Today we’d like to introduce you to Mat Cortez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I retained my overactive imagination from childhood, and also a sense of disconnect from the serious nature of the common-place workplace.
Feeling my inner child throwing a tantrum at my last “real” job, roughly 3 years ago, I knew I needed to stop chasing a larger paycheck and start pursuing something of more meaning.
I used the opportunities I earned while working as a room service agent, concierge, HR training specialist, and finally a content design specialist (marketing) at The La Cantera Resort & Spa, to build a repertoire of skills that I could see myself doing for years and years into my story.
To be clear, I had no idea that’s what I was doing at the time. In my last stretch at the resort, I came across a 360-degree panoramic photo for the first time. At that moment, I can literally still remember it, I felt the true meaning of the word “epiphany”. I was instantly transported to my childhood when I used to imagine I could capture moments (usual sunsets) into a magic wristwatch I created called The Dream Machine.
This was way before Ben 10 – icky. I veraciously learned at much as I could about 360 photography and its potential uses. With this also came the knowledge of QR codes. I felt I had hit a breakthrough! This was in 2017, so covid had not yet propelled QR to where it is today, and 360 media was something only a certain real estate photography company was doing. Can’t remember the name, doesn’t matter.
Portions and bits at a time I created a sample of a QR code and 360 photos of one of our meeting spaces to showcase the power we could wield in the ability to showcase our meeting spaces remotely and by smartphone transference.
Ultimately, the idea was shot down and marketing like radio and print was favored. At the peak of my frustrations, and the edge of what I could learn, I left the resort to pursue entrepreneurship and took up a room with my aunt in Houston.
There I doubted myself… a lot. I was forced to choose to focus on what could happen, or what COULD HAPPEN.
Very different. So once I shook off the energy of where I had been, I began to build my business brick by brick. First, a name – gotta have a cool company name. Then, a logo. As a design guy, I had to do this asap. I’ve always been fascinated by Anubis, the Egyptian god of the dead. Thus the figurehead became my logo.
Next, Maticus – a spin on the name Atticus with a cleverly placed “m” welded in – met with Media 360 to pronounce my focus on 360 (panorama) photos. I quickly completed a simple website with what I had branded and had some business cards made. Running too low on funds to afford the camera, lighting, and computing equipment; I cashed out my 401k and use what I had saved to ensure I had the (near) best tools for the job at hand.
The first step, gain credibility. I found a since abandoned, branch of Google called Google Street View that was mapping the world with 360 Panos taken from moving vehicles! Better still, they were certifying “Google-Trusted Photographer” titles for meeting some skill requirements and uploading 360 Panos of your own. So I did it – not hard at all really. Go around the city and take 50 360 Panos at 50 different businesses that lacked a 360 pano.
Luckily, Houston is a HUGE city and I was able to accomplish that goal with relative ease. I felt I had the name, the look, and the landing page, and now I need to get some material to build a portfolio. Few attempts were fruitful until my company name was added to a roster of Houston “Google-Trusted Photographers”. Within a month, I had two clients reaching out to me for 360 Panos! I was crazy nervous and that creep, Doubt, came rushing back in.
Despite my unease, I did the jobs – nervously. I completely butchered the first job and had to return 3 more times to get it right (empty condo being sold). But because of that, I had an extremely easy second job – having learned so much from my previous f-ups. 5 or 6 jobs down (Google referrals), I was email approached by a company in California looking for a remote 360 photographer in Houston.
Easy job – shoot and send (no editing). So I jumped at it. Most of the work was creating virtual tours of Salt Grass Steakhouses. Soon I also became the remote marketer for two companies that will always have my heart for employing my services – Galvan Towing Robstown and Primal Juice & Smoothies of San Antonio. They literally fueled the engine that drove me forward to my dream. High on my start, I decided I wanted to move from Houston to Austin – a decision I still ponder about.
Within 2 months of ‘manifesting my dream, I was emailed by a company out of Florida looking for a remote 360 photographer to partner with the city of Austin! I popped in a few zoom interviews and was quickly going through my orientation! In Austin, I found a roommate, found a photography mentor, and learned to really stretch a dollar by reaching out to past contacts and past experiences. At the 1 year mark, I felt a sense of familiarity calling me from good ole SA.
Not long before the end of my lease, the same company I was working remotely for needed a 360 photographer in San Antonio. The path opened up. With the support of the two companies mentioned, along with friends and family, I moved back to San Antonio to continue growing my business. By this point, I had a primary focus on business-focused digital marketing – social media, metrics, pr… monotony.
My work slipped as my disconnect started to worsen. I realized, quietly in the back of my mind, that my original pursuit was now muddled. In December 2021, I lost my position as a marketer with both companies, serendipitously, on the same day – 2 days before Christmas. This was due to budgeting and my recent performance – I couldn’t be upset. I was struck with a cold sinking feeling in my core that seemed to make time move simultaneously faster and slower at the same time.
The ugly sweater party with a family that night was the distraction I needed, and the toughest challenge to face at that moment, all in one. Keen to listen to my inner voice/child, I knew that destruction often also means the clearing of space for new works. I smiled, sang, and ate empanadas knowing that come year’s end I was in uncharted territory. Come Jan. 1, 2022, I was back up in SA, with 1 month worth of savings in my bank, and a wild card idea of re-pursuing my original Maticus Media 360 dream – rather than fall back into a more traditional position.
Since then I have been using every. Single. Skill. I have picked up over my life to design, edit, write, present, sell, and create my ideal way of life using my company as a muse. I have created virtual projects I didn’t even imagine creating this time last year. My virtual experiences have evolved rapidly out of necessity allowing me to create a multitude of different virtual experiences.
Experiences that allow for exploration & learning (my tour of Mission Concepcion), improve a customer’s informed decision (tours of gyms, daycares, dog kennels, etc.), and have even created the artistic outlet I so desperately need for me to be joyful “at work”. Looking back on the last 4 years I realize that it always feels much slower and more daunting when you’re in the moment. This questionnaire has really allowed me to see that.
I don’t actually know if I’ll have my next rent payment, and I know that when it comes to freedom, courage, peace, and potential – I am literally the wealthiest man in my world! My childhood dream of becoming a wizard that can conjure worlds has come true in the most unlikely way possible.
When I realize the anxiety of upcoming bills is purely created by my opinions, I fall right back into this overwhelming peace and appreciation for my place in the world, and my place in my journey.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I specialize in custom-created virtual experiences. These can range from educational materials to remote tourist attractions and shopping experiences. I specialize in the “old-school” method of shooting 360 photos, as well as a keen eye for Ui/Ux/graphic design.
I’m the best know for my application of virtual experiences as a virtual sales tool. I am most proud of my ability to learn extremely quickly – when under extreme pressure. I stand alone as a Virtual Experience Creator in San Antonio due to the quality of my photos, the level of interactivity of my experiences, and the boundlessness of my creative problem-solving potential.
Watching the excitement build in my client’s eyes as we brainstorm, and build, their perfect custom virtual environment is what I live for. At least for now.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
The more nervous you are, the more you doubt, the more others tell you its a bad idea, and the more all of that is balanced out by your “gut feeling” that you’re making the right choice; the more you need to favor courage in your mind/thoughts over fear/doubt.
Trust yourself, your ability, your resources, and your instincts. I wish I knew that the most expensive equipment is rarely the right tool for the job.
Pricing:
- Custom Virtual Experience | Starting at $499
- 360 Premium Quality Photos to Google Listing | $175* (up to 4 Panos)
- Google My Business/Facebook Business/Instagram Business Setups | $60 each
Contact Info:
- Website: www.maticusmedia360.com
- Instagram: @maticusmedia360
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MaticusMedia360
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzRRQP7liBzofNNNkkTljZw
- SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.app.goo.gl/EDv8o1G4vUjZ3DgE7
- Other: https://bit.ly/Fitness1440SA
