In an industry traditionally dominated by men, Renee Ismail, video producer and founder of Peachy Pixx Productions, has carved out a remarkable niche in Singapore’s videography landscape. From facing gender stereotypes to pivoting during the pandemic, her story offers valuable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs.
From Behind the Lens to the Spotlight
When Renee first launched her videography business a decade ago, she maintained a deliberately neutral corporate image – no face on the website, just a professional logo.
“There was this assumption that camera operators were male,” she recalls. This unconscious bias became evident when clients expressed surprise at seeing a woman behind the camera!
Evolving with the Digital Revolution
As social media transformed the business landscape, Renee adapted brilliantly. Starting with Instagram’s 15-second videos in 2017, she recognized the growing demand for video content among business owners.
This led to an unexpected pivot – from purely offering videography services to becoming an educator and mentor to other women in business, particularly women who were interested in mastering the art of marketing with videos.
The Power of Personal Branding
Today, Peachy Pixx Productions reflects a dramatic evolution in business marketing.
“Now it’s really about the personal brand – who you are behind your company,” Renee explains. “It’s no longer about having a perfect logo or good copywriting, but how you portray yourself on social media and digital presence.”
In this regard, her decade-old business has also undergone some changes. She started to diversify her business offerings and her portfolio now includes:
- Corporate videography
- Monthly content retainer services
- Business mentoring
- Video creation courses
- Social media content production
Beyond Business: Building Communities
The pandemic, while challenging, opened new doors. Renee is also now a podcaster with two podcasts under her belt, “Beyond 40”, a podcast focusing on caregiving and life experiences and “Hey Biz Buds”, a collaborative platform born from a WhatsApp group with other female entrepreneurs in Singapore.
If You’re An Aspiring Content Creator…
For those looking to start their video journey, Renee offers practical advice: “Just use whatever you have [to start]. Our phones now are very high-tech, 4K and everything. Just start with your phone first.”
Renee’s story isn’t just about business success; it’s about breaking biases, adapting to change and building meaningful communities. As she continues to mentor other business owners and create content, she’s proving that success in videography isn’t about gender – it’s about passion, persistence and the ability to evolve with the times.
Whether you’re an aspiring videographer, a small business owner, or someone looking to build a personal brand, Renee’s story and strategies offer valuable lessons and encourage you to explore the power of authentic storytelling in today’s digital age.
As Renee says, “If at first you don’t succeed, reload and try again!”
Her favourite book is Tribes by Seth Godin and when she’s not busy with business or caregiving, this adventurous woman enjoys trekking and hiking outdoors.
As for milestones, she’s most proud that her company received the SME 500 Award in 2022 and the following year received the Outstanding Award in Leadership for Education 2.0.
Listen to her episode today!
Interested to start your podcast? Ever since I started mine, many business owners asked me how they too could start their own podcast that I decided to write an ebook sharing everything that I do in my podcast and more. If starting a podcast is something you’d like to explore, check out my brand new ebook, Podcasting Power.