What I’ve learned (so far) as a freelance camera op and editor in New Brunswick
It’s been about a year and half since I left my cushy full-time job as a videographer and video editor to go freelance. I’ve learned a lot about business and creativity along the way. As a freelancer I feel liberated in my day-to-day schedule — getting to sleep in and work when I feel creatively motivated, and take breaks or procrastinate when I need to without pissing off a client, boss or co-workers. That said, it can sometimes be harder to focus or stay motivated when editing, or I would struggle with stress (and finances) when going through a period of little to no work. I’ve had my fair share of highs and lows, but overall I’m glad I took the plunge into the freelance world.
The landscape for video production in New Brunswick is changing. It feels like there are new video production companies and freelancers popping up every month, which means there is more and more competition for work. But I think everyone in the industry can agree that in New Brunswick, we all want to get along amicably and further the provincial film and video industry as a whole. People here aren’t afraid to share advice, equipment, workers, and sometimes even clients when the work required falls outside of our ability.
In that spirit, I want to share some tips for anyone who is just starting out as a freelancer. I wish I’d known some of these when starting out! I believe that this will help everyone; it will keep New Brunswick video clients’ expectations realistic when budgeting, it will aid people just starting out in deciding whether they’re making the right career choice, and it will help improve the overall quality of work, which can lead to a more professional industry reputation that will bring in even more outside work. Some of these tips apply no matter where you’re working, not just in New Brunswick.
-Most, if not all, of the gigs I’ve gotten have been through word-of-mouth or networking, not from advertising or LinkedIn. While it’s important to have a professional website and social media presence, don’t waste all your time polishing those pages. Connecting with old contacts who might need work and meeting business owners and handing out business cards is the tried and true method that actually tends to get me the most work.
- Always get the client to sign a contract, and *usually* have them pay half the budget upfront. This protects you if the client tries to get out of paying you later or pay very late.
Many employers and clients seem to want to have a “casual” relationship where the line between chill acquaintance and client can get blurry. The prospect of sending a contract might make you worried that you’ll scare them off, but in reality it helps prevent awkwardness down the road if they are asking for more revisions that weren’t agreed upon, or want to go out of budget. To ensure payments on time, include a clause that charges interest on late payments.
-You will have different rates depending on who you’re working for. I have a day rate when clients come directly to me, but that rate is lower for other production companies who hire me as extra crew. Where a client might do only one project with me, other companies tend to hire me frequently, so I know I’ll get more work down the road and build a working relationship. You will also likely be able to quote a higher budget to clients or companies that aren’t based in New Brunswick. The reality is that with our provincial economy the way it is, what is a fair day rate in Nova Scotia or Ontario can sometimes scare away potential businesses based in New Brunswick. That said, always value your work and don’t undersell yourself. Charging $600 for a five-minute video (or worse, doing it for free/“exposure”) means that that client now expects every video from you or other companies to be dirt cheap, and that harms the industry as a whole. If you’re unsure what you should be charging, there are many resources online that can help you calculate a rate based on what you need to survive each month. (ex: https://freelanceboost.com/freelance-hourly-rate-calculator/ )
-If you’re considering leaving your job to freelance, you should have an emergency fund of at least six months’ worth of living expenses saved up for any period of time that you might not get work/ want to go on vacation/ if you’re sick. There WILL be times where you aren’t getting work but you still need to cover rent and bills. Don’t put yourself in a situation where you could become homeless!
-It pays to have a variety of skills. I’m lucky to be a camera owner/operator, video editor, narrator, and I can create and animate effects and titles. This has afforded me more opportunities than if I was only a videographer and/or editor. In 2016 I was the narrator of Hemmings House’s big documentary The Millennial Dream, and I did some animation work for another freelancer who could shoot and edit but wasn’t fully comfortable with animation. It also means that if one of my client needs those things, I can earn more money by doing them myself rather than outsourcing that work.
-It pays to be an active member of the New Brunswick Filmmakers’ Co-op!
I’m not being paid to say this — volunteering on film shoots has gotten me camera and editing work from other members who referred me, and even from the film co-op when people approached them looking for someone experienced in guerilla, one-man band style shooting. You also make friends and can even learn new skills that will help your work improve.
There are so many more useful things to know, but I’ll cut it off here this time. Down the road I’ll have some more tips. Remember that these are things I’ve learned through my personal experiences, and yours might vary depending on your location and the types of clients you’re getting. Best of luck!
Alex Vietinghoff is a freelance videographer and video editor based in Fredericton, New Brunswick. For work enquiries, please email alexvietinghoff@gmail.com
