Are you a working professional? Here are 100 Tips I've learned in nearly 5 years of running my corporate videography company. I divided them into 5 sections: Sales & Marketing, Equipment, On Set and Business Practices. Enjoy!
Part I: Sales & Marketing (Tips #1-27)
1. Find your niche and market to it.
2. Be selective with the clients you take.
3. Learn to sell; this is more valuable than learning video.
4. Have sales system
5. Have a set and easy to follow pricing system.
6. Have a logo (square and vertical).
7. Have brand colors.
8. Have brand fonts.
9. Have a professional headshot.
10. Have a promotional video (if you are in it even better).
11. Have a website.
12. Have a company email (@yourwebsitename).
13. Use paid ads (Thumbtack, Google, Facebook, Bark, etc).
14. Call leads as soon as you get them.
15. Conduct a thorough discovery call.
16. See beyond your client’s request; ask yourself: “what problem are they trying to solve?”
17. Give quotes instantly over the phone; nobody likes to wait.
18. Don’t offer discounts, offer more deliverables.
19. Don’t ask prospects what their budget is. It can make them feel as if you trying to see how much you can get away with charging them. Refer to tip #5.
20. Follow up with leads 2-3 times but no more.
21. Never stop prospecting and selling; your best client today can be gone tomorrow.
22. If demand rises, so should your prices.
23. The market decides your price, not you.
24. Always be ready to pitch.
25. Ask for reviews.
26. Send your best client’s gifts at least once per year.
27. Never delete anything; you never know when you might need it.
Part II: Equipment (Tips #28-50)
28. Master manual settings.
29. Have a dedicated cinema camera.
30. Have a good editing computer.
31. Don’t cheap out on gear; if you can’t afford what you need, rent it.
32. Learn everything about your equipment.
33. Test equipment before going to the field.
34. Have an efficient and robust way to carry your gear (pelican cases and gator carts are great)
35. Invest in zoom lenses with low apertures (f2.8 and below)
36. Have a robust backup system (ex: Synology NAS)
37. Have a shotgun and wireless lavalier microphone.
38. Always carry and external recorded with XLR cables and microphone stands.
39. Make a charging station.
40. Invest in production comfort (like the Sachtler $2,000 tripod).
41. Get a laptop that can edit.
42. Have a backup camera; actually, have a backup everything.
43. Put air tags on cameras bags with expensive or rare gear.
44. Safely store your gear at home.
45. Have a roaming SSD backup drive (with a backup of all your current edits that NEVER leaves our side).
46. Have a portable jump starter in your car.
47. When filming outdoors, protect yourself from the sun.
48. Get an Easyrig if you have a larger camera.
49. Have two sets of headsets (one for your camera bag to monitor audio and one for editing).
50. Try not to split your gear into too many bags (this is how things get lost and left behind).
Part III: On Set (Tips #51-64)
51. Dress appropriately for events (wear black).
52. Bring snacks and water to productions days.
53. Arrive at least 30 minutes early.
54. Be empathetic, patient and good natured with everyone.
55. Film in at least 4K 10-bit log 422.
56. Film high frame rates for b-roll.
57. If you are hired to film and not edit, film as if you will edit, because you just might.
58. If your camera records RAW, use it on higher end projects.
59. Get a production assistant.
60. Film behind the scenes content (refer to tip #59).
61. Get off your phone while filming – the client paid for your time.
62. Pay for your vendor’s food and parking.
63. If you are flying take your camera and lenses as carry on.
64. When flying, get priority boarding so your camera bag doesn’t become checked baggage if they run out of overhead compartment room on the plane.
Part IV: Business Practices (Tips #65-96)
65. Your health is your #1 priority. Sleep, diet, exercise, mental and spiritual health. The most important asset in the business is you. Protect the golden goose.
66. Get paid a deposit before filming.
67. Make and execute a contract before filming.
68. Have tactful, accurate, and concise verbal and written communication skills.
69. Have a network of contractors.
70. If you need help, ask.
71. Be lenient but firm – respect your time and work.
72. Under promise and over deliver.
73. Surround yourself with other professionals.
74. Have insurance for yourself and gear.
75. Never stop improving and learning.
76. Always keep your professionalism – even if others don’t.
77. Be organized.
78. Track your finances.
79. Buy what you need, not what you want.
80. Invest in your education.
81. Practice what you preach – create your own content.
82. Firing a client is the nuclear option- but it’s still an option.
83. Working with friends makes everything better (as long as boundaries are respected).
84. Respect and learn the art of business; great videos are just part of the equation.
85. Watch content you want to imitate.
86. You won’t be an expert or have time for everything – learn to delegate.
87. Hire a CPA.
88. Make this your one and only job. If you can financially do it, go all in.
89. Know that you will either pay with time or money. Choose one.
90. Always put relationships above money.
91. Be organized, have a schedule, plan your week and stick to it.
92. Skills will always beat gear – but its better to have both.
93. Be grateful for what you have.
94. Have a professional invoice and payment system.
95. Incorporate in your state and have a corporate bank account.
96. If forgot to include an item in an invoice or proposal, eat the cost (within reason).
97. Talk is cheap. Until the deposit is paid and/or contract is signed, you don’t have a client.
98. Watch your previous work for inspiration.
99. Work on every project as if it where you last, because one day it will be.
100. In a video, results are more important than aesthetics.
Bonus! (Tips #101-108)
101. If you don’t take stills find someone that does; many clients ask for them.
102. Don’t take negative feedback personally, see it as an opportunity to grow.
103. Stay fit- production gear is can be heavy.
104. Have fun; we are lucky to do this job 😊
105. Don’t freak out when months are slow. Regroup, analyze, learn new skills and make content.
106. Edit with at least two screens.
107. Color match your monitors to the most common viewing devices (probably smartphones).
108. Send clients the music for approval beforehand.