Check Out Brendan Cleak and Caryn Sandoval’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brendan Cleak and Caryn Sandoval

Hi Brendan and Caryn, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
We (Brendan and Caryn) met in film school at UC Santa Cruz in 2009. Sharing our love of cinema, we bonded and instantly began making short films together, one of which was featured in both the Santa Cruz Film Festival and the Ventura Film Festival. Unfortunately, we graduated into the 2010 recession, before the tech boom and during a job crisis. We struggled for a few years to find work – and to make ends meet – even with college degrees, accolades, and experience. Finally, the recession lifted, but living in the Bay Area meant working in marketing jobs in the tech industry. We again struggled to make our art happen.

In 2016, we made a choice to move to San Diego. It felt like a land of hope, of joy, and of opportunity. Here, we built our photo & video business – just us as a team of two! We found others with a similar vigor for the love of life, and we now shoot their weddings, businesses, struggles, perspectives, and hopes. We survived the pandemic in San Diego by shifting from solely photo & video production to helping local businesses pivot to an online presence.

One of our recent works, a music video for a local musician, was received by SD Film Week and will soon be played in the San Diego Airport as an example of local art. We couldn’t be more proud to be San Diegans and will always be grateful for how it gave us the chance to grow.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
We struggled through graduating into a recession with no money (literally) and the pandemic. We’ve watched our generation struggle to overcome its perception. We were caught between following our hearts and making ends meet for many years. Its here in San Diego that our work has flourished – and I don’t think that’s a coincidence.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
We (Brendan and Caryn) specialize in photo and video production that, at its heart, connects with the authenticity of the subject. We use natural light, familiar locations, and universal human themes to convey the depth of emotion, history, and hope within every moment. We use this philosophy to better the online presence of local brands and businesses, create visual accompaniments to music, movement, and craft, and capture important moments both cultural and personal. It is our philosophy and natural-light style that we find success with.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Aside from our work, the simple aspects of living in San Diego. Beach, brews, every type of food you can think of, and an optimistic view of life despite the circumstances of life. San Diego has always felt like a phantom European city to us.

Contact Info:

• Email: brendan@oneapparatus.com
• Website: https://www.oneapparatus.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/oneapparatus/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/oneapparatus
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHSRhRbrVVPKsF3bVU4hrUQ