Today we’d like to introduce you to Xavier Ray.
Hi Xavier, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I actually started my channel in the Philippines with my girlfriend. I started filming tourist spots in Manila. While I was in the Philippines, I learned how to film, and we made a lot of travel content. My channel grew a little in 2019. When the pandemic hit, I was California, and I couldn’t go back to see Glynne. I didn’t think I’d see her again.
I was in a violent house, and I had to take a break from making videos and focus on survival. There were days I didn’t eat and had to sneak in food. Like whatever care packages Glynne sent me. I know I can’t complain cause, in reality, I got lucky. 2020 hit other people way worse than me.
2021 rolled around, and I was able to get vaccinated and move out of that violent place. I started filming again. I was even reached out to film my own Skillshare class. This was honestly the first time I felt imposture syndrome in my whole career, but I still got the job done. I started filming more camera gear and vlogging gear reviews for my channel.
In fact, I’m making a 2nd channel to document my girlfriend coming from the Philippines to the United States.
We’ll be recording the whole journey. From me flying to the Philippines, seeing her for the first time in over 3 years, to asking a life-changing question, to her first burger in California.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has been a crazy road of learning how to film, how to talk on camera to filming for clients. I did talk about how 2020 was not good to me, but looking back, I really did get off lucky. I’m honestly blessed to still be here today and still with my family. I’m excited to see Glynne again and to make videos with her again.
Making travel videos in the Philippines was really fun, and we had this optimism about that channel back in the day.
We saw a ton of scams in the Philippines on how to grow your channel, and I’m glad we didn’t fall for any of them.
Plus, all those scams violate Youtube’s TOS. So, they were pretty easy to avoid.
One challenge I’m facing right now is to relearn storytelling. My Camera Gear review channel didn’t really need to implement storytelling, so I haven’t used that muscle in a couple years.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Currently, I make camera gear reviews for my channel, and I even have a Skillshare class on the same topic. I’m also a videographer here in San Diego and film for some of my clients.
I’m also in the works of creating a second channel for my girlfriend and I. We’ll be documenting our long-distance relationship and her journey of flying from the Philippines to California to be with me.
If you want to check out that channel, it’s
https://www.youtube.com/@xavierrayandglynne
What are your plans for the future?
My future plan is to work on our 2nd channel. We have a lot to film in terms of documenting our story, and we’ll have a lot of life changes in the coming months.
I’m also writing a book about Glynne and I and our long-distance relationship. I think our story would help a lot of people who are in the same situation as us. Also, it’ll be a fun read.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ovou.me/xavierray
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/xavierrayandglynne/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/xavier-ray-8294534b/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@xavierrayandglynne
- Other: https://skl.sh/3DTPhlq
