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How One YouTube Click Changed Everything: My Journey with Waqas Qazi

Six years ago, I was lost.

Not in a dramatic, fall-apart kind of way but in that quiet, aching way where something inside you knows you’re not living up to your purpose. I had always loved storytelling and editing, but I felt stuck. I’d hit a ceiling and didn’t know how to break through. I wanted more from my work. I wanted my edits to feel something. I wanted to create images that moved people.


So I turned to YouTube, searching for anything that could help me become better.

That’s when I found Qazi.

Waqas Qazi

The Video That Changed It All

I still remember the first video I watched from Waqas Qazi. It wasn’t flashy or filled with gimmicks. It was real. He wasn’t just teaching color grading, he was teaching how to see. How to tell a story with light. How to take raw footage and turn it into something cinematic, something alive.

That one video led to another. And another. I was hooked.

Not just on the techniques, but on the man himself. There was something different about Qazi. He wasn’t here to show off, he was here to lift people up.


I joined his Freelance Colorist Masterclass. I dove into his Facebook group. I showed up, asked questions, took notes. And somewhere along the way, something changed.


  • I found my voice.

  • I found a community.

  • I found a friend.


More Than a Mentor

Over the years, Qazi and I became close. We’ve never met face to face, but that’s never stopped us from being in each other’s corner. Through creative slumps, life challenges, moments of doubt, he’s been there. Not just as a teacher, but as a brother in arms.


His words have pulled me through some of my darkest creative seasons.


And I think that’s what makes Qazi different. He’s not just a professional colorist or the founder of a fancy studio in California (though he is). He’s a human being who genuinely wants to see others succeed. He gives, and gives, and gives again. He builds people up when they forget what they’re capable of.


And I’m proof of that


Because today, I run my own YouTube channel. I work with real clients. I create work I’m proud of. And I can say, without hesitation, that none of that would’ve happened without Qazi’s impact on my life.

Who Is Waqas Qazi?

Waqas Qazi

For those of you who haven’t discovered him yet, here’s the short version.

Waqas Qazi is a professional colorist, editor, educator, and founder of Qazi & Co. and The Post Village which is a post-production powerhouse in Southern California. His work has touched global brands, music videos, commercials, and passion projects alike.


But it wasn’t handed to him.


He studied at The Art Institutes, majoring in cinematography and minoring in editing. He worked freelance. He hustled. He learned. And he built his reputation not by playing the algorithm, but by showing up with heart, day after day, project after project.


What sets him apart isn’t just his technical skill in DaVinci Resolve. It’s the way he makes others believe they can do it too.


Because honestly you can. You know he was telling me that when he first started out he was a solopenouer which means he was filming, editing, and releasing content on his own. Which if you're a content creator, you know how much stress this brings and how hard it is to release High Quality Content consistently.


I now feel his struggle and I personally shoot my content on Wednesday's, edit on Thursday and release on Fridays, every week. That personally isn't the major stressor because there are jealous people out there and ones that will try to bash your name into the ground. But you can do one of two things with that, one let it sink you down or two let it be the motivation you need to rise from it.


I know Qazi has gotten alot of beatings throughout his time in doing this but you will never see him stoop into a corner and quit. He rises from those beatings and pushes even harder. Which is a real inspiration to me. I personally wish there were more Qazi's out there in the world.


So Why Color Grading?

If you ask Qazi, color grading is more than color, it’s storytelling. It’s emotion. It’s what breathes life into an image long after the shoot wraps.


And that’s what drew me in too.


I used to think editing was just about the cut. But color grading? That’s the soul of the shot. It’s where mood is shaped. Where atmosphere is born. And it’s where I found myself as a filmmaker.


That discovery didn’t just transform how I edit, it transformed how I see the world.


Giving Back

These days, I’m proud to be a moderator on Qazi’s page. I get to guide others the same way he guided me. I get to answer the questions I once asked. I get to watch people grow.


  • I see the fire in their eyes when they start understanding color.

  • I see the joy when they post their first graded piece that actually feels right.

  • And every time I do, I’m reminded of that first video I watched six years ago. The one that started it all.


This Is Your Moment

If you’re here reading this, maybe you’re where I was.

Maybe you’re looking for more.

Maybe you’ve tried LUTs that didn’t work. Maybe tutorials left you confused. Maybe you’ve wondered if you have what it takes.


I’m telling you that you do.

You don’t need to be born a genius or have Hollywood contacts. You just need to start. And if you’re going to start somewhere, start with Qazi.


His toolkit, his courses, his channel, they aren’t just tools. They’re lifelines for creatives who want to finally feel proud of their work.


And right now, he’s offering something truly special.


Which Is The Last Chance To Get In On The Memorial Day Savings of $300 Off on Qazi's Toolkit


Qazi’s DCTL Toolkit is the same system I use today to create consistent, professional, cinematic looks. It’s faster than LUTs, built for DaVinci Resolve, and gives you the same control that pro colorists use in high-end studios.


This isn’t fluff. It works.


And for Memorial Day only, you can get it for $300 off.

Of course this is the last chance to grab it before the deal’s gone.



If you’ve been waiting for a sign—this is it.


Your work deserves to be seen. Your story deserves to be told.

Let this be the moment that changes everything and as always Practice and Create!

 
 
 

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