Sean
Hodel
Videographer & Digital Marketing Entrepreneur
Sean Hodel is a videographer and digital marketing entrepreneur from Winchester, Virginia. At 18, he co-owns Local Klicks, a Winchester advertising agency that runs lead-generation campaigns for independently owned service businesses across Virginia and the D.C. metro area. He built his career from the ground up, starting with independent film and photography projects as a teenager and turning that foundation into a full-service marketing operation.
Who is Sean Hodel?
Sean Hodel is a Winchester, Virginia native who built a career in video production and digital marketing before most people his age had their first job. Born February 11, 2008 and the oldest of four brothers, Hodel grew up immersed in independent creative work, spending his free time on photography and short-form video long before they were marketable skills.
While still in high school at James Wood High School in Winchester, Hodel served as cinematographer and editor on Step, a short film produced by Winchester filmmaker Kerri Lane Mariano. It was his first project at that scale and it pointed him in a direction he has followed ever since: building real things, for real clients, in his hometown.
After graduating, Hodel was accepted to both the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech. He chose instead to go all-in on building Local Klicks, betting on himself and on the Winchester market he knows better than anyone.
From short films to scaling local businesses
Hodel's career follows a straight line from early creative work to professional marketing, with each step building on the last.
Independent video and photography
While still a teenager, Hodel began shooting and editing photography and short-form video for clients in the Winchester area, developing the technical and storytelling skills that would define his later work.
Cinematographer on Step
Led cinematography and editing on Step, a short film produced by Winchester filmmaker Kerri Lane Mariano. The project was covered by the Winchester Star, which quoted Mariano on first meeting Hodel as a young teen seeking advice at her downtown photography studio.
Co-founder and co-owner, Local Klicks
Co-founded Local Klicks, a Winchester-based advertising agency specializing in Meta lead-generation campaigns for independently owned service businesses. The agency works with companies in moving, roofing, HVAC, lawn care, dental, insurance, fencing, pest control, and photography.
Video production
Cinematography, editing, and on-camera direction for short-form advertising content.
Meta advertising
Facebook and Instagram campaign strategy, targeting, and lead-generation systems.
Local marketing
Owner-to-customer storytelling built for local service business audiences.
Business operations
Building and scaling advertising systems for independently owned small businesses.
In the press
Hodel has been mentioned in local media in connection with his film work and early career in Winchester.
Hodel was mentioned in the Winchester Star's feature on filmmaker Kerri Lane Mariano, in which Mariano described first meeting him as a young teenager who came into her downtown Winchester photography studio looking for creative guidance. He later joined her as cinematographer and editor on her short film Step. Hodel told the paper the project was his first short film of that scale and that he hoped one day to open a videography agency in Winchester or the D.C. area, a goal he has since accomplished.
Background and personal life
Hodel lives and works in Winchester, Virginia, the same city where he was born, raised, and built his career. He has chosen to stay rooted in his hometown rather than relocate, building Local Klicks specifically to serve the Winchester market and the surrounding region.
Work with Sean and Local Klicks
Looking to grow your local service business with ads that actually bring in calls? Let's talk.
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