I look forward to your results. I realise we all have to start somewhere of course, but I think you will really struggle to give pro results with one camera. You will inevitably miss stuff, hopefully not 'key' moments.

I wouldn't venture into a wedding scenario without at least two cameras. (Mind you, I really hate weddings!)

Best of luck.

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i agree, i think you can get away with filming live gigs and things with only one camera but i would not risk a wedding.. there is just too much risk of missing an imprtant part of someones special day.

your idea of flipping the image to create an impression of two cameras is very silly and will look quite bad. - bride on the left..... nope on the right...... ohh... on the left again.... you see what i mean?

personally i would go for things which are easier like gigs and events - fairs and things.
mainly to get your stuff going you need to bring in a little cash for more equipment.. start of easy - a wedding is a bloody big thing!

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K0mat0ast

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zvi, I think you are preparing to make a lot of mistakes.

Having been freelancing for (oh my god) nearly thirty years now, I've come to see which firms make it and which don't. The firms which make it, have a sensible, well researched, business plan and go out to make the best possible production. Often they lose money at first, renting equipment and personnel and gaining experience.
The ones which fold don't research their market fully, make assumptions and try to do things on the cheap.

You can do a wedding with one camera, if you're very experienced and are only offering a "best of" type dvd. Anything else requires a minimum of two cameras. The only wedding company I'll work for uses three cameras, each manned by professional camera(wo)men and has a full order book.
Once you're known for being "cheap" you will always be cheap. You can always lower your prices for a special client but if you do cheap weddings, you can't suddenly jack up your prices when a customer with a bulging wallet turns up.

The idea of flipping the image is non-workable and daft. Komatoast explains why.

If you "start with low quality weddings " or do anything "low quality" your business will fail.

As for $7k being enough for equipment. A decent Dedolight kit costs more than that.

Torby and Turnmedia have "been there and done that" Komatoast is pointing out that most of your filming "solutions" won't work. Your company is one where I'd insist on payment in advance. Listen to what's being said instead of going on the defensive. A lot (a hell of a lot) of people start up their own companies thinking like you do, they all fall flat on their faces.

1. Get a realistic business plan.
2. Research your market properly (don't assume anything, get out there and research)
3. Make sure that you have sufficient finances.
4. Aim high.

Or alternatively.... Just make videos for fun.

Professional videography is a difficult and risky world to enter.

sorry if I sound defensive.. I'm not at all. I'm very happy to hear the stories from people that have been through this. As I write this, my eye are closing, having been up for 20 hours. I'm going to sleep but I want to respond to you when I get up.

I've asked this question on a few forums. All the replies were about the same. "MAKE A BUSINESS PLAN!"

Some said that I'll never make money if I give an investor %100 on his investment. OF COURSE! I clearly mentioned that I didn't make any deals for %100, I was speaking hypothetically. You could still ask the same question with %10.

What it comes down to, is not that I CAN'T succeed... but if you don't come up with a business plan you WON'T succeed. I know MANY people that are very successful in the video production business. Seems that the "secret" is starting smart. Not only (but also very important) doing a good job.

So I've read all you had to say. I researched how to start a small business and even applied to a 15 hour course on how to run a small business. I also am making a professional business using "Business Plan Pro 2007" http://www.nolo.com/product.cfm/ObjectID/E...4910EAD1E1/111/ that's I think is worth every penny!

There were two issues that were brought up a couple of times:
1. Working for someone for a while first.
2. Renting equipment at first when needed.

Here is my own personal 2 cents on this. Of course, this may be the way to go for some people.

I have spent the last 2 months "working" for someone. I did it for training purposes and not for money, even though he did pay me something. He let me do some of his editing (and liked my work very much) and I went to some of his events where he would show me and explain his shooting techniques. I myself am not a complete amateur when coming to shooting techniques, though I know I will learn something new with every event, which is what I hope to do.

I don't think (personally) that if I work for someone for a year to get experience, and THEN start my whole business... that anything will move any faster. I think I can pick up my own techniques and learn along the way if I start now on my own. (shooting wise... since I HAD been editing for a few years now as a hobby and have also shot some family occasions. Ok, so I used a $500 camera, but the shooting techniques were pretty good for a starter with no learning experience at the time).

So yes, I understand that I don't need to buy ALL the equipment at once. Understood. But now to the second thing... renting equipment....

I'm not talking about the general idea to rent equipment, which I personally think is a good idea when able. My problem is that the closet rental place is an hour drive away and just a camera costs $80 a day. Now my own thought is that I will want to go over the whole manual... TWICE! I will need at LEAST 2 weeks that I will want to practice and get a "feel" of this new, powerful machine. To rent a camera for 2 weeks will cost almost half the price of the camera!

Someone told me that I can use the camera at the store and that these places even WANT you to use it so that you will rent it. Maybe this can work, but again, there's the 4 hours of travailing every time I need the camera (back and forth). It's just not worth it I think.

Maybe other things can be rented. Things that you might not need at EVERY occasion, like lights (at an already well lit hall or a day time occasion). But all the lights I inquired about were $1000. Just renting them 10 times would be about the price or buying them (travel and time).

Furthermore, in an article that someone posted: Fallacy of Market Pricing (very good article!) and also in other forums, for some reason everyone only talks about weddings. There are SO many more projects that need shooting! Does everyone start off with weddings?? There are schools, organizations, Bar\Bat Mitzvahs, Parties, corporate, charity events, SO many things that need video productions.

Also, the only reason people use for "you will not succeed" is if you don't make a business plan. Well... if you DO make a professional business plan and STICK to the plan... why shouldn't you succeed? There are thousands (if not more) of successful videographers and I assume that all they did to be successful is to start off with a realistic business plan and run the production as a business and not a hobby! (like in the article).

So once again, thank you all for your replies. I am going to get my "business education" and will ask you for more advice as I go along.

Absolutely.. Couldn't agree more. Personally, to do a wedding I would have to have my arm forced up my back be threatened with certain death to want to do one! (and even then I'd think twice!)

Your point about the distance involved to rent is a valid one and something I hadn't considered when replying.

My main concern is that you'll invest a heap of cash into sub-standard equipment just to get yourself going and then regret it later when you realise you need 'proper' gear. There's nothing worse than buying something and then six months later wishing you had gone that bit more and bought the thing that does the job properly and completely. The Guru's point about the cost of lights indicates what I mean.

Anyway, I've probably said more than enough, so I'll just wish you the best of luck!

Andy.

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Even though I understand that there will always be better equipment to get, and I also understand that I will be spending a lot on sub-standard stuff like you said, but isn't that the way to go when starting a business? To start small and upgrade as you go?

Even if I do what others said... work for someone 6 - 12 months while on the side save up and build your business... I don't think that in 6 - 12 months I will be able to save up to top notch equipment, and I'll end up starting with the same sub-standard stuff. (Just my thought)

The lights I was recommended to are as follows:

Lilliput of Ianiro with cap of 150W-650W (about $185)
doors for the above light (about $63)
stand for above light - 3 stages - from Manfrotto (about $80)
Minilite of Ianiro 1000W with doors and light (about $340)
stand for above light from Manfrotto (about $87)
Light P1/13 650W (for lilliput from OSRAM)

All this is under $1000 and I don't think I'll need more for a starter (unless I'm wrong) because I have seen professionals that don't use a lot more then this. (maybe Guru would say that they aren't professionals then)

But all I'm saying is that I understand that no matter how and when I start, I don't think I'll ever go and start a business with $50,000 before I had worked some time with sub-standard equipment. Do you not agree?

I understand what you're saying and you've made some very good points.

I'm really glad to hear that you're taking the business plan seriously. By doing that you're fifty times (yup you read that right) fifty times more likely to succeed for longer than a year, than someone who goes in blind. Blind optimism is suicidal when it comes to business.

I really can understand your desire to own gear rather than renting it. I understand the point about collecting it and practicing but what Turnmedia wrote is absolutely true..."There's nothing worse than buying something and then six months later wishing you had gone that bit more and bought the thing that does the job properly and completely." That sentence will come back to haunt you, the only question is how much money it'll refer to.

When running a business it's vital that you're totally honest with yourself. I've made purchases which I've justified to the accountant by saying "I'll recoup the money because it's gear I now don't have to rent" and justfied it to the wife by saying "It's something I can sell on ebay if times get rough". Both are sort-of untrue, I buy the gear because I like having it. (Just going down into the cellar and playing with it is fun.) As long as you're honest with yourself, then you shouldn't risk losing the plot but if you go out and buy gear now, you'll risk the whole venture.

Finally: working for someone else to gain experience is good. Making mistakes with your customers in bad. Getting experienced people to work for you is the best way. You learn from them, your customers get a better product and you make a good impression (if you have to take a loss, then so-what? It's an investment for the futeure in many ways)

PS, In my not-so-humble opinion, the only difference between professionals and amateurs is that professionals charge a fee, amateurs do it for love. There are crap professionals and brilliant amateurs. Being a professional won't earn any respect from me, being a good videomaker will.

Hi - As someone who produces wedding videos for most of the year (and loves em) I can vouch that wedding videos can be produced with 1 cam - they're not the best and they're a lot harder work - If you're going to do them with 1 cam, do as the Guru says - just offer it as 'the best of' - though both you and the client will eventually be disappointed.
8 weeks training? Everyone thinks they can do the biz after a few weeks - stick with them for a year while you build your knowledge - he'll not be as green as you think and it will take heaps of time to absorb the many techniques that he isn't showing you that will be needed to overcome the testing scenarios that accompany wedding days.
Your biggest asset is enthusiasm. I have personally filmed 100,s of wedding days and each one throws up different and new challenges - I'm still learning, but in the early days it was always the hard (read expensive) way. The best of luck!

zvi have you got any footage for us to veiw, just so we can see what level your camera work and editing is up too.
Also i am looking to go down this road, just bought a canon xl1s and now looking for work. I have a very easy job that gives me every weekend free. I am looking to give out my services on the weekends and evenings. This is to start with and then expand from there. This to me is the cheapest option for me to break into this area.
I wish you luck in your new venture

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