Videography as your sole profession?

i do both as well, and I think photo acquisition is a bit more complicated, but I shoot
everything RAW. I can edit a photo wedding in 2-3 days, export jpges, done. video is so much more labor intensive, but switching to tapeless will save a ton of time.
 
SilverWolf said:
With the exception of audio you have all the same worries on a photoshoot.
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The audio can certainly be a pain. I had been capturing 5 audio tracks (2 wireless, 1 from each camera (2) and a digital recorder on the music/PA) that needed normalizing, equalizing and compressing before mixing. Im slimming down to 3 audio tracks max this year.
 
It was a quasi joke, but in all seriousness it depends on what you are shooting. If I am doing an event it really is that easy charge the batteries, lockdown the exposure and capture the moments. Now for shoots in studio there are a little more complicated, but I rather do that than to coordinate a three camera shoot and then edit. Just my opinion and I to shoot raw depending on the final destination of the photos. If I am taking photos just for the web I use the highest quality jpeg no need to go through all that processing. .02
 
Evro said:
If you really enjoy shooting video and want to keep doing it in the future, I would think long and hard about doing it professionally because I've seen extremely talented colleagues get totally burned out by the industry they once loved. If you really want to go pro then my advice would be to get your foundations right by building a good business plan.
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Anyone got any pointers on this part??:thumbup:
i love this messageboard.
 
green thumb said:
Anyone got any pointers on this part??:thumbup:
i love this messageboard.
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Others can chime in on this better than me, but before even starting a business plan, you need a personal plan, starting with 9 months worth of savings to support yourself or your family.

That sounds crazy in this day and age of no savings, but that's what all the experts say.
 
In terms of a business plan if you know any entrepreneurship link up with them and see how they did it to give you an idea. Also if you can and if they allow it check out other Videography businesses in your area to see how they work. Who knows you might be able to setup some kind of partnership.
 
I eased into it by doing video part time in addition to my regular job. Then my regular job became part time, and video full time. Now it's been about 5 years since I've been doing video only.

I do a lot of weddings primarily, and I've seen waves of bookings and waves of nobody calling. Luckily I've gotten enough work to stay profitable.

It sure beats any 9 to 5 job out there.
 
I just want to add to Dafilman21's suggestion by saying that when people starting out in the industry approach other businesses they must not pretend to be a client! We can usually identify people fishing us for information. You will get much more accurate information, earn the respect of the business you are calling and may well end up benefiting from it in terms of overflow bookings. Sure, not everyone you may contact is as forward thinking but then these aren't the people you want business tips from in the first place ;)
 
I've had the steady corporate job going on 30 years now. I shoot video and do engineering/manufacturing work in aerospace, along with video there as well. Plus I shoot video on the side--sports and things, plus a medical show for cable TV.

The company I work for is now offering those of us in my age bracket a sort of Golden Parachute in that they will cover medical insurance costs from age 55 to 65, if I retire by end of this year. I am 55, so I have been thinking about taking it, and my pension, and doing video "full time" to make up the difference.

It's a scarey thing to contemplate but kind of exciting at the same time. That regular check is so nice to have.
I have been investing my free time in trying to create a customer base so if/when I leave there will be some cash besides pension coming in.
 
Shoufeng... you are more than welcome and you'll get there. You are already on your way by picking he 150 as a good first camera.


The ultimate thing that I tell newbies is that they are in the "weeding out" years. The lean first 3-5 years that really give you the resolve to continue... or make you pack it in and do something more sensible. It's really just a numbers game in the beginning when y ou are starrting out.. theres ton's of people starting out.. but only a handful that are gainfully employed and/or with a good reputation. So in the beginning you have to do things for the love of it, and to try and establish a reputation and goals to work towards. It's also important to piecemeal your equipment pacakge. Get the things y ou need as you go... BUT, BUT BUT.


The most important thing is to create a good solid network of friends, colleages, co-workers, and overall contacts that you can grow with.. and cultivate. Think of it as a life-raft and you all rise together. Helping to get each other work.. working on each others jobs and ultimately surviving by the relationships that you cultivate... and also in meeting new people.


In saying a few salient points here:

Get business cards, tell everyone you meet what you do, attend artist events, attend screenings and things that you know you'll enjoy, and then find a girlfriend or a wife who can support your ass while you are setting things up...


cheers and keep ya day job for a bit, just work on your skills and all will come
 
I HAD THAT... but in truth I did support her ass for a couple of years while she was getting her Masters in Speech Therapy.


I believe a filmmakers biggest asset is a gf or wife who believes in him enough to support him creatively but most importantly financially... atleast for a while. Start combing through medical schools and find the brightest and potentially "hip" patron of the arts, or more possibly.. the artist.
 
I've been at it on my own for three years now and it's getting tougher and tougher. I work for humanitarian/faith based groups (non-profits) and everyone is taking it on the chin right now. If I could (and I am looking) I would pop out of the self employed world and go to work for someone else for the next year or so.

I love the freedom of doing your own thing, but man it is getting tough to keep steady money coming in...
 
I do videography as a fulltime profession, but it is to produce and edit my own television show,so not only do I wear the hat of cameraman, but also editor, host of the show, marketing coordinator (to fund the show and pay my bills, feed my family...), Public relations and so on.....From my side of things it is extremely difficult to get funding with the economy as it is right now. If you can wait a year or two until the economy turns you might be better off, although if you can make a go of a start up company right now, you should be able to make it through anything.
 
Thanks, everyone:

I know very well how tough to be in this business as a new hand, especially when the economy is near kaput. What I plan to do is to use my current career (>$70K) as a buffer to networking and improving my skills (a long term planning). To be in a business like this will bring financial uncertainty because the work load ($) at any time can fluctuate dramatically.
With globalization and strong competition from low cost countries, life of many many professionals will be more difficult. It is important to adjust to an ever fast paced changing economy. I hope everyone on this forum will do well and survive, or even prosper in this harsh environment. May god bless all! (BTW, my profession may sound good in paper or presidential address, but not suitable/sustainable in this country)
 
I think we can all think of how the series of realestate/ fraud/ and manipulation has landed the whole world in this situation. It's the toughest of times for all people in the business.. but there's still things going on now.. it's just not going to be found in the conventional sense. (ie)... job postings and crew calls and that... It'll be more of a local employment scene and an industry that you can thrive in if you are producing the content. Cheap and good content will always be sought in tough times.
 
http://dvxuser.com/V6/images/smilies/crybaby.gif

http://dvxuser.com/V6/images/smilies/crybaby.gif

Justyn said:
I think we can all think of how the series of realestate/ fraud/ and manipulation has landed the whole world in this situation. It's the toughest of times for all people in the business.. but there's still things going on now.. it's just not going to be found in the conventional sense. (ie)... job postings and crew calls and that... It'll be more of a local employment scene and an industry that you can thrive in if you are producing the content. Cheap and good content will always be sought in tough times.
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The world is facing a perfect storm of economic bad news, and unless you have a cash reserve or a working wife, it's a bad time to start a video business. Wedding video is discretionary and there are a million part-time video guys with a camcorder that will undercut your business with low ball pricing. Bands, DJ's, photographers, and wedding consultants throw in video coverage for a few hundred bucks as an add-on. Professional associations like WEVA don't spend any money on promoting video for weddings for their members, and other professional organizations are withering away.

Companies like Panasonic and Apple have made video camcorders and editing systems that are so cheap, good, and easy than nearly anyone can produce video that looks halfway decent. Corporations and business have turned to the internet to do their marketing, and video is so cheap on the internet (YouTube) that they have the guy in the accounting department with a camcorder shoot their videos.

Video has always been an attractive profession like modeling and acting, where thousands of people think they can make a living out of doing something easy and fun, and are willing to work as waiters and cab drivers to scrape by until they get their big break and live their dream. Yeah, it happens, but rarely.

You've got a better shot at making a living at photography, even though video is more fun.
 
Well said on all points, but we've always been in a tough industry during the formative years of one's career.... it's just that now, there's 1/2 as many decent budgeted projects and clients want a one man shop. Web guy, graphics, print, video, etc. A complete, cheap as possible, one man shop.


There's always more difficult professions to take some sollace in during these times.

Graphic designer.
Musician
Gold Toilet manufacturers.
President of the US.
anyone doing new construction/building.


all in fun. I believe that we can create our destiny but it requires us to be more proactive and not wait for the work to come to us.
 
That's the problem.
Places want a one man shop and want 2 cameras, and sound from the one man, and pay you for half a man :-)
 
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