Broke videographer to $250k in profit with video production
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 มิ.ย. 2024
- If you want to turn your freelance business into a video production company, check out this one-hour training on my website.
www.filmmakingmentor.com/Vide...
I wanted to make this video to hopefully help anyone that’s struggling as a videographer or filmmaker.
For some reason, no one makes this kind of video and this is exactly what I wish I had 10 years ago.
Let me start by giving you a quick back story.
I graduated from film school way back in 2007 and had no idea how to make money with what I learned. The first thing I did was start making a feature-length documentary. I thought I would go to Sundance with this and I’m set from there. But I also needed to make money in the meantime.
So for a couple of years, I tried networking, going on different forums and websites, and finding whatever job I could, which was mostly PA work.
A couple of years later, I decided to create a video production company. Because the most successful people in Chicago in this industry had their own companies.
But I basically was doing exactly the same thing as before.
At this point though, I bought a nicer camera and start shooting more. But my company was basically me, doing whatever jobs I could find as a videographer.
I couldn’t figure out how anyone was getting clients. I thought if I bought more gear, it would help. So every dollar I made, I bought more gear and more gear and more gear.
And it did help me get more freelance work. But I wasn’t making much more than before. I was even more broke now because gear costs took everything I made.
A couple of more years passed and I was barely getting by. I remember a client not paying me once for a lot of work and I couldn’t pay my rent. I was freaking out. And I was doing anything and everything in the video. Weddings, events, conferences, and slideshow edits. And I didn’t like any of it.
So I knew I had to make a change. I was also running out of favors with people helping me with my documentary for free. So I needed to make a lot more money and I knew odd jobs here and there weren’t going to cut it.
So I started doing some research. Luckily, I took some marketing classes in college and had a based-line understanding. I looked into all kinds of marketing techniques. I just started Googling how to get clients as a small business and just kept researching.
I would work a 12-hour day and then research and research until I fell asleep.
Then, and this is back in 2012, I came across Search Engine Optimization. I already had a website, but no one was coming to my website unless I directly gave them the web URL.
After some more search, I saw so many companies from video production or marketing and PR firms that we’re getting almost all their work because of SEO.
Basically, you optimized your website for search engines using tons of different techniques and you did everything you could to get your website to rank on the first page of Google for a specific keyword.
I was going after keywords like “video production” and “video production company”.
For months, this became my main focus. And nothing was working for a while. But finally, at the end of 2012, I finally started to get on the first page of Google and eventually got the #1 spot.
Suddenly, I was getting emails and calls from all kinds of companies asking about my services.
The funny part was I had about 5 other marketing strategies I was about to start because I thought this wasn’t working.
The main problem was, that I really didn’t know how to produce good videos from start to finish. I knew how to shoot and edit, but didn’t really know much about producing a commercial. I didn’t know about proposals or how to handle a call or meeting. And I had to learn fast.
Within 6 months, I went from barely paying rent and doing random jobs to sending out 7 figures in proposals and closing deals every week.
I probably left a lot of money on the table that year, because I had to learn on the go.
Thanks so much for watching. Please give this video a thumbs up and subscribe to this channel for easy to follow filmmaking videos.
If you want to turn your freelance business into a video production company, check out this one-hour training on my website.
www.filmmakingmentor.com/Video_Production_Accelerator_Opt_In
I've been this for 9 years now and built a pretty great day of clients but the reality is it's always a struggle unless you have a system. Honestly the film making part is the easy bit. The sales and marketing engine is the tricky part.
Hi ,my name is yogesh ,actually i want to know which industry i can focus upon,to repetition of clients.
Can u pls help me with your experience
Whats ur profit 👀
Let me know if you still need help with that. I’ve helped other creative freelancers market themselves and create a personal brand, and once you get it going you will 100% see it’s worth it.
I’m that guy. 68 years old and chased it for 40 years. Made good money in the 90’s but since it’s been a struggle. Small town and the last 10 years we’ve essentially multiplied the production companies by a factor of ten. I own all the gear I need but I think I got frustrated and frozen by it. Thanks for the kick in the ass. No medals for trying. You have to do the work. You just saved a bunch a lot of research time. Thanks for the boot in the backside.
I try to partner with someone who is more business minded than me. I also did great in the 90s to early 2000s. But things have definitely changed.
I'm 50 and learning these hard truths now too
I'm 50 and learning these hard truths now too
@@bobditty I wish you luck bud!
Good luck Mike :)
Jeeez dude, you hit it on the nail. Very well articulated and insanely valuable. Top video courses from videographer you tubers say nothing about this, really really great content
Thanks so much. Happy to fill the gap
Yeah! Some TH-camrs do. But as he said in the beginning, those aren't the clickbait videos.
This is exactly where I'm at. Thank you for the reiteration! And thanks for sharing your story!
This is really great. I am now starting to change to the video production mindset from freelancing and appreciate you sharing your experience in the most frank and candid way possible. This is exactly the type of content I need.
Awesome video, man! Very cool. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this.
Bro, this is the truth about filmaking and not a lot of people are talking about it. As a freelancer with a Production Company I can totally see everything you mentioned. Well done.
WAY more valuable than the non-stop consumer-driven product videos. Please keep them coming!
As someone who is just starting out, this content is super helpful. Thank you
Thanks for this taking the time to create this type of content. Marketing is where the money is at, not the gear we have. Learning tons from you! keep it up!
Thank you! This is what I needed to hear. I look forward to more.
Love this type of content! Appreciate the insights!
Great info! Thanks! We are building out our set products and our bidding system so that they can bring more predictable results.
I love this. Finally some good business advice from the video production community on TH-cam!
Thank you so much for this video. Very valuable content. Keep it coming.
Fantastic channel Saj! Freelance Videographer myself , information like this is priceless !
Thanks so much for sharing your story, I'm in my late 20s struggling with this right now, as a beginner film production assistant!
great advise Saj. I'm a subscriber and I've book marked your website.
Excellent content!! Thank you so much!
Awesome insight, thanks a lot. Really helpful
Yes I’d love to hear more on this ! Very nice video!
vids like these! 🔥 I feel heard! Thanks for the advice dude. Would love to see more practical vids like this 👊🙏
Interesting topic, on point with your info, thank you my friend, much continued success to you, your family and business.
WOW thank you for this! I've been working for the past year on transitioning from freelancer to business owner. I really needed to hear this today. THANK YOU!
brilliant video thanks for making it!!!
Great video!!! It is good to remember that it is not only to focus on new gears and close some sales, but to remember marketing and how to make business to become sustainable over time by bringing in new clients every month.
So true best advice on this topic good work
Love your content, friend. I'm looking to start my own videography business.
Wow!
This is awesome 💯 I'm greatly inspired. Thanks for the advice.
Looking forward to watching all your videos man
Awesome thank you!
Amazing story. Subscribed.
Loving this content, thank you so much!!! Currently in my 2nd year of being in my busienss full time and feel like I'm doing a ton of work but still making elss than minumum wage.... I feel your videos are helping! Thank you.
Thank you for this video
This was insightful!
love hearing your story. My big break was pairing up with a bank manager/cpa who got me underwritten to produce commercials. It was steep learning but got me out of being a broke line producer.
If you don't mind could you explain a little more how you did this because that's something I have been thinking about also doing but don't know where to start. I have shot 1 small digital bank advert so I have that on my portforlio but I'm not sure on how to reach out to others to do the same
@@pdlrkpdlrk9971 It was 35 years ago. I was working as a directors assistant on commercials. Basically you need to get financed by a bank. They will partner up with a company that disperses the funds so that most of the paperwork isn't done by you. As a producer, my job was just to secure the money. I got East West Bank. I did it here in Philippines where it was cheap. I had a CPA that was formally a bank manager that had the relationship. I also used my house as collateral. (It was my grandmother's house).
thanks for putting this together. its very relevant to me.
This is a fresh take on makings a career out of the filmmaking industry. Legit good. Thanks for the knowledge 👊🏻
I graduated 2014. It’s been a roller coaster. Thanks for tips hopefully this helps me and many struggling filmmakers back in track🙌🏼
Brilliant! Thank you!
Appreciate this man. I just spent 7k in a camera and lights to offset taxes but i am planning on opening a small studio hopefully in 2023.
Awesome. Glad to hear it. It’s going to be a fun journey
I have been doing freelance for a 2 years now this was super helpful for me thank you for sharing your wisdom #subscribed
Thank you, I'm currently experiencing what you're talking about.
Very relevant video, thank you for doing this.
Great info. Thank you
Great video! Thanks
such a great video man thank you
Thank you, I definitely did need that!
Glad it was helpful!
Agree with the overall message, been doing this for 13 years myself. SEO in a big market these days is very difficult to be competitive in because larger companies are paying SEO specialists. Social media is really hit and miss for leads unless you have 100k good followers. Paid ads aren’t cheap but I’m afraid that’s my last resort before finally conceding. I’ve been able to sustain my family but we’re not thriving and I’m tired of the grind. Never had gear buying issues, always been good with my money. Any further insight is appreciated!
That's for the info...this will help me!
Thanks so much for making this video! A lot of strong insight! I recently moved to LA after graduating film school, and curious what your advice would be for someone like myself? It's obviously a very saturated market, so standing out (especially as someone new) & gaining top ranking SEO is obviously very difficult considering so many others do video production out here. Are there other routes you'd suggest which would give me exposure to clients within the saturated market?
Secondly, you talk about "getting a film into Sundance... getting discovered.. then being a director." What's your suggestions to go from a video production company, working for clients, to being at a place where there's financial stability, as well as the freedom/ability to make short films/features that are my own?
I am from a small town and I started filmmaking immediately after high school (2017). I work a full time job (also related to film) and do it on the side but I've started worked with some awesome big clients. I have a website but I don't rely on it other than sending my clients that way. I think this method works in big cities but idk about small rural areas. Although this is useful for when I decide to expand and move!
Thank You. All the way from SOUTH AFRICA
The struggle is real. Lots of people in the same boat that creates a messy 'low ball' industry. Got to be a business man first, video/photographer second. Even then, hire them.
Your videos are so helpful. My goal is to start my own production company to produce various film content. The business information you share is so helpful and valuable with practical business side of production. Thank you!
Awesome. So glad you’re finding the videos helpful
I'm so glad I stumbled upon your channel. Thanks for this content. I struggle as a freelance humanitarian filmmaker. Would love to interview you someday on my channel.
I grinded out gigs for free / low pay on craigslist for a couple of years before really getting an established client base...mostly do editing and motion graphics though, so a different path for sure. Appreciate your insight and inspiring story! Thanks for sharing 😊
Am glad i came across this page
Extremely valuable content.
Very helpful thank you .
Omg there is so much freaking value in this video!
I logged in just to leave a comment. Everyone needs to hear this, across creative disciplines. The is the case in music production as well. This video should have 2 million views but many people don't want to hear the truth. If you build it they will come is OVER. Great video & looking forward to checking out more of your content.
Thanks so much. I really appreciate it. And I will keep making content around this topic!
@@Filmmakingmentor Question is, how you approach this thing practically? SEO nowadays sounds much harder to get yourself to google's first page. So, you're left with social media. What actions could one take to make your presence in the market more visible?
It's a little wordy.
@@eladbari sounds like information one would have to pay for…I mean in “consulting” terms.
@@oniriscope Definitely agree. This probably will cost a consulting fee to get your SEO / Social media going. Problem is- there are SO MANY inside-the-box marketers, who usually may suit consulting for someone who sells physical products, who has a store. You know, oldschool marketers. But, I think that for photographers/ videographers- we need a different approach to marketing than what it's like for a store to market itself. We need an out-of-the-box marketers to consult with. How do you spot and find them? That's the real question here...
[quick example...an oldschool marketer would advise you to upload a selfie with a client saying "another great appointment with X"....which might suit an online store owner...yet, makes us wanna barf. So many of those marketers out there...]
Valuable stuff man! What type of video work do you do? Music videos/b2b advertisements?
Almost all b2b, commercial and corporate videos. I don’t really do music videos
Good topic, there’s enough camera view videos. i just started an llc, High 5 video and drones services, got my 107 a couple months ago, been driving trucks for 7 years, that’s when i started making videos and liked that more than truck driving. Struggling making a website currently , but i just bought a travel trailer im going to live in, so i expect my content will be evolving, more videos on the video production business would interest me.
Hey congrats on the new company. The drone angle is great. I have some other videos on making a website on my main TH-cam channel, howfinity. I’ve used wix and square space. Search howfinity wix and it should come up
Also what you just explained could be a pretty cool TH-cam channel, following they transition
Wow ..Thanks a lot for sharing this
This is one of the most valuable videos on TH-cam. Freelancers pay attention.
WOW. I love ur honesty.
Thank you for the opinion
I am exactly in that boat. I spent all my time with referrals which does work. But it’s terribly inconstant. I can’t rely on just that and yes most of my money goes to gear. I have just realized how important it is to have a strong seo. Even Yelp, and I don’t have either. However I am a photographer and videographer. I love doing both. I don’t see that working against me but I’m curious your thoughts on that. I’ve signed up for your course. I hope I’m able to get in that massive discount. I just found you. Got my sub. Thanks man.
I think if you enjoy both, it’s ok to continue both. But if you want to demand higher rates, at some point, you may want to prioritize one, at least in the way you market yourself or introduce yourself to new clients
thanks for sharing your experience. Gives us freelancers hope! :)
Loved this video
Please do a comparison review on Sony A7S III vs BlackMagic Pocket 6k Pro vs Panasonic BS1H vs Panasonic GH6 vs Canon C70. Test image look and dynamic range and low light.
so true! this is what changed things for me as well!
Great vid
hey Saj, I certainly appreciate the info/content you push out here. Good/relevant info, once I find the actual content in your videos. Not to be taken personally, but a frustration I have with your content is it seems like I usually have to fast-foward quite a bit to get to the relevant info. here, it wasnt until the 8:55 mark to get to the solutions you mentioned at the beginning. perhaps I'm used to different paced videos, but might be worth keeping in mind down the road for future content ...
Thanks for the feedback. To be honest, most of what helped me find success were stories of what didn’t work and what held people back. Just giving a solution without context is almost irrelevant to most. I have found my greatest lessons from mentors that explained the process and what held them back. This video specially is only a story video and less tactical. As the title implies, it’s my story. If I just said, hey learn Seo and marketing and you can find clients, it would serve no purpose. But with context of all the pain and struggle along the way, lot of people are going to find themselves in the same position I was and listen. So I mix it up. Sometimes, I share stories and sometimes, I’m just focused on strategy.
@@Filmmakingmentor roger that. With context here, this makes more sense. Could be the pace of content ingestion I’m used to as well! I’ve recently come across your channel, and can see where some folks may find value in anecdotal long-form videos vs tactical. Thanks for info and keep up the good work!
I disagree, everything he said was relevant, clear, and actually quite helpful. An often recommended TH-cam video length based on "time viewed" is actually 10-13 minutes.
Ohhh man. I’m pretty much in the same boat. Although I’m not depending on this as a sole source of income. I have a full time job and I’ve been picking up gigs here and there for local businesses and whatnot. But instead of just scrounging up enough dough so I can buy some lens or light, I would definitely like to have ACTUAL extra walking-around money.
Can you please share your method for sourcing/landing gigs as a side hustle? I'd like to learn. Much love
So it sounds like, the technical aspects are not the issue, but rather how do you get a steady stream of work 😮
Thanks 🙏 I'm 22 and I have a music production company but this was what I was not getting right why not enough money or client or if Clint then why I'm not saving enough and then I'm also going for a video production company RESPECT +.
Thank you. Very helpful. What are your thoughts on networking groups? I've tried them, but haven't had much success.
I never had success with in-person networking. These days, I focus on cold outreach and ad campaigns
@@Filmmakingmentor thanks.
One thing I'm learning right now. Starting my own filmmaking business is you have to let the client choose. Because, for me, I'm starting out with no experience and I'm going up to random. Fast food trucks or small businesses offering to make an ad. And then do a documentary style interview about how they got. The business started. And one thing I've had to realize is that even if I do a bad job. And the video sucks the client still chose to let me do it. I'm not charging them anything. Currently, so I'm not taking their money. And they're the ones who are okay with it. Knowing beforehand that I had no experience, so instead of feeling super bad about wasting the time. I'm just gonna have to learn to keep on pushing and then hopefully when I do get better. I'll do another video for them until then. I can't do anything but try my best.
You got me hit that subscription button because of this!
Thanks much bro
Valuabley Cool 🎉Thank You
I’m 30 and have been a videographer for so many years. I would love to check out your course
Sure. Check out the site. Filmmakingmentor.com
A video showing how we can do seo would be great
Excellent Video
I live in the middle of nowhere which means the opportunities are limited and the market is relatively small, but the interesting thing is no one appears to be pursuing those opportunities which do exist, so I think this might be the perfect place to start by doing old fashioned door to door sales to a few key initial clients who could provide enough income to expand my initial set of gear to the full kit I need to do bigger projects. There are also a dearth of skilled pros in the region, so doing Hollywood grade work will blow any competitor out of the water. My basic needs of roof over my head, clothes on my back, food, and transportation are already met, so I can fully reinvest everything I earn to grow the company for a while which is a good position to be in, but I've got to thank channels like this and a few in the microbudget cinema arena for giving me the kick in the pants I needed. My plan is to use client work fo fund my art films. I mean it worked for Walt Disney, so...
Anyhow, I think with a little effort to create some demo projects for the first niche I intend to pursue and a little time building out a website to help market the company long term, coupled with some of that door to door selling, I should have my first clients before June.
thank you!
Thank You, and I've known about it all my life but never actually took advantage of Paying for it...
Ugh. Dealing with exactly that's right now. I start optimizing SEO last month but haven't seen any change in business hopefully something happens
Seo takes a while, but when it works, it’s so worth it
Takes time indeed, also doing it the right way. Luckily, there's tons of info if you want to learn. Going quicker will be by getting someone with more experience in digital marketing.
Super valuable tip
I'm on a spot where for a few months recently I was so frustrated with how much I was making I was making i began to not put any effort into my.shoots and now I am getting out of that hole
5:50 I can relate with that!
Thanks
Saj, great advice but, can you set your camera out of autofocus ? the monitor in the back is really distracting , it shifts during all the video . cheers mate.
Yea sure thing. Setting up a new studio too but I’ll get off auto focus
I already have a few batch recorded but after those
Still using the Sony a77 and 6300, the taboo camera that's grown my business far more than I ever thought. Why should I upgrade becuase some youtuber said so?
Exactly. If the tool is working for you, no reason to upgrade
im a locations manager and I ALWAYS ask my PAs what departments they want to be in and if i can i try to help them. I introduce them to department heads, on the rare occasion I PM or PC i try to hire them as department specific PAs. I think you should talk about what department you want to end up in.
yea really good point.
Speaking the truth! Great video!
Super random... Where's your hat from? I want one :P
Lol it was a gift. I’m not sure where it’s from
@@Filmmakingmentor Ah all good man, I'll find it somehwhere I'm sure :P
Are you located in the chicago area? If you are i would love to sit down and chat with you. Im from WI
Hey, I’m in Chicago too. Let’s get together for lunch and chat about marketing for production company.