A young entrepreneur who owns his own cinematography and videography business is this year’s winner of the Fayette County Entrepreneurship Challenge.

Whitewater high student Heber Stanton beat other students from Fayette County High and Sandy Creek High schools to win the Shark Tank-like event where students pitched a business plan of their product or service to a group of business professionals. Students were scored on both a written business plan and their oral pitch.

The name of his business is Heber Stanton Cinematography. He says he put his name on the company as a form of self-branding and to promote his work.

Heber borrowed $1,200 from his parents to purchase a camera and accessories for his business, and projects that he will have the loan paid off later this year. He uses social media to market his business and display his portfolio of work.

He says he differentiates his work from other videographers by having a style that is all his own. He uses unique color schemes, editing transitions and format that are distinctly recognized as his.

Heber realizes that there are many competitors in the cinematography and videography market, and that it might take years before he builds a business that can stand on its own against the competition, but he takes pride that he has already carved a spot for himself in the industry while still in high school.

“Just the fact that I am able to do what I love, at my age, in a free market economy is incredible. I’d rather make no money doing what I love rather than make a lot of money and hate my job. To me, that is success,” he says.