William Sanford

So nice to meet you! First off, what’s your name? Tell our readers a bit about yourself—where you’re from originally and where you live now.

I'm William Sanford. I was born in New York and raised in Miami Beach, where I went to Dillard School of the Arts. Then I went back to New York City after I graduated high school to work in the entertainment industry. I'm now based in Los Angeles.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

I live in Los Angeles now and I love the lifestyle and the weather here. It's a great place to raise your kids.

Tell us a little more about what your company does and how it started. How does it help your customers?

My company is H.I.P Productions Inc.

My company opened in 2012 and started with productions of TV commercials, independent films, e-commerce, photo shoots in fashion and commercial print, private parties and content for influencers.

I've been in the industry as an actor in front of the camera and a DP behind the camera for over 40 years.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

If someone wants to start a business, my advice would be to open an LLC or an S corp and get a good accountant to keep good records. It's good to be very organized in this industry, and to have people around you who can help you. You also need to have the best photo and video gear to shoot with and edit in your post-production.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

I think all your customers and clients should be thrilled and ecstatic when they see their photos, or an edited version of a video reel or content you've made for them. My motto is: if you get a client, keep a client.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I see my company thriving and working with a lot of great, talented people, and AI will be a big help in the future with my edits and post-production. I also hope to pass on my production company to my kids. They want to stay in this type of industry.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

I think the biggest misconception about this industry is that it's easy. Nothing is easy. Acting is not easy; shooting, lighting or directing a scene is not easy. You have to have some type of natural, God-given vision to make things happen magically and spontaneously.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

One of the biggest struggles building your business in Los Angeles is getting clients and creatives to know where you are and what you're doing. Not everyone has an agent and people getting them work. A lot of the companies and smaller industry studios have shut down or left Los Angeles since Covid and the big union strikes. That's a big concern and problem today. They're trying to revive Los Angeles when everyone has left and is shooting their productions elsewhere, out of state and out of the country. It's gonna be a big task to bring people back to Hollywood.

Who was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

I had a few favorite music artists and favorite athletes growing up. I was influenced by Latin music and Latin jazz, growing up in Miami and New York. I love percussion and salsa dancing. Also Bob Marley and the Wailers, with the reggae vibes.

In sports, Pelé was huge in the soccer world and was my hero growing up. Also, Muhammad Ali was a king to me. Kelly Slater, ten-time surfing world champion, was a huge influence in my life.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

Shout out to all my good friends who passed on and taught me so much, and my parents who raised me proper and believed in me 100% and supported me being an artist and not really having a solid, steady job. And my beautiful wife and kids, whom I love and adore so much. One of the best things I ever did in my life is having my kids and seeing them grow up.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can learn more about me and my company at www.williamsanfordphoto.com. My website shows all my work and videos, and I'm on Instagram at www.instagram.com/williamsanfordphoto, or on IMDb as William D. Sanford.