How do you generate income? at DVinfo.net

Kevin Lewis · May 1st, 2009, 06:03 PM

While some focus on weddings and others focus on corporate stuff, what do you do in order to make your camera pay for itself?

Warren Kawamoto · May 1st, 2009, 07:59 PM

It depends on your camera. It dictates your jobs. For example, shoot a couple of $2K weddings and your Sony PD-170 is paid for. Shoot a couple of $50K commercials with the F900 and it's paid for. However, it won't make sense to shoot weddings with an F900.

Tony Sal · May 4th, 2009, 03:51 AM

Your camera doesn't really dictate your jobs. Don't let your kit hold you back, if your up to higher budget work then take it and hire the kit in.

Douglas Thigpen · May 4th, 2009, 10:45 AM

Any way I can. Though I have found that filming cheesy sequences for magicians for their web site against a green screen makes me more money than a feature length documentary... Sad, really.

Chris Hurd · May 4th, 2009, 10:51 AM

Moved from Open DV to TCB.

Chris Davis · May 4th, 2009, 12:43 PM

The price of my cameras is one of my lower costs of doing business. A $5k camera is nothing compared to rent, utilities, insurance and a $100k per year payroll.

We shoot corporate video - training, sales, promotional. We design web sites and develop web applications. We have several other smaller services, but they pretty much all relate to corporate promotion.

So instead of looking at that cool camera you bought and trying to figure out how to pay for it, look at what skills and talents you have and how you can best capitalize on them. At that point, it doesn't matter if it's a camera, a drill press or a hammer. They're simply tools to do a job.

Bill Heslip · May 5th, 2009, 10:32 PM

Legal work keeps me afloat during lean times. Boring? Most of the time absolutely, but the boring stuff can lead to interesting projects that actually involve creativity :).

Of course I'd rather be working on material with more positive energy (and seen by more than a jury of 12) and often do, but it's a nice niche' that pays well and is recession-proof.

http://www.treehousemedia.net

Kevin McRoberts · May 6th, 2009, 11:02 PM

I have about 3 major clients that make up the bulk of my work: a church, another local NFP, and a scientific media company. I could live off that, but I keep trying to get more work so I can pay of my mortgage early and stock up on, oh, I dunno, gold bars and Whatchamacallits.

May 1st, 2009, 06:03 PM	#1
Kevin Lewis Major Player Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Philadelphia, pa Posts: 705	How do you generate income? While some focus on weddings and others focus on corporate stuff, what do you do in order to make your camera pay for itself?

May 1st, 2009, 07:59 PM	#2
Warren Kawamoto Trustee Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Honolulu, HI Posts: 1,435	It depends on your camera. It dictates your jobs. For example, shoot a couple of $2K weddings and your Sony PD-170 is paid for. Shoot a couple of $50K commercials with the F900 and it's paid for. However, it won't make sense to shoot weddings with an F900. Last edited by Warren Kawamoto; May 2nd, 2009 at 01:11 AM.

May 4th, 2009, 10:45 AM	#4
Douglas Thigpen Regular Crew Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: San Diego, CA / Apex, NC Posts: 81	Any way I can. Though I have found that filming cheesy sequences for magicians for their web site against a green screen makes me more money than a feature length documentary... Sad, really. __________________ Douglas Thigpen http://www.dthigpen.com/ - http://www.nicetryproductions.com/

May 4th, 2009, 10:51 AM	#5
Chris Hurd Obstreperous Rex Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: San Marcos, TX Posts: 27,369 Images: 513	Moved from Open DV to TCB. __________________ CH Search DV Info Net \| 20 years of DVi \| ...Tuesday is Soylent Green Day!

May 4th, 2009, 03:51 AM	#3
Tony Sal New Boot Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London Posts: 15	Your camera doesn't really dictate your jobs. Don't let your kit hold you back, if your up to higher budget work then take it and hire the kit in.

May 4th, 2009, 12:43 PM	#6
Chris Davis Trustee Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Willmar, MN Posts: 1,400	The price of my cameras is one of my lower costs of doing business. A $5k camera is nothing compared to rent, utilities, insurance and a $100k per year payroll. We shoot corporate video - training, sales, promotional. We design web sites and develop web applications. We have several other smaller services, but they pretty much all relate to corporate promotion. So instead of looking at that cool camera you bought and trying to figure out how to pay for it, look at what skills and talents you have and how you can best capitalize on them. At that point, it doesn't matter if it's a camera, a drill press or a hammer. They're simply tools to do a job.

May 5th, 2009, 10:32 PM	#7
Bill Heslip Regular Crew Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Southeast USA Posts: 129	Legal work keeps me afloat during lean times. Boring? Most of the time absolutely, but the boring stuff can lead to interesting projects that actually involve creativity :). Of course I'd rather be working on material with more positive energy (and seen by more than a jury of 12) and often do, but it's a nice niche' that pays well and is recession-proof. http://www.treehousemedia.net

May 6th, 2009, 11:02 PM	#8
Kevin McRoberts Major Player Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Charlottesville, VA Posts: 700	I have about 3 major clients that make up the bulk of my work: a church, another local NFP, and a scientific media company. I could live off that, but I keep trying to get more work so I can pay of my mortgage early and stock up on, oh, I dunno, gold bars and Whatchamacallits.