Ideal Founder Series 008
Jimmy Kao , Founder of Mountain Studio

Website: https://www.mountain0917.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mountain0917.tw/

About Founder 

《不要怕失敗，才有機會成功》

山影工作室創辦人 - 高銘澤，接觸攝影的故事要從大學時期的一次機緣說起。從未接觸過攝影的他，在朋友的一場活動中擔任了臨時攝影師，也正是這次的經驗讓他對攝影產生了興趣。

隨著對攝影越來越熟悉，他決定將攝影和另一項興趣做結合 - 登山，他和朋友們會利用閒暇時間一起探索台灣的群山，這樣的機會也逐漸加深了他對攝影和山林的熱愛。

於是，銘澤和朋友們共同創立了山影的前身 - 山影社。

從地下社團到正式成立工作室的期間，銘澤利用工作之餘一步一步的建立著山影的雛形至今，形塑了現在的山影工作室。然而創業的過程並不順利，經歷了多次起伏，也仍未獲得家人的支持，銘澤甚至一度考慮結束工作室。

但銘澤對攝影的熱情和堅持讓他一步一步將山影建立起來。儘管過程波折，但他深知如果害怕失敗、不冒風險，那就永遠都不會有成功的機會。

Story of Jimmy's journey into photography begins with a serendipitous opportunity during his university days. Having never had any prior experience in photography, he found himself as a temporary photographer at a friend’s event. It was that experience that sparked his interest in photography.

As Jimmy became more familiar with photography, he decided to combine it with another passion of his - mountaineering. He and his friends would use their spare time to explore the mountains of Taiwan, further deepening his love for photography and the outdoors. Together with his friends, Jimmy co-founded a photography club, which is the precursor to what would later become known as "Mountain Studio".

During the transition from a underground group to establishing a formal studio, Jimmy worked tirelessly outside of his regular job to lay the foundation for Mountain Studio. However it was still a rather challenging entrepreneurial journey, filled with ups and downs, and he faced resistance from his family, even considering closing down the studio at one point.

However, Jimmy's passion for photography and his unwavering determination drove him to build Shan Ying step by step. Despite the setbacks along the way, he understood that without embracing failure and taking risks, there would never be an opportunity for success.

Q. 請用三個詞形容你自己 / Use three words to describe yourself

活潑、開朗、樂觀

Lively, cheerful, and optimistic.

Q. 如果你沒有開始你的事業，現在的你會在做什麼呢? / If you weren’t building your startup, what would you be doing? 

如果今天沒有在經營山影，我很有可能會在我家人的工廠裡面工作。

故事要從山影還沒正式成立的時候說起。那時候我在銀行工作，攝影的累積主要是利用閒暇時間或是週末聯繫潛在客戶，接一些相對單純的案子，一點一滴地累積我的作品集。

而這些作品集也很快的為我帶來了不少客戶，山影工作室也因此正式成立。然而，正當一切似乎進入軌道時，疫情影響蔓延到台灣，案子全部都被迫取消。那時的我開始認真思考是否要結束山影，也在考慮是否要回去家人的工廠工作。然而，我知道工廠內一成不變的工作環境，不是我想站上的舞台。

就這樣，幾個月的時間很快過去了，在這期間，我靠一些零星的小案子勉強度過。終於，疫情開始趨緩，案量也漸漸回到疫情前的水準，這對我來說像是老天在指引我的方向，於是重新開始整頓山影的一切事項，品牌、團隊、策略等等，一項接著一項的改變，將山影帶到了正軌上。

If Mountain Studio wasn't in operation today, there is a high possibility that I would be working in my family’s factory. The story begins before Mountain Studio was formally established. At that time, I was working at a bank, and photography was more of a side endeavor during my free time or on weekends. I would reach out to potential clients and take on relatively simple projects, gradually accumulating my portfolio.

As I established my portfolio step-by-step, it brought in a significant number of new clients, leading to the official establishment of Mountain Studio Studio. However, just as things seemed to be on track, the pandemic hit, and all cases were forced to be canceled. I started seriously contemplating whether to end Mountain Studio and return to my family’s factory. However, I knew that the monotonous routine of the factory environment was not the stage I wanted to be on.

Months quickly passed by, and during that time, I managed to scrape by with sporadic projects. Finally, as the pandemic situation improved and the number of projects gradually returned to pre-pandemic levels, it felt like a sign from above guiding me in the right direction. This prompted me to reorganize everything within Mountain Studio, including the brand, team, and strategies. One change after another, leading Mountain Studio back on track.

Q. 在創業的過程中，你面對最艱難的挑戰是什麼 ? / What significant challenges have you faced when working on this company?

我認為每家企業在不同時期都會面臨各自的挑戰，而對我而言，最困難的部分就是如何將最一開始，沒沒無聞的山影帶到大家的眼界內。

最初成立的那陣子，為了找到願意給我們嘗試的客戶，我們起初不斷的打電話做開發，但一百通電話裡面大概只會有一、兩通會成功談成。業務從來不是我擅長的領域，但我很慶幸能經歷這樣的磨練，因為這種經歷讓今天的我能夠順利與客戶溝通，甚至變成私底下的朋友，而這樣的溝通正與山影想帶給客戶們的價值互相呼應 - 溫度。

I believe that every business faces its own set of challenges at different stages, and for me, the most difficult part was how to bring Mountain Studio from obscurity to the attention of the public.

During the initial establishment phase, we had to make hundreds of calls just to find ourselves a couple of clients who were willing to give us a chance. However, out of those calls, only two or three would result in successful projects. Sales and business development were never something I’m good at, but I am grateful for the experience because it has shaped me into someone who can effectively communicate with clients and even form personal friendships. And this kind of communication aligns perfectly with the value that Mountain Studio aims to bring to its clients - warmth.

4. What was the biggest surprise or obstacle you encountered while building your startup and what did you learn? 

在創業過程中，你遇到的最大的驚喜或阻礙是什麼，在這過程中你學習到什麼？

身為一位影像工作者，最大的好處之一就是能夠遇見各種不同樣貌、擁有獨特故事的人們。對我們來說並不存在所謂的「最大的驚喜」，因為在與不同客戶交流的過程中，每次都能發現一些不同的驚喜，了解不同的思維，聆聽不同的故事。

在這樣的環境下，「變化」成了唯一不會變動的事情，漸漸的我們越來越習慣和不同背景的客戶溝通，也更能以客戶的角度去思考事情，最終帶給我們的是挖掘故事的能力，而這也是影像工作者重要的能力之一。

在這樣的工作環境中，我們期待著每一個當下，因為我們永遠不知道拍攝過程中下一秒會發生什麼事情。即使下一秒的驚喜可能是一個挑戰，我們樂此不疲地迎接它。這樣的經歷讓我們更能夠享受每一個當下，也逐漸提升了我們團隊的抗壓能力。

As a visual creator, one of the greatest advantages is the opportunity to encounter individuals with diverse appearances and unique stories. For us, there is no such thing as the "biggest surprise" because with each interaction with different clients, we discover new surprises, gain insights into different perspectives, and listen to a variety of stories.

In this environment, "change" becomes the only constant. We gradually become accustomed to communicating with clients from different backgrounds and develop the ability to think from their perspective. Ultimately, this cultivates our skill in uncovering stories, which is an essential capability for visual creators.

In such a working environment, we embrace every moment with anticipation because we never know what will happen next in the filming process. Even if the surprise shows up as a challenge, we’re still enthusiastically embracing it. These experiences enable us to savor each moment and progressively enhance our team's resilience.

Q. 如果在創業過程中你可以做一件事情不同的事，那會是什麼? / If you could have done one thing differently while building your startup, what would it be?

包括我在內的所有夥伴都希望山影能夠不斷進步，然而作品的品質不僅取決於拍攝手法和硬體設備的好壞，後製的眼光和技巧也至關重要。

同樣的影像經過不同的後製處理會存在顯著差異，我也因此希望能在山影更早期的時候就更意識到後製的重要性。值得慶幸的是，我們的團隊每天都在進步，無論是在前端，鏡頭的運鏡和畫面捕捉，還是後端的剪輯等方面都在不斷提升。

我們也期望這樣的提升能讓我們接觸到更多不同類型的案件。也隨著團隊越來越多樣化，我們知道只要能更好地整合資源，山影將能為客戶提供更舒適的體驗！

All of us, including myself, aspire for constant improvement in Mountain Studio. However, the quality of our work is not solely determined by the techniques and hardware used during filming. The post-production vision and skills are equally crucial.

The same footage can yield significant differences when subjected to different post-processing treatments. Therefore, I hope to emphasize the importance of post-production at an earlier stage in Mountain Studio. Fortunately, our team is continuously advancing. Whether it's the camera operation and shot composition at the front end or the editing at the post-production stage, we are constantly enhancing our skills.

We’re also hoping that this kind of progress will allow us to explore a wider range of projects. With our team becoming more diverse, we understand that by effectively integrating our resources, Mountain Studio will be able to provide customers with a more satisfying experience!

Q. 你是怎麼衡量你的成功? 你衡量的標準是什麼? / At the moment, how do you measure success? What are your metrics?

我們沒有對自己設定所謂「成功」的標準，我們關注的是山影能否為客戶帶來我們最高品質的服務及成果。

我們知道山影仍有進步的空間，因此近期的目標是希望能夠接觸更多公部門的案子。這不僅可以挑戰我們自己的極限，案源單純也更能讓山影專注於追求更高品質。

We don’t have a specific standard for "success" for ourselves. Our primary focus is whether we can deliver the highest quality results to our clients.

We are aware that there is still room for improvement in Mountain Studio. Therefore, our recent goal is to engage with more projects from the public sectors. This not only pushes our limits but also allows us to concentrate on pursuing higher quality, as these projects tend to be more straightforward in terms of requirements and scope.

Q. 你會對其他的有野心和熱情的創業家說什麼? / What would you tell aspiring startup founders? 

創業這件事情非常迷人，因為當我們回頭看時，才會意識到當初的自己有多麼勇敢，也會發現過去的決策很多都可以處理得更好。

無論我們是對過去的自己心存感激還是從中學到寶貴的教訓，這些結果都無法在當下就知曉。

面臨挑戰的當下，我們唯一能做的就是問自己：我是否想要繼續下去？

保持野心和熱情在創業時無疑是加分的，但我認為不可或缺的是持之以恆的毅力。在順風順水的時候，出來創業看似是個完美的選擇，但真正的問題是，當刮起逆風時，作為掌舵者的你是否仍然願意緊握船舵，堅定地朝著目標前進。Entrepreneurship is a fascinating journey because when we look back, we’ll see how brave we were and how decisions could have been handled better. Whether we feel grateful to our past selves or learn valuable lessons from them, the outcomes are not known in the present moment.

When facing challenges, the only question we can ask ourselves is: Do I want this to be continued?

Having ambition and passion is undoubtedly a plus in entrepreneurship, but what is essential is perseverance. While starting a business may seem like a perfect choice during smooth sailing, the real test comes when faced with headwinds. As the one steering the , are you willing to firmly grasp the rudder and move forward towards your goals?

About Mountain Studio

Q. 山影工作室是誰? /  Who is 山影工作室?

我們提供的服務不僅限於平面攝影、商業短片和動態錄影，創業以來我們結識了很多不同專業領域的夥伴。因此，山影能夠協助客戶打造企業品牌、製作商業影片、現場直播、動畫製作等等。

山影的特點是技術與創意並重，我們團隊年輕且靈活，能夠將客戶心中的所有巧思帶到成品中，讓客戶在可以專心享受當下的同時，留下最美好的回憶。

Our services extend beyond still photography, commercial videos, and motion capture. Since our inception, we have collaborated with partners from various professional fields. As a result, Mountain Studio can assist clients in building their corporate brands, creating commercial videos, live streaming, and even producing animations.

What sets Mountain Studio apart is our emphasis on both technical expertise and creativity. Our young and flexible team is capable of making our client’s ideas into reality, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in the present moment and create lasting memories.

Q. In a few sentences, what do you offer and to whom? 

用簡單的句子形容，你能為誰提供什麼服務/產品?

透過靈活、客製化的服務將你心中天馬行功的想法，帶到我們的影像作品中，只要你敢想像，山影都會盡力將它們實現，並呈現最有溫度的作品！

Through flexible and customized services, we strive to incorporate your creative ideas into our visual works. As long as you dare to imagine, Mountain Studio will do our best to bring them to life and present them in the most heartfelt and warm manner!

Q. 用幾句話說明你的公司還有你要解決的問題 / What is your company and problems you are addressing in a few sentences?

我覺得我們要解決的問題其實很簡單 - 讓客戶們的可以專心地享受當下。

看似簡單的要求，卻難以達成，我們希望我們呈現的作品，不只是一張照片或是一段影像，我們希望客戶可以好好享受當下，日後再藉由我們的作品，去細細感受、回憶那些值得被記錄的故事。

回憶，才是山影希望我們的客戶真正能帶走的東西。

I believe the problem we aim to solve is actually quite simple - to allow our clients to fully immerse themselves in the present moment.

Although it may seem like a simple and straightforward request, it is challenging to achieve. We aspire to deliver more than just a photograph or a video. We want our clients to truly experience and cherish the present moment, and in the future, revisit those precious memories through our work.

Memories are what we aim to present to our customers.

Q. 和我們分享目前為止，關於你的產品 / 服務受市場歡迎的吸引力是什麼 ? / What’s most exciting about your traction to date?

動態攝影一直是我們最擅長的領域，包括訪談、婚禮和紀錄片拍攝等，這些是我們最有信心的領域，也是山影初期吸引客戶的主要原因。

然而，經過多年的累積經驗，我認為山影最大的特色在於溫度。

當我們到達拍攝現場後，我們的首要目標除了要去和客戶溝通有關硬體設置、流程規劃和捕捉畫面等方面的事情，更重要的是花時間了解客戶真正的需求以及背後的故事。

器材的設置和流程的規劃大致相同，但真正使每個專案獨特的是背後的故事。

不同的故事需要用不同的方式來捕捉和呈現，這樣才能在這個追求體驗的時代中將客戶的創意和影像結合，記錄客戶們的獨特故事。

Dynamic shooting has always been our expertise, covering areas such as interviews, weddings, and documentary filming. These are the fields where we have the utmost confidence and they were the main reasons why clients were initially drawn to Mountain Studio Productions.

However, after years of experience in the field, I believe the most distinctive feature of Mountain Studio Productions is the warmth we bring to our work. 

While the primary goal after we arrive at a shooting location is to set up the hardware, and workflow planning, and capturing visuals. It is crucial for us to take the time to truly understand our clients' needs and the stories behind them.

While equipment setup and workflow planning may be similar across projects, what truly makes each project unique is the underlying story. Different stories require different approaches to capture and present them, allowing us to merge our clients' creativity with visual storytelling in this age of experiential demands, thus we can depict the unique stories of our clients.

Q. 你認為在今年你的成長里程碑會是什麼 ? / Where do you think your growth and milestones will be for 2023? 

經過疫情的洗禮後，我們深刻意識到在擴大團隊的同時，保持極高的靈活性至關重要。

這種靈活性對於管理和策略層面至關重要，而且對於山影這樣由擁有不同領域專業的專家組成的團隊來說尤為重要。因此，山影目前的目標是善用夥伴間各自的客群，通過互相交流和推廣來讓更多客戶對山影有更深的認識。

與此同時，我們也希望能夠找到更多合作夥伴，因為我們期望在不久的將來能夠接洽更多政府和公共機構的案件。這樣的發展規劃對於人力資源也有著極高的要求。

​​After going through the challenges posed by the pandemic, we have come to realize the importance of maintaining a high level of flexibility while expanding our team. This flexibility is crucial in terms of management and strategy , especially for a team like Mountain Studio, consisting of experts from different fields. Therefore, our current goal is to leverage the client base of our partners, fostering mutual communication and promotion to truly introduce Mountain Studio Productions to a wider audience.

At the same time, we also aim to find more collaborative partners as we aspire to engage in more projects with government and public institutions in the near future. Such expansion plans come with high demands for human resources.

Q. 目前你的公司正在尋找什麼? (例如:資金、新市場擴張、人才?) / What would be the 3 things that your company is looking for now? (e.g. Funding, new market expansion, new hires?)

如前所述，我們對於人才的需求非常迫切，然而我們所追求的並不僅僅是增加人力，更重要的是建立一支資源豐富且高度靈活的團隊，只有這樣才能在面對挑戰時保持韌性並從容應對。

As mentioned earlier, our need for talent is urgent. However, it's not just about increasing the number of our staff; what we truly strive for is to build a team that is rich in resources and highly flexible. Only through this can we maintain resilience and adaptability in the face of challenges.

Meet The Team

Q. 你有團隊嗎? 請介紹一下團隊成員，以及你是如何找到他們並且建立現在的團隊? / Do you have a team? If yes, who are they, and how did you go about building your team?

一開始，山影只是一個地下社團，並沒有真正的團隊結構。由幾個志同道合的好朋友因為共同的興趣而開始從事攝影活動。在這個過程中，我們結識了許多夥伴，並逐漸從一個社團發展成為我們自己的工作室。

而我們的團隊成員非常多樣化，每個人都擁有不同領域的專業知識。透過在各種專案中的合作，我們一次又一次地建立起了現在團隊的基礎。

Initially, Mountain Studio (山影) started as an underground club without a formal team structure. It was formed by a group of like-minded friends who shared a passion for photography. Throughout this journey, we have met numerous partners and gradually transformed from a club into our own studio.

And our team members are highly diverse, each bringing expertise from different fields. Through collaborations on various projects, we have consistently built the foundation of our current team.

3. What do you love about your team, and why are you the ones to solve this problem?

和我們分享你喜歡你團隊的什麼部分？為什麼你們會是解決目前遇見問題的最佳選擇？

我非常欣賞山影每一位夥伴，多年的合作讓我們團隊的默契成為我們最引以為傲的地方。山影現在的工作模式展現了一個攝影團隊最理想、最和諧的樣貌。

一個攝影團隊能否維持高品質的關鍵不在於器材的優劣，也不在於後製技術的優劣，而是最簡單純粹的東西 ─ 畫面。

我們擁有良好的默契，使我們能夠在快節奏的拍攝現場中不斷調整，為客戶呈現最純粹的畫面，真實地敘述他們想要紀錄的故事。

I greatly admire each member of Mountain Studio, and our years of collaboration have led to a level of synergy that we take immense pride in. The current working model of Mountain Studio exemplifies the ideal and harmonious nature of a photography team.

The key to maintaining high-quality work in a photography team does not solely lie in the quality of equipment or post-processing techniques but rather in the simplest and purest element - the visual composition.

With our strong rapport, we are able to adapt seamlessly in fast-paced shooting environments and present clients with the most authentic visual narratives that capture the essence of their stories.

Special Question

Ｑ. 你會如何和其他新創公司的創辦人分享你的經驗和感想，關於成為理想Ideal 社群中的一員？ / What would you tell other startup founders about being part of the Ideal community and your experience here?

老實說，山影團隊大部分時間都在外面奔波，相對較少機會能夠參與 Ideal 的社群活動，但 Ideal 對經常在外奔波的我們，提供的是一份安心感。

我認為 Ideal 特別的地方在於，每個團隊都會和 Ideal 產生特殊的連結，這樣的連結也正是山影重視的特質 - 樂於理解特質與需求。他們理解每位客戶的需求，也因此 Ideal 帶給山影的不一定會是他們帶給其他團隊的東西，所以我很推薦沒來過 Ideal 的團隊們親自來一趟 Ideal，感受 Ideal 的用心。

To be honest, our team spends a significant amount of time working on location, which limits our opportunities to participate in Ideal's community events. However, Ideal provides us with a sense of reassurance in our constant traveling and hectic schedules.

What sets Ideal apart is the unique connection that each team forms with them. This connection aligns with one of Mountain Studio's core values - a willingness to understand distinct qualities and needs. Ideal understands the requirements of each client, and what they bring to Mountain Studio may differ from what they offer to other teams. Therefore, I highly recommend other teams who haven't experienced Ideal to visit in person and feel the genuine dedication they provide.