8 October 2024

Alumnus Shares Journey from Sports Student to Media Sensation

Dominic Hayles

Dominic Hayles, East Sussex College alumnus, has carved out a thriving career as a videographer, drone operator, and creator of DoMoreMedia, amassing over 100k followers on Instagram. Dominic's path, however, started in a completely different field: sports and personal training.

His time at East Sussex College helped him discover new passions and build the skills that have propelled his career.

Dominic studied Level 3 Sports and Personal Training at ESC, and credits his years at the College with giving him the confidence to explore new interests. “Through the years of studying, I was able to learn more about myself and what I enjoy doing the most. The friendships I built and the teachers I had gave me a great support network to try things that were new and exciting,” Dominic said.

Even after graduating, Dominic stayed in touch with some of his tutors, especially from the sports department. He recalls the support they offered, explaining that they encouraged him to take risks and pursue his growing interest in media. He said, “The tutors were great, very supportive and I am still in touch with some of the sports department.”

After starting a personal training business, Dominic's career took an unexpected turn when he picked up a camera to create content for his business. That decision eventually led to the birth of DoMoreMedia, a creative agency that now works with major brands like DJI and Mountain Warehouse. “With an incredible amount of failure and mistakes along the way, I’m now shooting launch campaigns for companies,” Dominic shared, emphasising that persistence and learning from setbacks were crucial to his success.

Building a social media presence of over 100k followers hasn’t been easy, but Dominic explains that consistency and always trying new things have helped him grow his audience. “At every stage of my journey I have made an effort to share my work as this allowed not only for exposure but also regular feedback. As my skills improved my audience began to grow. A combination of consistency and trying new ideas has played a big part in the continued growth on social media,” Dominic told the College.

Looking back on his time at ESC, Dominic notes that the College’s approach to independent learning helped prepare him for running his own media business. “Despite having in-depth lessons, you are also required to research certain topics on your own. The time management aspect really helped me when it came to structuring my day and prioritising tasks,” he says.

For current students dreaming of careers in media or growing their social media presence, Dominic’s advice is simple but powerful. “My main piece of advice is to not be afraid to fail as this is the best way to learn. As well as this, instead of thinking about the end goal, figure out the micro steps you can take that will eventually lead to that.

“For example if you want to be a full time videographer, try to create a passion project with any resources you have around you, get some feedback and shoot again. Once it is at a good standard you then have a portfolio piece that you can show to potential clients."