Meet Eric Yermilov | Filmmaker & Digital Content Creator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Yermilov and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
The most important factor behind my success is persistency, consistency, and dedication. Always having a positive mindset knowing that I am doing what makes me happy. Having the confidence to put myself out there and share my work with the world no matter if I fail or succeed. Going the extra mile to capture quality content that opens your mind to new experiences.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a freelance photographer/film maker & social media content creator. I am most proud of my work on YouTube & Instagram. I have been to over 20 countries in 5 continents. I would say that I got to where I am by documenting all of my trips with cameras that i’ve owned over the years. It may sound cliche, but my professional career started out as just a hobby. I wanted to document all of my trips so that I would be able to later look at back at my life and share it with family. I didn’t expect much at first because I wasn’t trying to go viral or becomes famous. I strictly did this for my own liking. Fast forward to today and countless failures later, I have managed to get multiple paid partnerships and millions of views on YouTube & Instagram Reels.

I am most proud about going viral twice on Instagram using reels. My first video received over 5 millions views with over 200k likes. My second video did just over 1.5 million views with 95k likes using my dogs instagram account @lifeofwinston. I have worked with companies such as Ollie. They were amazing to work with and generous enough to send us organic human grade dog food for 2 years straight.

It was not easy, it took me years to figure out different trends and tactics to gain a solid following. I overcame some of these challenges by being persistent and taking advantage of the tools that I invested in. Everything from new software, computers, camera gear, to learning how the algorithm works through trial & error. In my opinion, quality is everything. This means having great lenses, cameras, lighting, good microphone etc. These are some of the things that will set you apart from others.

At the end of the day however, it is up to the individual to have the drive and passion for creating content. Anyone can start with just a smartphone. You have to be able to tell a good story that draws your audience in. Even if the story is only 8 seconds long.

The lessons i’ve learned along the way is to find something that you enjoy doing and master that art to your best ability. Become the best person in your town at doing whatever it is you love . Even if it starts out as a hobby that pays nothing. If there is a demand for it, people will eventually want to work with you. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. Join a community with other like minded people to collaborate with. The beautiful thing about social media is that literally anyone can become successful as long as there is a market for your interest. Ultimately, it is up to the individual to want to take the first step. Believe in yourself and the rest will come.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Whenever friends visit my area, I always strive to bring them to the most scenic rooftop bars & restaurants whether it’s in Miami or New York City.

My most recent trip was in the Brickell area of Miami. I spent a few nights at SLS LUX & East. These two exclusive hotels offer great food and entertainment. Visiting East, I would recommend going up to the top floor and grabbing a drink at their rooftop bar called Sugar. The bar is very unique because it is surrounded by beautiful greenery everywhere. It makes you feel like you are in Tulum, Mexico.

Just across the street from East, you can find Gekko- A Japanese inspired steakhouse and lounge. I would highly recommend this classy restaurant if you are into Japanese cuisine. You can enter the lounge area for drinks and parties if you don’t feel like eating. This restaurant is famously owned by superstar Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny & mega-club mogul turned restauranteur David Grutman.

My favorite place to relax is by the pool over at SLS Lux. They have breath taking views of Brickell City Centre and surrounding areas where you can chill in cabanas and take some great photos.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There have been many people along the way that have inspired me on my journey. When I first started taking my hobbies seriously, I watched Casey Neistat videos on YouTube. This led me to other creators, such as Jon Olsson. Both of their styles were unique and it made me appreciate the art of film making and photography. I would have to give them credit for helping me get to where I am today.

I want to personally shout out : DJ Sammi Morales, Melvin Gonzalez & DJ Cardi. They worked very hard in helping me gain access to some of the most restaurants & hotels in Brickell, Miami. These people deserve recognition for sharing a taste of what Miami has to offer to the world.

You can find them all on Instagram:
@sammimorales
@djcardi_
@melvin_gonzalez_mia
@jonolsson1
@caseyneistat

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/madecity/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MadeCITYSTARS

Other: My Dog – https://www.instagram.com/lifeofwinston/ Sammi Morales – https://www.instagram.com/sammimorales/ DJ Cardi – https://www.instagram.com/djcardi_/ Melvin Gonzalez – https://www.instagram.com/melvin_gonzalez_mia/