Today we’d like to introduce you to Dakota Edwards
Hi Dakota, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My story starts as the youngest of three siblings in a small red brick house in San Antonio, Texas. My amazing mother made the choice to homeschool all three of us full time, which allowed for us to pursue opportunities as children actors for plays and commercials filming in Austin, or even in Los Angeles where we lived for a few years auditioning for pilot episodes of TV Shows. My life in Utah began around 13 years old when we moved from Texas to Provo so that my mom could go to BYU after a recent divorce from my father. Through high school I participated in a lot of performance arts like marching band, and ballroom dance.
After high school and a 2 year mission trip, I started attending Utah Valley University with hopes of getting into the aviation program and becoming a pilot. Around this time period my brother and sister were beginning to make strides in their own careers, and planting seeds that would later blossom, like my brother learning photography and video from some of his coworkers in the Marketing department, to my sister beginning to book performances as a musician and get work as a local actress. Not long into my college experience, my brother started to teach me the basics of how a camera worked, and how to get some nice photos. This led to me using those skills to make a simple music video for some friends, and I learned how much I love to film. Seeing how my brother had shaped his career with the camera through filming and editing for a YouTube channel called Tanner Fox, and seeing how much I enjoyed filming my first music video, I decided to switch my major from Aviation to Digital Cinema Production.
A couple of years later I took a class that changed my life forever and I got to be a student in the first class offered at my University on how to use 360 cameras and virtual reality headsets as tools for filmmaking and story-telling. I just signed up for the class because it sounded cool, I had no idea how much I was going to fall in love with the medium of 360 video. At this point, my brother had moved to North Carolina to work for the world famous YouTube channel Mr. Beast, and my sister had moved to Los Angeles to further pursue her career as an actress and singer. The more I learned in the class about 360 cameras, and how viewing a film in 360 degrees generates a very real and palpable sense of empathy, the more drawn I felt to building my life around Virtual Reality Filmmaking and 360 cameras. It was around this time I got the phone call through my brother’s network to come help film the Squid Game in Real Life Mr. Beast video that went wildly viral.
Since then it’s been an ongoing journey of shooting exciting videos with awesome companies using both traditional and 360 cameras in my workflow. Things continued that way until May of 2024 when I graduated from Utah Valley University, and then received an invitation to return as the professor for the VR Class that had made such a difference in my life. Teaching was such a wonderful experience and now I’ve been invited to teach next fall semester as well. Now my story is all about using virtual reality to tell meaningful stories that connect with people on a deeper level.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Life has been such a fun journey, but it hasn’t been without it’s challenges. My parents divorce definitely affected me a lot through my teenager years, and growing up homeschooled meant that navigating social life in high school was filled with it’s own set of difficulties, but those went away in college.
At the beginning of my time learning how to use a camera, I experienced some resistance from some friends around me, and they withdrew their support, which felt unfair at the time. I didn’t know if they felt threatened by my interest in a skillset they felt like was theirs, or if there was an insecurity in their life that was poked, but I’ve done well to move on.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a filmmaker and immersive media creator specializing in next-generation storytelling through virtual reality, 360 video, and interactive 3D experiences. My work blends cutting-edge technology with compelling narratives, allowing people to explore spaces in new ways and connect with stories on a deeper level.
I’m best known for my ability to capture environments and experiences in a way that goes beyond traditional photography or video. Whether it’s creating high-end 3D real estate tours, crafting immersive virtual experiences, or pushing the boundaries of AI and LiDAR technology for interactive storytelling, I’m always looking for innovative ways to bring ideas to life.
One of the things I’m most proud of is being an early adopter of 360 video and immersive storytelling. I’ve been working with this technology since it was still finding its footing, and I had the opportunity to teach a university course on it just three months after graduating myself. That experience reinforced my passion for sharing knowledge and pushing this medium forward—not just for entertainment, but as a tool for storytelling, education, and meaningful connection.
What sets me apart is my fusion of emerging tech with cinematic storytelling. A lot of people use VR for gaming or entertainment, but I see it as a tool for connection—whether that’s through immersive real estate experiences, interactive media, or artistic storytelling. I’m constantly experimenting, pushing boundaries, and finding ways to make technology feel personal.
At the end of the day, my goal is to create work that isn’t just visually stunning but deeply engaging—work that helps people experience the world, their stories, and their spaces in ways they never thought possible.
Any big plans?
Looking ahead, my goal is to push the boundaries of immersive storytelling even further. I want to take 360 filmmaking to a global stage—working with musicians, cultural icons, and visionary artists to create experiences that transport audiences right into the heart of the moment. Whether it’s filming concerts, crafting groundbreaking music videos, or capturing once-in-a-lifetime events in full immersion, I want to give people the ability to step inside these experiences no matter where they are in the world.
I’m also passionate about education and helping others unlock the potential of this medium. VR and 360 video aren’t just tools for entertainment—they’re gateways to connection, empathy, and exploration. I want to continue teaching and mentoring creators, showing them how to harness this technology to tell powerful stories, preserve history, and even revolutionize industries like real estate and tourism.
A big part of my future plans involves scaling my business and expanding the reach of my work. I see massive potential in blending 360 video with interactive elements, AI, and real-world applications that go beyond just passive viewing. I want to build experiences that aren’t just watched—they’re felt. Whether that means helping people revisit important places in their lives through VR, or capturing the energy of a live event in a way that feels real and personal, I’m committed to making immersive media more impactful and accessible.
Ultimately, I want to travel the world, collaborate with incredible artists, and use this technology to bring people closer to the moments that matter most. The future of storytelling isn’t just about watching—it’s about being there, and I plan to be at the forefront of making that happen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://edwardsdakotaj.wixsite.com/website
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kotathecreative/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dakotajedwards
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@kotathecreative
