November 21, 2018

Spencer Kohn of Supercharge – Image and Influence

47 minutes

Building an international creative agency producing branded content and travel production with influence…

Spencer Kohn, Co-founder and Creative Director of Supercharge (an integrated community of content creators, producers, and influencers, utilizing their talents to create unique branded experiences), shares his story with George Manley (CEO & Co-Founder of SOULER) in the MouthMedia Network studios. Presented by SOULER.

In this story:

How Spencer started Supercharge with him and a business partner two years ago

Spencer was coming off a stint as creative director of magazine, looking for something new to explore

Multi brands sharing the cost of a campaign, and international trips

First trip to Nicaragua

Brands paying influencers to travel for free, campaign with imagery and video, and influencers agree to post

Campaigns have brought him to St. Lucia, Morocco, Cuba, Mexico, Bali, Finland, Croatia

Looking forward to traveling for fun for the first time in a few years

Recruiting more influencers

Larger scale projects, waiting for brands to come to them, and brands becoming exclusive with those influencers

Justifying that the images and assets that come from the trips will generate ROI for brands

Requiring brands to hire content and marketing teams alongside Supercharge’s work

Influencer have a large following that cares what what that person is saying, like modern day celebrities

WinkyLux as a success example

Instagram very valuable but changing, influencers very curated and very focused are getting it done

How Spencer got into photography, inspired by mother, being working as photographer since 15, but entrepreneurial since 12

Always understood value of money

How skateboarding knowledge got him a photo gig

When Spencer bought his first pro camera because another camera broke

Creating a collective of fashion people and other creative people

Having a small portfolio of NY models while on West coast

Building a meaningful portfolio

Spencer known for surreal photo scheme, with special effects all done in-camera

All the people Spencer’s been with in past dozen years — still with them and still good friends

Shooting for major labels, major celebrities, his work in major magazines – -all before age 26

Spencer never had a bad experience with a celebrity—only with people who think they will be celebrities

Finding what peaks your own creative interest

When an unsolicited email from Instagram changed everything and made Spencer go viral, and why he didn’t take as much advantage of that as he should – online fame but few jobs through Instagram

Spencer’s friends are his greatest cheerleaders, never had to formally market himself

Loving photography, what makes Spencer pull his camera out – personality

Musicians are awesome to work with, and why Spencer is inspired by writers

And — the birth of a possible collaboration

...more

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By SOULER INC.

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