"Content creator" or not, you're creating content
Your work doesn't define you, but does it fulfill you? In an industry that rewards conformity, Maria Bethany stands her ground. Plus, sound design tips to elevate your next project!
Most of us fall somewhere along the “content creation” spectrum in the creative work we do.
Whether you’re a “content creator” in the traditional sense or someone who simply creates content to showcase or promote your craft, it’s worth asking yourself a simple (but kinda loaded) question:
“What am I sharing online, and why?”
If you think about it, it’s ironic how many of us found our calling after leaving unfulfilling 9–5s, only to pursue creative careers that… can feel a little unfulfilling. The “freedom” of creating can just as easily burn you out when you’re chasing a presence that looks good on screen, but doesn’t translate to the type of work that feels meaningful, honest, or sustainable.
This week, we sat down with someone who’s been navigating this tension since her teenage years: Calgary-based lifestyle, beauty, and fashion creator Maria Bethany (@mariabethany). What struck us most about Maria’s story wasn’t the longevity of the career that’s carried her through her most formative years, but the clarity with which she carries herself today. Her story is an important reminder that knowing what you’re doing isn’t necessarily as important as knowing why you’re doing it.
Read on for The Process with Maria Bethany, our Vancouver Creative Experience recap, plus three sound design hacks that will elevate your next edit to cinematic status.
Cheers!
—Emily & Chloë
3 THINGS | SOUND DESIGN TIPS FOR A CINEMATIC FEEL
3 Things: Sound design tips for a cinematic feel
If you’ve ever watched back an edit and felt like you just can’t pinpoint what’s “off” about it, chances are it’s not your visuals, but your sound. Audio is the often-overlooked and invisible layer that can really sell a story, and when you dial it in, your visuals instantly feel more intentional and cinematic. If audio isn’t necessarily your area of expertise, try these 3 simple techniques to elevate your sound design:
1. Layer your audio, don’t rely on a single track
Dropping in a song and calling it a day is like relying on a single instrument to do the job of an entire orchestra. Real cinematic sound comes from stacking elements like music, ambience, foley, risers, and transitions. Tune in to your environment right now. Notice the stack of subtle sounds happening all at once? That’s exactly why layered audio matters.
2. Start recording your own sound bytes, everywhere
Make it a habit to capture interesting sounds whenever you hear them: footsteps on gravel, the snap of a buckle, wind hitting a window, city noise. These little recordings will become your personal library of textures that add the authenticity and depth to your edits in a way that stock audio doesn’t always deliver.
3. Balance your mix so every element has its place
Even the best sound design falls apart if nothing sits properly in the mix. Keep your music low enough to support (not smother) your visuals. Add ambience subtly to fill the space. Let foley and effects pop without overpowering the scene. When each layer is balanced with intention, your video immediately feels polished and professional.
Have any sound tricks you swear by? Share them in the comments below.
EVENT RECAP | VANCOUVER CREATIVE EXPERIENCE
Our final Canon Creator Lab x Socality Creative Experience of 2025 brought us to VanDusen Botanical Garden for a sold-out evening inside its multi-acre Festival of Lights (and as far as we know, everyone made it out of the maze safely!).
Our incredible talent were styled in ethereal looks that both stood out and felt seamlessly connected to the natural environment. Combined with Canon’s latest mirrorless gear and our live 13×19 print station, attendees had everything they needed to experiment, capture, and create. And with the sun making a rare Vancouver appearance, we couldn’t have asked for a better way to close out the year.
To everyone who joined us—thank you for helping end 2025 on such a high note! Catch all the event content on Instagram, and if you attended, don’t forget to tag @socality (or even add us as a collaborator) so we can see and share what you created!
To stay on top of upcoming events, subscribe to the Socality Community Calendar on Luma and make sure to keep an eye on our Instagram page.
THE PROCESS | WITH MARIA BETHANY
The Process with Maria Bethany
Choosing Integrity in a World that Rewards Conformity
Content creator Maria Bethany (@mariabethany) has spent more than a decade sharing her life online—a timeline that may surprise you upon meeting her. The twenty-eight-year-old’s impressive list of achievements speaks to the momentum she’s built since her teen years. From her high-school start, this “YouTube native’s” warm and infectious personality has captivated a growing audience across her channels. But even with a community that’s grown alongside her, she’ll be the first to remind you that, despite what it seems, social media isn’t real life—a truth worth remembering whether you’re creating content or consuming it.
Although social media has been a “beautiful avenue” for Maria to share her passions and build community, she admits she’s never really connected with the label “influencer.” It’s not a title she rejects outright (she understands where it comes, and welcomes the use of it) but it carries a weight that’s never quite sat right with her. For Maria, the hesitation isn’t about semantics; it’s about identity.
In our conversation, Maria shares how to get started in content creation; how to combat burnout; and the mindset that’s allowed her to find happiness, success and longevity in her career—without sacrificing her true identity. Her story is a reminder that the most rewarding creative endeavours thrive not through performance, but through presence. That a truly fulfilling career requires an anchoring somewhere beyond the metrics, noise, and pressure to reinvent.
Read The Process here:
The Process with Maria Bethany
“I am so much more than that. I’m more than a number. I’m more than the brands that I work with or the experiences that I have.”—Maria Bethany
Key Takeaways from Maria’s Process
The most important metric for content creators
Maria’s process is not defined by how well it adheres to the changing demands of a temperamental landscape. It’s defined by self-awareness and deep self-respect—by the discipline of choosing authenticity over performance. Her story is a reminder that the most sustainable creative careers don’t exist to please an audience or algorithm; they flourish under the steady confidence that comes with truly knowing who you are and what you’re in pursuit of. And that unquantifiable metric of knowing what you stand for, is the only one that will ever truly hold weight.
Advice for aspiring content creators
Maria’s advice for aspiring content creators is simple yet substantial: “Make sure that you’re doing it for the right reasons. Do it because you’re passionate about it.”
All you really need to get started? A camera and an idea.
“Just start,” Maria urges. “Pick an idea, pick up a camera, record it, and share it.” It sounds simple because, in theory, it is. But Maria notes that the moment you start overthinking your gear, your ability, or the opinions of strangers, you interrupt your momentum at its most essential point; doing yourself a huge disservice.
How to find your own creative voice
To hone your creative voice online, Maria encourages tapping into the unique traits that make you you: “Your spaces, your style, your energy—those are all indicators of your personality… something that could connect you to your audience.” She highlights the importance of putting your own “personal spin” on things in order to create content that feels truly unique.
When it comes to connecting with your audience, Maria suggests speaking to the camera like you’d speak to a friend on FaceTime. Keep it natural. When you’re making decisions in real time, let your audience in on the process rather than skipping ahead to the polished final product. This makes your presence feel more raw and relatable.
Read the full piece, here:
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