What is a fast way to earn money with a hvx200?

robertwerden

robertwerden

Well-known member
I have had my gear for 2 years now and it has only been a novelty, but my contract with WB is coming to an end and I want to start earning money with my camera. What should I do? What is the fall back video job everyone goes to when they can't find work? Should I get into event video, commercials, music videos, feature films?

Just curious where most people start earning money with their gear
 
get your name out there. thats what I did. It wont be steady at first (mine is still not steady) but it wont happen over night & this business is like a roller coaster ride! at least music videos are anyhow. lol
 
Weddings happen every weekend, are decent pay but not too creative. Corporations pay well for strategic content but you need to know people and have some kind of a product or reputation to sell. Sporting / School events are high volume low pay.

There are lots of other ways to make money with a camera, but they will be very specific according to your skill set, location and determination. Suffice to say I have made over fifty times the cost of my HVX. Just get started by meeting people (local networking groups, ad agencies, fellow filmmakers) and shooting content. I find that giving work away to charities opens a lot of doors.


Jason
 
I started shooting weddings by doing a couple for free, that way I could learn, and build a reel (and if I screwed it up, well ...). Also bought a booth at a local wedding show. You have make some investment: biz cards, web page, flyers, etc. If you're really serious, the yellow pages (hard copy) and online adverts.
 
youve mentioned a couple times your "contract with WB" whats that contract all about? was it some kind of non compete
 
and that excludes you from being able to shoot video?
or is it a matter of now having TIME to shoot video?

sorry to go off topic. was just curious.
 
brandondull said:
get your name out there. thats what I did. It wont be steady at first (mine is still not steady) but it wont happen over night & this business is like a roller coaster ride! at least music videos are anyhow. lol
Click to expand...

I think the industry is a roller coaster ride, your specialty just plays better music while riding!:D
 
if you dont already have a client base to speak to. i say that a good bit of cold-calling, pavement-pounding and networking events are in your future...

the video biz isnt just a matter of hanging out a shingle.
 
I'm working for several national companies that produce web video for businesses, hotels, and apartment complexes. Some have you shoot and edit, some just shoot. Works great for me because they find the jobs, I do them, and there are usually no redos. Many longtime videographers hate these companies because the pay is considered low, but for me it is acceptable, averaging about $400 a day.
 
What is the fall back video job everyone goes to when they can't find work?
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Funniest line on DVXUSER.

First question to ask yourself and please understand I am trying to help. We are all just students of our craft, but before you go diving it.

1.) Are you any good at this. - Please, this is not a jerk statement. Take an honest assessment of your skill set and see if you have enough chops to sell what you do as full time income
2.) Do you have enough resources to this. - Gear, Time, Contacts, Personal Drive
3.) Do you love it. The idea that you own an HVX and that entitles you to fall into a pool of "fall back video job everyone goes to when they can't find work" is not realistic.


If you can say yes to all three of those then start by building your personal brand.

You will need,

1.) A Reel. - If you don't have one build one. If you don't have clients build a reel with spec work, freebies for non profits, and local commercials ETC.
I am also a firm beleiver in producing a reel with relevant things. A local CBS affiliate, a bride-to-be, or an ad agency will not care about your DVXFest zombie movies or booty shakin rap videos. If you intend to be successful at indie horror flicks or hip hop videos then by all means stack your reel with the undead and scantly clad dancers. If you are targeting wedding, local commercials, or talking head corporates stack the reel with those things.
2.) A website - something clean and simple wtih a bit about you, links to your reel, and a way to contact you
3.) Call List - find your target market and get meetings. Use social network to shrink the circle and start meeting people
4.) Plan - Like Matt G said you will need a business plan. If not a formal one you will need a clear internal understanding of how you plan to market, monetize, and be successful.

But to answer your first question directly. The fastest way to make money from an HVX is to sell it. The slowest and most profitable way is mentioned above. Just my opinions.

Good luck
 
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I don't know anyone who is making money in this business that is doing it by chance or accident, or because they happen to own a camera. Owning a set of golf clubs doesn't make you a PGA pro, so neither does owning an HD camera make you a viable shooter. More often than not it is the result of doing tons of FREE work for a long time to build up both skills and a good reel that demonstrates to potential clients you are worth hiring. I did free work for a long time and that polished my skills and got me a great reel. Now it is paying off but it was a long hard road. Most of the people on this forum I think can say "Been there, done that, got a frickin' T-shirt."

Best to you.
 
Some really good advice here from many guys who have been about for some time....
I'd suggest also do some freebees, if that dosen't lead to clients wanting to pay for your services/talents, then give it away and try something else. OH, and Sell the camera is the fastest way as has been said already.
Jason.adams advice is spot on... well said jason.

Tom K
olinevideo.com.au
 
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