Abdulaziz Yusufjanov
Owner of Abdulaziz Photo & Video
Age: 23
Location: Fort Collins
Tell us about yourself, your history and how you came to be where you are now.
My family moved to the U.S. from Uzbekistan when I was 9. We were seeking better opportunities than what my country could allow so that as kids, we could go through school and eventually contribute to the U.S. economy. Early in high school, I started my photo and video company, and I quickly earned trust with the few clients who discovered me. Those clients kept telling local colleagues about my work, and now, seven years later, I am running my video production company full time.
Explain your career, achievements and professional highlights.
I run a video production company helping marketing professionals execute on their use of video for promotional purposes. That’s marketing speak for saying I help organizations make videos. My biggest achievement to date is being able to serve my clients through high school as well as college. Despite my youth, I continued to show up day after day, delivering inspiring video projects to repeat clients.
In what ways do you give back to the community?
With my business, I offer large discounts to nonprofit clients, and I offer cash-flow flexibility where I can to extend due dates for payments. On the non-business side, I spend lots of time with the youth in our small but mighty Muslim community by volunteering with different events and our esteemed summer camp. I also believe in the power of micro-actions that keep our community tidy and welcoming, such as removing trash.
What do you consider your biggest accomplishment or challenge you’ve overcome, either professionally or personally?
The biggest challenge I’ve overcome is going from not knowing English at all to helping my clients communicate. This is all thanks to Poudre School District, which has amazing teachers who provided me with support, education and, most importantly, confidence.
Where do you see yourself in five years? In 10 years?
I see myself running a PR and communications firm that still offers video production as a service but mainly helps reduce information asymmetry between organizations and their stakeholders. A government entity might come to me and say, “How do we communicate that this new tax strategy will really work?” or a corporation might say, “How do we communicate to our U.S. consumer base that we are an ethical company?”
What piece(s) of advice would you give to your younger self?
Have dedicated pre-scheduled rest periods, even if it’s six hours to a full day per week. It took me far too long to realize that extended periods of work and school without rest leads to a big crash when you can least afford it.
Tell us something unique about you.
I have been complimented many times on my ability to combine my creative and soft science skillsets with my practical, data and numbers-oriented side. I studied accounting in school, which is a very technical field, while running my video production company. The two are on opposite ends of the spectrum.
What led you to start your business in high school, and how did you choose photography and videography as a focus?
I had a YouTube channel in late middle school and early high school. As I was learning lots of video filming and editing techniques, I realized there was a large gap in the video market that I could come in and fill. This started slowly and organically. Through excellent service and the power of word of mouth, I built my business up to a full-time job about two years ago.
Why is it important to you to be involved with youth in the Muslim community?
It’s important that our youth know that there are many adults who believe in them and their unique talents and capabilities. Once they realize that there are people willing to invest their time, money and energy into them, that will give them the confidence to make the world a better place as they grow up.
