He was always seeing shots—in between classes, walking down the hallway, sitting in lectures—possible camera angles or different ideas for potential videos. But BYU–Hawaii alumnus Taylor (Tay) Steele, who now teaches creative video marketing and works as a freelance videographer, had only ever regarded videography as a hobby and unrealistic career.
“I was really, really interested in political science,” said Steele, who moved here from his hometown in Kaysville, Utah after serving his mission in the Marshall Islands. “I wanted to go into the foreign service. I felt like that’s where I needed to go because I wanted to live and work foreignly.”
Steele recalled how on his first day at BYUH, his schedule was packed with political science classes. “I had a stomach ache afterwards; it just wasn't me,” said Steele. “So I went back to the drawing boards. I still appreciated political science, but as far as pursuing a career in it, it wasn’t the fit for me.”
He said the camera captured his interest at a young age. Growing up with six siblings, Steele was, as he described, “the annoying little brother who was always filming everybody.”
Although he thought it would be interesting to work with the LDS Church making videos, Steele said he wasn’t sure he could make a career out of it. “I’d always asked people before considering it as a career, and sometimes I think I just talked to the wrong people—mostly older guys who had been in the business for a long time,” said Steele.
“They were kind of naysayers, and told me there was no money to be had in it and that there weren’t a lot of opportunities. I just believed them, and for a time I settled on that.”
Two or three weeks before moving to Hawaii, Steele met up with a man who was selling a lens he was interested in buying. “It was super random that I ran into him,” said Steele, who learned the man was a producer for the Church and had made some of the temple movies and worked a lot in the islands.
Steele saw that he seemed to sufficiently provide for the needs of his family and began to think that maybe he too could have the “win-win” of supporting a family while still doing something he loved.
But it was winning in his category of the Fall 2014 Great Ideas Video Competition that ultimately confirmed in Steele’s mind that videography was what he wanted to do.
“We got a good response and lots of feedback,” said Steele, “which encouraged me to keep going. Whether it be through a certain event or specific social cause, it’s really, really rewarding to make an emotional connection with somebody. Sometimes it’s a rush. Sometimes it’s a feel-good feeling... But with every video I do, I try to create a positive message.”
Chad Tsuhako, who graduated in Fall 2015 and currently works as a systems consultant for BYUH, was one of Steele’s roommates and worked with him on the video. “He’s a very special guy,” said Tsuhako. “He’s very humble, very passionate, and he’s really good to work with in terms of how he sees eye-to-eye with people. He’s not overbearing. He’s a team player and a good leader.”
Tsuhako said he first thought of Steele as quiet and unassuming. “I didn’t really get a grasp of his talents and gifts until we started to work together for the Great Ideas Video Competition,” said Tsuhako. “He’s someone who has a firm grasp on what he’s good at and what he’s passionate about. Videography can spread a very powerful message, and he’s doing it for passion and social projects, and through that he’s able to affect social change.”
The competition brought about an array of opportunities for Steele. His team moved on to the Empower Your Dreams Competition in March 2015, where his skills caught the attention of Scott Stiles, alumnus and co-founder of the Fair Employment Agency, and Steele was asked to help with a project in Hong Kong.
Additionally, the competition led to continual interaction with the Willes Center, who recognized his skill set and its value, and eventually asked him to teach a class.
“I first knew him as a friend, so when I walked into the class, it was funny to see him up at the front and to think of him as my professor,” said junior Brenon Dopp, an international cultural studies major from Kailua, who first met Steele while working with him at BYUH Media Productions. “The class was very interactive. He had a vision for the class, and you could tell he was able to achieve that vision.
“I noticed he knew every person’s name, and you could tell he really cared. He would spend so much time with the students. He stayed after class to help them, and he always arranged his schedule around theirs. I remember one time he wouldn’t go surfing with me because he had planned to meet with a student.”
If he’s not teaching or working with students, Steele is filming or editing projects for other people or companies that seek his help. Steele said much of the process begins with building a relationship with the person he is working for.
“You have to get on the same page, which requires research and caring for them as a person. But from there, once you understand their vision, you offer your creative approach. That’s when your brain really starts working, and you still haven’t even picked up the camera,” said Steele. “Then once you get a solid idea you go out and shoot. Sometimes you get it right the first time. Sometimes you don’t...but you don’t stop until they’re more excited than you; if they’re not excited, then your work’s not done.”
Despite being able to do what he loves and get paid for it, which is something he considers a blessing, Steele still has his doubts. “There are times when I’m filming or editing, and I just think, ‘What am I doing?’ Even while I have the camera in my hand, even back in Hong Kong when I was really committed to that project, I didn’t let it show, but I had doubts,” said Steele.
“I still have strong doubts for sure, but from my experience, if you just push through those doubtful moments there’s something really good to be had on the other side.”