How to make money as a videographer
There are many ways to make money behind a camera. Today the art of cinematography and videography is very approachable. With the low startup costs (at least compared to 15 years ago) it is the best time to be an indy filmmaker.
In this article, we describe 5 ways to begin earning income as a videographer. We cover everything from shooting video yourself, to working with a team, to renting out your gear.
1. Rent out your gear on Shuttershare
If you are looking to get started as an indy videographer the first thing you are probably going to do is go out and buy some gear. This isn’t always the best option and we actually wrote an article recently on the pros of buying versus renting that you can find here.
With that said, if you do decide to buy your gear you have opened yourself to an awesome opportunity to begin earning cash by renting out your gear. Shuttershare plays the role of connector and protector of your gear. You create an account, get verified, connect to your bank and post your gear. Other users message you directly and make requests for your gear. Each rental requires insurance to keep your gear safe and you get to meet some awesome members of the industry while watching the earnings come in.
Gear can rent for anywhere from ten to fifteen dollars per day for mirrorless DSLR lenses right up to hundreds per day for higher quality DSLRs. The site hosts much more than just cameras and is worth exploring if you currently own gear or if you are planning on purchasing equipment in the future.
If you really don’t know what to buy you can also check out another article we recently wrote detailing a starter pack for introductory videographers looking to buy their first kit.
2. Shoot stock footage with BlackBox
Have you heard of stock footage? Might sound a little foreign but unless you have been living under a rock we can guarantee you have seen stock footage before.
Stock footage is video that is captured and then sold to buyers who wish to use the footage for their projects. These projects can be anything from little indy films, commercials, news broadcasts and much more. So what does this mean for you?
BlackBox is a way to get started earning as a videographer with no need for industry connections, no need to hunt down clients, no unpaid work. Sound like a dream? Now there is no such thing as a free lunch so there is one downside, there are no guaranteed earnings. You have to shoot content people want to buy which means each shoot should be purposeful. Also, content that is low quality will be rejected by the agencies that BlackBox works with so definitely check out some of the content on the site to get an idea for the quality expectations before you start shooting. Beyond this, however, this is a great way to start earning revenue if you are lacking the contacts to drive client work yourself.
The great part is, BlackBox takes care of the hard parts associated with starting to sell stock footage. Once you join their community and get your profile set up there is a curation guide which takes you step by step through getting your footage up and for sale. Highly recommend checking them out as a side hustle or a full-time solo commitment.
3. Weddings
Fair warning from the wise, don’t miss the first kiss. Weddings are great as a way to begin earning as a videographer. If you are catering to the lower end budgets the expectations won’t be as critical as a high profile commercial shoot or independent film which means you can begin earning behind the camera quite quickly. Also, most people at some point get married in one form or another, therefore, there is a large client base.
Having said this, weddings are pretty high stress due to their being only ONE walk down the aisle, only ONE first dance etc. Although weddings are a great way to break into shooting video it would be best to assist or volunteer on a number of wedding shoots before trying to take one on your own, especially if you are not already a seasoned videographer.
Seek out a high-quality wedding media company and offer to assist the next time they need someone as backup. A good firm will always need assistance and might even be happy to pay you for your time. You can also watch for people looking for help on wedding shoots within Facebook groups such as this one.
With some basic gear and a few weddings under your belt as an assistant or backup shooter, you will be ready to help make someone’s special day even more special!
4. Social/Web Commercial Content
Now you might not be ready to shoot the next SuperBowl commercial but creating social/web content for small businesses is still a great business to be in. Similar to weddings there is a rather large customer base and many are in dire need of good video or photo content.
The downside here is you will have to do business development, especially if you are on your own. Don’t expect businesses to be knocking down your door to hand over stacks of cash for video content but also don’t expect every door to be shut in your face. Start small, go for some warm contacts who you know might be happy to pay you (probably a little) to come in and create some video content. Help them utilize the content you create on social media or their website and if you did your job right, help them bring in a new customer or two.
From there you can continue to hone your skills and you may find after some time you will have clients coming to you. It is a growing trend for businesses of all size to be utilizing video and this is the time to hop on the train.
The upside here is you can get creative and use your marketing mind. Put yourself in the shoes of a consumer, what might they want to see in a video that would attract them to come to visit this business? Determine your budget with the client and source the assets you need to make the project come to life. If you grow in size you may even find yourself producing more than shooting.
5. Volunteer on larger shoots
You would be surprised how many TV commercials, films or TV programs use production assistants with limited to no knowledge on large sets. You may be doing work that is far from being behind the camera but it is a great way to work your way up.
On larger shoots, you may be given a PA role but on smaller shoots (but larger than weddings or small business videos), after some experience, you might be able to land a spot as a first or second assistant camera. Again you can’t expect to be paid like Spielberg on day one but it is a great way to work your way up.
And the best part of working on these types of shoots is the people. As you begin to work more and more on larger shoots, you will expand your network and become a part of a very closely knit community of creators and artists.
Closing thoughts
Should you quit your day job? Probably not yet, but this article was written to give you an understanding of the many different ways you can begin to earn as a videographer (or member of the media industry). It is hard to watch when someone goes out and buys their whole kit without any understanding of how they are going to earn this expense back.
Create a plan, test the waters, hone your skills and begin slowly generating an income as a videographer.
Enjoy the article? Great! If you want to connect with more videographers or get more involved with the film community in Canada, sign up for https://shuttershare.io/. We would love to have you as a part of our growing community. If you ever want to chat you can also email us at hello@shuttershare.io.
