Patrick Mahomes smiles for the camera. A sharp “wink” sound is heard on the video, and when the clip lands on Instagram, Kansas City instantly recognizes it as the work of Joseph Termini.
Joseph Termini, Termini Media, and Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes, Throne Sport Coffee; courtesy photo
The signature style has become synonymous with Termini Media, the Kansas City-based company Termini built as a teenager and has grown into a recognizable presence across professional sports and national brands.
At just 19, his clients include 1587 Prime Steakhouse, Throne Sport Coffee, Chiefs center Creed Humphrey, The Worthy 1’s Foundation, the KC Current and KC Comets, as well as national brands like Coca-Cola, Dove, Ralph Lauren, and more.
“It shocks a lot of people,” said Termini. “I’m excited for my birthday on May 12, because I do not fit in with a lot of people my own age.”
His business continues to grow fast, fueled by social media visibility and a creative spin on visuals that clients now specifically request for their own brands and marketing campaigns.
Betting on yourself and making it happen
Termini’s breakthrough opportunity with Mahomes’ Throne Sport Coffee brand began with a self-initiated commercial project designed to capture attention and demonstrate his creative ability.
“I used to drink Sport Coffee before I even worked with them, and once I realized that, I told myself I’m going to work for these people and make it happen,” said Termini. “So I got some people together, filmed a spec ad, and posted it so someone from the company could see what I was capable of.”
The video gained traction and caught the attention of company leadership, eventually leading to direct contact and professional collaboration opportunities.
“They ended up flying out one of their marketing people from New York to have a coffee with me, and from that point on they wanted to work with me,” said Termini. “That video stood out enough that they actually hired me, and the first thing I ended up filming was one of Mahomes’ events.”
The experience reinforced his belief in creating opportunity instead of waiting for it.
“Working with Patrick Mahomes and Sport Coffee was the biggest opportunity I’ve ever been given,” said Termini. “It’s one of those moments where you give yourself a pat on the back, because you brought that opportunity to life by the work you put into it.”
Joseph Termini, Termini Media; courtesy photo
Creating a style that stands out
Spend time scrolling through Kansas City sports content and certain creative patterns start to feel familiar. Termini’s videos have become recognizable across the city thanks to his distinctive editing style and signature creative elements.
He developed a recognizable “wink” sound effect that appears in many of his videos, helping audiences instantly identify his work even without visible branding. He also has a signature ‘What are we doing today?’ video, checking in with his clients and giving viewers a consistent behind-the-scenes entry point into each project.
“I did make the wink sound myself,” said Termini. “I got some metal, made a sound, distorted it through post production, and created something that became my signature.”
Prospective partners now actively seek out that creative fingerprint.
“When clients reach out to me, they literally say they just want me to do what I do with their business,” he said. “People literally say, ‘I want my videos to have the Termini Media work,’ and they want that style because it stands out.”
Social media has been a major driver of that visibility and growth.
“If it wasn’t for Instagram and me building my socials, I would not be where I am. It’s shown people my work from outside Kansas City and brought opportunities I never would have had otherwise,” said Termini.
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YouTube edits to professional sets
Long before filming Mahomes, Termini was a kid experimenting with video edits on YouTube.
“I started back whenever I was seven years old,” said Termini. “I started editing videos for my gaming YouTube channel, and from that point on I was just making a bunch of YouTube videos and showing my family these random edits every weekend.”
His skills improved quickly, opening doors to professional esports editing roles while he was still in middle school. Working alongside much older creatives gave him early exposure to real-world expectations.
“I was lead of visual effects at 12 years old,” said Termini. “I always had a hustling mindset, but that also came from having to grow up fast, and that pushed me to keep improving.”
He stepped away from creative work for a period during his teenage years before an unexpected opportunity to shoot a video for a bodybuilder pulled him back in and shifted his trajectory.
He filmed that project using only a smartphone, relying on the instincts and storytelling experience he had developed over years of editing.
“It was like a domino effect after that,” said Termini. “People didn’t actually know that I filmed it on a phone.”
He reinvested early earnings into his first professional camera and immediately threw himself into bigger opportunities.
“The first time I got that camera, I didn’t watch any tutorials, I didn’t get any insight or anything on how to use this thing,” said Termini. “But the next day I went to go film Tech N9ne, and I just put myself in the position to accomplish something and did it.”
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Using creativity to give back
As Termini Media grows, its founder is determined to make philanthropy a core part of the business.
“I donate my services four to six times a year to nonprofit organizations and fundraisers that are making a difference,” said Termini. “I’m always trying to use the platform I’ve built for myself to do good and help people however I can.”
He has collaborated with his mother, artist Joanna Termini, to create hybrid digital and physical artwork raffles that raise funds for organizations like Operation Breakthrough.
“I was able to hand a $1,000 check to those kids from the work we created together,” said Termini. “That meant everything to me, because it showed that creative work can make a real difference.”
Joseph Termini, Termini Media; courtesy photo
Growing Termini Media
Today, Termini operates Termini Media independently, managing filming, editing, client communication, and creative direction himself while preparing for future expansion.
His long-term vision is to transform the company into a full creative agency capable of handling larger campaigns while protecting the signature identity that built its reputation.
“Eventually, God willing, I’m going to be too busy to handle everything myself, and I want to turn Termini Media into an agency,” said Termini. “What I’m trying to do right now is dominate Kansas City, build a strong foundation here, and expand outward while keeping Kansas City as the heart of Termini Media.”
