved in a project in photography and video production. There's the photographer or videographer, of course, but there may also be an art director, the client, an assistant, a producer, a wardrobe stylist, a makeup artist, and more. Everyone has a role to play and needs to work together to ensure the final product is the best it can be.

Just like in sailing, communication is vital in photography and video production. The photographer or videographer needs to communicate their vision to everyone involved in the project, and everyone needs to communicate effectively to make that vision a reality.

Trust is also essential in photography and video production. The photographer or videographer must trust that their team will do their jobs well and help them achieve their vision. And the crew members need to trust that the photographer or videographer knows best, like a sailboat captain.

Being part of a racing team on a Beneteau 42' and the Herreschoff 40-foot class R sailboat taught me much about teamwork, communication, and trust. These skills have carried over into other areas of my life, including photography and video production. Whether racing a sailboat or working on a multi-media production, teamwork is essential for success. Great things can be achieved when everyone works together and has each other's backs.