Rising Stars: Meet Lilah Ann Kohlman

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lilah Ann Kohlman.

Lilah, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I got my start in Advertising/Production in 2017. My husband Kody Kohlman, a Director and Photographer suggested I look into producing as I was trying to get out of the service industry and into a creative field that honed in on problem-solving and people skills. At the time he was assisting a photographer in town and shooting spec work of his own.

I started by PA’ing on a few sets in Denver, meeting the people he was already working with, and doing whatever I could to gain more experience. I became interested in working at agencies and began applying to some places in Boulder/Denver. I had a girlfriend working as a Creative Director for an agency called Room214 and they needed a creative intern to help on small social shoots they were doing in the basement of the agency. I applied and landed the gig. I was there for just shy of a year helping the creative team with their photoshoots. I worked on ideation and pre-production, production and post-production on a small scale while there.

In 2018, another girlfriend was working as a Designer at Crispin Porter + Bogusky and suggested I apply for the Assistant Producer role. I went through an intensive interview process that lasted several months and in October of 2018, I started working at Crispin Porter + Bogusky. While there, I worked with the entire production team spanning from video to art (stills, animated boards, animations/graphics) to interactive productions. In 2019, I was promoted and began producing campaigns and projects of my own. CPB provided me with many skills at a very fast pace. It was a crash course into high-level production. I was lucky enough to stay there through the pandemic and in February of 2021, I went off on my own to try freelance producing.

As of current, I am coming up on 3 years of freelance production and since then I’ve worked on many projects from start to finish for clients of all sizes, notably The World Wildlife Fund, Timberland, The North Face, Altra Running, Shopify, Domino’s, etc. I’ve also had the opportunity to travel to amazing places and work with many different people from all walks of life. It has been a dream to work with so many talented photographers, directors, DP’s, crews, production companies, agencies, etc. since going out on my own. No day or project is the same and it’s been really fun to produce jobs through my company Lilah Ann. I can even say that my husband Kody and I work closely on many projects, which has been so fun to create together. I like to think of us as a dream team. I’m looking forward to 2024 and can’t wait to see what projects come our/my way.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has mostly been a smooth road, but that’s not without its challenges, slow periods, and long work weeks. I’m a big believer in working hard and doing the best work that you can. I’m always open to constructive criticism and try to examine the work I do and my crew does after each job. I’m constantly trying to better myself, how I work, and what I learn from each job.

Some jobs have been better than others in terms of my performance and I’m constantly evaluating how I can grow from each experience. I don’t get every job I bid on and there is a lot of upfront work that can be left without reward. However, that’s the cost of doing business and I see those moments as opportunities to introduce myself and my team to those looking for top-notch creative partners.

You never know what will come down the road, but through hard work, persistence, humility, and collaboration I believe you can push through/overcome any obstacles or challenges.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am a Freelance Senior Integrated/Creative Producer. It’s a long title, but it’s the most accurate for what I do and specialize in. I work on the creation, execution, and delivery of creative content for brands and individuals.

I bring a creative lens, a sense of humor, and collaboration to every project I work on. My projects typically span the stills and video world within advertising and branded storytelling. I bring a high level of production knowledge, organizational/interpersonal skills, attention to detail, project management, and creative ideation to every job I work on. My passions lie in the relationships and connections art has with the human spirit.

I work remotely and in on-location settings. My work takes me locally around Colorado, domestically and internationally. My favorite type of job is from creative ideation to delivery. I love being a part of the process from start to finish and building teams that will deliver the highest quality output and product. I am proud of most of the work I’ve helped to create, but recently I am most proud of the 3 projects below:

– A video campaign with Timberland for the 50th anniversary of their iconic yellow boot. This ad was featured in Times Square and Timberland stores across the US.

-A recently wrapped project with the World Wildlife Fund documenting Seaweed Farmers. These short documentaries will be released in the Spring, so stay tuned

– A 3-part series with Shopify focusing on merchants and their individual businesses/stories.

I think the biggest thing that sets me apart from others is my experience in both the agency and production company world. I love leading projects from start to finish and acting as the Producer for all aspects of the job.

So maybe we end by discussing what matters most to you and why.
Being a kind person matters the most to me. I have a mantra that I recite every day, “kindness, compassion, and grace for myself and others.”

I am grateful for all the people, connections, and work in my life and I believe living with humility, compassion, and kindness creates not only a happier and healthier life but strong connections with others.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.lilahann.com
• Instagram: @lilahlou_
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lilah-ann-a5197634/

Image Credits
Kody Kohlman, Lilah, and Todd Paige