Jon and Jeff talk with Owen Garitty, founder and CEO of FPW Media, about how his early start in analog photography helped shape his unique approach to business and marketing. Owen shares lessons on trusting your instincts, challenging conventional wisdom, and why thoughtful storytelling is becoming more important than ever in a crowded digital world.

Key Takeaways:

Trust your gut and make decisions based on the best information you have, not consensus or outside noise.
Don't be afraid to take a different path. Success often comes from doing what others think won't work.
Give yourself space to think. Slowing down can lead to better ideas and fewer reactive decisions.
In a world full of content, emotional storytelling is what makes a brand stand out.
Authentic, tangible experiences still matter. Sometimes analog methods like printed materials can have a bigger impact than digital.

Owen Garitty founded FPW Media in 2013 for a reason–to dismantle the extrinsic nature of a traditional marketing agency and forge a path for an innovative, fresh, and transformative creative vision. Today, that vision remains with FPW's three connective divisions: brand, films, and merchandise, which design and implement client services entirely in-house, effectively cutting out the potential for misinterpretation of any client's message or goals. FPW was founded as an "unagency"–a concept pioneered by Garitty that prioritizes a client-first outlook, meaning clients' visions come to life organically through unconventional but efficacious processes.

Garitty has had an aptitude for photography since the age of ten when he got his first camera–a Pentax 35mm–and has since amassed over 15 years of photographic experience. He won his first photography award at thirteen, began working professionally at fifteen, and went on to pursue a career in visual storytelling that grew to encompass design, marketing, and creative direction. In a lifelong pursuit of creating compelling visual narratives, Garitty's passion lies in garnering brand recognition for his clients with impactful visuals and stimulating design. His profound understanding of the millennial zeitgeist makes him an invaluable asset in a new media landscape.

Today, Garitty oversees brand vision and implementation for privately and publicly traded companies. He cultivates ongoing partnerships with a host of companies, ranging in specialty from large-scale manufacturers to apparel, agriculture, and heavy industrial equipment. He remains present and hands-on: clients have his personal cell phone number and can trust that Garitty is carefully guiding the creative direction of their project.

In 2018, Garitty directed the award-winning and critically acclaimed film, Lionhearted, which elevates veterans' combat stories. The film focuses on the post-war lives of veterans, emphasizing the need for a sustained platform through which they can relay their experiences. The film's moving visuals, made up of interviews juxtaposed with combat footage, highlight the profound and moving realities of many of our nation's heroes.

Garitty's passion for vivid visual storytelling continues to emanate from the page, screen, or billboard–venturing beyond the ordinary and garnering clients the recognition they want by involving viewers in the narrative. As someone who values place and community, Garitty ensures that FPW is regularly involved in projects with local organizations such as nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions. When he isn't at the office, Garitty can be found boxing, enjoying craft coffee, or gardening organic fruits and vegetables.

Connect with Jon Dwoskin:

Twitter: @jdwoskin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jonathan.dwoskin Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejondwoskinexperience Website: https://jondwoskin.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jondwoskin Email: jon@jondwoskin.com Get Jon's Book: The Think Big Movement: Grow your business big. Very Big!

Connect with Jeff Gunsberg:Website: https://title-connect.com

Connect with Owen Garitty:Website: fpwmedia.com

*E - explicit language may be used in this podcast.