Payton Wilkin

Summary

I’m a video creator with a background in YouTube and a strong focus on editing, storytelling, and motion graphics. My career began with the growth of my personal channel, which started as a creative side project and developed into my full-time work for over five years.

I take pride in delivering thoughtful, high-quality videos for both viewers and clients. Anything I release publicly reflects my standards as a creator — from structure and pacing to polish and presentation — and I approach every project with care and intention

I enjoy collaborating closely with creators and clients to shape ideas into something meaningful. Video production is a constantly evolving field, and I’m always learning, refining my craft, and pushing toward better work.

Creative Philosophy

My approach to video has always been simple:

"Make each video better than the last."

Growth doesn't come from chasing shortcuts — it comes from consistently refining your craft and always trying something new. Every project is an opportunity to improve, and that mindset has guided my work from the very beginning.

After more than five years working full-time in video, I still enjoy the process as much as ever. I care deeply about the details, and I bring that same focus to every project I take on. As long as I'm creating, I'm looking for ways to make my work stronger than what came before.

Backstory

Growing up in Granite Bay, California, I've had a creative pull toward video for as long as I can remember. When I was young, I made short skits with my cousins on an iPad — coming up with ideas as a family, setting the device in the corner of the room, hitting record, and acting them out. It was simple, spontaneous, and a lot of fun.

In high school, I consistently applied for media classes and was finally accepted into Beginner Media during my junior year (2017). That's where my creative journey truly took off. I learned how to use Adobe Premiere Pro and complete my first few structured video projects. I later took on Advanced Media and continued developing my skills.

By the end of high school, I knew I wanted a career in video — ideally in post-production — so I applied to Boise State University and was accepted into the Film & Television Arts program. In 2019, I moved to Idaho and began college as a full-time student.

During my early semesters, most of my coursework focused on general studies, rather than in-depth film classes. So to keep creating, I started making YouTube videos in my free time. In December of 2019, my channel unexpectedly took off. Within a week, I grew from a few hundred subscribers to over 20,000, and the momentum continued. As the channel grew, my priorities shifted — college began to feel more like a side pursuit, while YouTube became my primary focus and learning environment.

After three semesters (2020), I made the decision to leave school and pursue YouTube full-time. Now having my full attention, the channel continued to grow, eventually reaching over 500,000 subscribers by 2023. With each project, my skills — especially in editing and storytelling — improved, and audience feedback consistently highlighted the quality and entertainment value of the videos.

As of 2026, I’ve been creating YouTube videos full-time for over five years and still average around 300,000 views per video.

More recently, I’ve transitioned into freelance work — applying the same storytelling and editorial skills to client projects including event recaps, trailers, promos, and more — expanding my experience beyond YouTube while maintaining the same creative standards.