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Letter to Video Shooters Around the World

Video shooters, did you know you can change the world, make a big impact, help people achieve their dreams?

I’m dead serious about this. If you can shoot video, you can change the world for the better. Here’s how…

When you have a video camera and a microphone, it’s like having access to the printing press back in the day. You have the ability to produce something valuable. All you need are ideas and time.

My challenge to you is to forget about day rates, hourly rates, and project rates. Not completely — but occasionally forget about them, and think in a new way. Be willing to work for free up front. You already have the gear. You’re already making a living from your other paid gigs and projects. Why not try something new?

Team up with someone who dreams of making something video-related, and don’t charge them anything. Offer your video skills in exchange for a percentage of the profits. That way, if they don’t make anything, they don’t owe you anything. But if you help them make something awesome, then you’ll both potentially benefit.

People tell me their ideas all the time. For example, there’s a lady that wants to make an instructional video series on how to belly dance. Great idea. There are people in the world who would buy it. She doesn’t have the money up front to pay my day rate, so why not offer to split potential profits with her?

Another person has amazing welding skills and wants to show the world how it’s done. Another great idea. People would buy it.

Everywhere you go, there are people with great ideas for video products, but they don’t have the money to pay you to shoot it.

My challenge to you: Be willing to help them make their dreams come true. Shoot the video for them for a percentage of the profits.

If you’re a video shooter who already makes a living, it’s a viable (additional) model. It’s reasonable that one of the projects you shoot could do well.

Where do you go from here?

  1. Listen to people’s ideas. Choose which ones you have time for, and then help them produce their video products.
  2. Get additional skills. Want to do an even split with them? You can justify it if you offer more. These days, it makes sense for a video shooter to learn how to produce great video on the web. Among other things, this means learn how to encode for the web. Learn how to host it and post it. Learn how to distribute it via the web, through RSS and other means.

If your video gear is just lying there, it’s like the printing press has stopped printing. That doesn’t make sense, does it?

If you have the gear and the skills, you can help people’s dreams come true. Why not give it a try?

All the best,

Izzy

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  • Bill

    You are an awesome instructor Izzy, Thank You.

    I’m not a pro … I’m a middle-aged guy who took up the hobby of photography and videography out of necessity. A few years back, the professionals in the city I live in were too expensive and almost unaffordable to me, my family and friends. So, I figured that if I’m going to have to spend thousands of dollars on wedding and special events photos, I might as well spend it on the equipment and learn to do it myself. I’ve loved it ever since. And while I only do videos for family, friends, and schools, it all for free. My reward is the fun I have making the videos, and seeing the smiles, tears, and laughter from the audience.

    Thank you Izzy for sharing your knowledge and making the world a more photogenic place!

  • Bill

    You are an awesome instructor Izzy, Thank You.

    I’m not a pro … I’m a middle-aged guy who took up the hobby of photography and videography out of necessity. A few years back, the professionals in the city I live in were too expensive and almost unaffordable to me, my family and friends. So, I figured that if I’m going to have to spend thousands of dollars on wedding and special events photos, I might as well spend it on the equipment and learn to do it myself. I’ve loved it ever since. And while I only do videos for family, friends, and schools, it all for free. My reward is the fun I have making the videos, and seeing the smiles, tears, and laughter from the audience.

    Thank you Izzy for sharing your knowledge and making the world a more photogenic place!

  • http://www.modevation.com Chris Meidell

    Hi Izzy,

    Thank you for your article and outstanding work!!! You Rock!

    For me, I think it is definitely important to keep your mind open to alternative win/win revenue models like this, and I’ve done several in the past and plan to do more in future — but — I have two suggestions:

    1. Do your homework on the venture!!
    2. Create an evaluation criteria before you say yes.

    I evaluate opportunities like this on a case by case basis. I think it is important to come up with your own set of go/no-go criteria which should be a lot more than just monetary considerations.

    For example:

    - Will doing this video expose my company brand to a wide audience of people or other decision makers who might also buy my services in the future? For example, where is the video being shown or distributed – ?

    - How will my company brand be recognized or “credited” for doing this project?

    - Is this a subject or cause that I personally care about or I’m passionate about? Is it in line with my values? Would I still be happy doing this even if the venture failed and didn’t make me money? If you are going to take a risk like that and it fails to generate revenue, it is important that at least along the way you had fun, or you feel like you made a difference.

    - Will this video allow me new opportunities to shoot/edit in environments or scenarios that I haven’t before? Will I learn something or improve my skill in areas that I have not before? Will I need to use new software, equipment, techniques or tools that I don’t know today?

    - Will the video production value be “portfolio worthy?” Something that will have a WOW factor?

    - Does the video have a flexible delivery timeframe or will I be facing a potential deadline that I’ll need to meet?

    - Can I do all the tasks for the video myself or am I going to have to pay out of pocket for other resources — e.g. voice over or actors, equipment?

    - Does the prospective partner have a full marketing plan and distribution plan? Have they run successful businesses in the past? What are the odds that I will see any meaningful revenue or that the video will at least be seen by a large number of people? How big is the potential market for this video? Does the target audience for the video value the information or entertainment in the video and be willing to pay for it? Who will be managing the marketing/distribution?

    - Is the video highly unique or rare subject matter? Is there something that is special or rare about this project or are there already thousands of videos about it.

    - Does the revenue split reflect the risk or investment?

    - What is a reasonable expectation for revenue vs what my estimated costs are? Is there a “reasonable” reason to believe I might at least break even?

    Those would be my decision criteria which I hope might be useful to others.

    –
    Chris Meidell
    President
    Modevation Media

    http://www.Modevation.com
    Follow Me: @cmeidell
    Follow Modevation: @modevation

  • http://www.modevation.com Chris Meidell

    Hi Izzy,

    Thank you for your article and outstanding work!!! You Rock!

    For me, I think it is definitely important to keep your mind open to alternative win/win revenue models like this, and I’ve done several in the past and plan to do more in future — but — I have two suggestions:

    1. Do your homework on the venture!!
    2. Create an evaluation criteria before you say yes.

    I evaluate opportunities like this on a case by case basis. I think it is important to come up with your own set of go/no-go criteria which should be a lot more than just monetary considerations.

    For example:

    - Will doing this video expose my company brand to a wide audience of people or other decision makers who might also buy my services in the future? For example, where is the video being shown or distributed – ?

    - How will my company brand be recognized or “credited” for doing this project?

    - Is this a subject or cause that I personally care about or I’m passionate about? Is it in line with my values? Would I still be happy doing this even if the venture failed and didn’t make me money? If you are going to take a risk like that and it fails to generate revenue, it is important that at least along the way you had fun, or you feel like you made a difference.

    - Will this video allow me new opportunities to shoot/edit in environments or scenarios that I haven’t before? Will I learn something or improve my skill in areas that I have not before? Will I need to use new software, equipment, techniques or tools that I don’t know today?

    - Will the video production value be “portfolio worthy?” Something that will have a WOW factor?

    - Does the video have a flexible delivery timeframe or will I be facing a potential deadline that I’ll need to meet?

    - Can I do all the tasks for the video myself or am I going to have to pay out of pocket for other resources — e.g. voice over or actors, equipment?

    - Does the prospective partner have a full marketing plan and distribution plan? Have they run successful businesses in the past? What are the odds that I will see any meaningful revenue or that the video will at least be seen by a large number of people? How big is the potential market for this video? Does the target audience for the video value the information or entertainment in the video and be willing to pay for it? Who will be managing the marketing/distribution?

    - Is the video highly unique or rare subject matter? Is there something that is special or rare about this project or are there already thousands of videos about it.

    - Does the revenue split reflect the risk or investment?

    - What is a reasonable expectation for revenue vs what my estimated costs are? Is there a “reasonable” reason to believe I might at least break even?

    Those would be my decision criteria which I hope might be useful to others.

    –
    Chris Meidell
    President
    Modevation Media

    http://www.Modevation.com
    Follow Me: @cmeidell
    Follow Modevation: @modevation

  • Ken Pearce

    Izzy, I like your attitude. It is the perfect vehicle to get a wanna be like me stared. Jeff is not happy about this because of the potential loss to the pro videographer. Well Jeff don’t sweat it. this is business you would not have gotten anyway. The same argument goes about among magicians, and the same is true. If the client doesn’t have the funds to pay your rate, you will not get that business. On the other hand let the novice get the work that can’t afford the pro. If he does a poor job, you look much better. If a magician does a poor job and showes his (secrets) all magicians suffer.

  • Ken Pearce

    Izzy, I like your attitude. It is the perfect vehicle to get a wanna be like me stared. Jeff is not happy about this because of the potential loss to the pro videographer. Well Jeff don’t sweat it. this is business you would not have gotten anyway. The same argument goes about among magicians, and the same is true. If the client doesn’t have the funds to pay your rate, you will not get that business. On the other hand let the novice get the work that can’t afford the pro. If he does a poor job, you look much better. If a magician does a poor job and showes his (secrets) all magicians suffer.

  • http://www.tangozen.com Chan Park

    What a great idea! I think everybody will win from this idea. I would like to add my support to this call to action. Please count me in.

  • http://www.tangozen.com Chan Park

    What a great idea! I think everybody will win from this idea. I would like to add my support to this call to action. Please count me in.

  • freddy

    AFTER READING SOME OF THE RESPONSES TO YOUR IDEA, I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING. WHEN I ASKED YOU IF YOU KNEW OF ANY WAY TO SEEK OUT PROPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO SWAP FREE PRODUCTION FOR PARTNERSHIP, I DIDN’T MEAN PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A FREE RIDE. I’M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GREAT IDEA, AND SOMEONE WHO HAS THE MARKETING SKILLS TO GET THIS “PROJECT” OFF THE GROUND. I’VE HAD MY FILL OF THE “FREEBIES” MYSELF, AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY, WHEN YOUR JUST STARTING OUT AND LEARNING, THEN YES, BY ALL MEANS DO BIRTHDAYS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY. IT’S NOT SO EASY TO MAKE THE BUCKS WHEN ALL YOU HAVE IS A “CLUE” TO WHAT YOUR DOING.

    IT’S ALSO A GOOD WAY TO FIND OUT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS FOR A LIVING. I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS GROWING UP WATCHING FOR BOOMS, CONTINUITY, REFLECTIONS FOR CAMERA, LIGHTING, ETC, AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS IN MY BLOOD. SO, THOSE OF YOU WHO QUIT THEIR JOBS TO STRIKE IT RICH MAKING MOVIES OR THE LIKE, GET OUT THERE AND PRACTICE AND GIVE IT ALL YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE ABSOLUTE BEST. PRACTICE WITH THE CAMERA YOU HAVE, AND SEE IF YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES. GOOD LUCK, AND KEEP WATCHING IZZY’S TUTORIAL VIDEOS AND HE’LL POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION . (stepping down from the soap box now) lol

  • freddy

    AFTER READING SOME OF THE RESPONSES TO YOUR IDEA, I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO CLARIFY SOMETHING. WHEN I ASKED YOU IF YOU KNEW OF ANY WAY TO SEEK OUT PROPLE WHO ARE WILLING TO SWAP FREE PRODUCTION FOR PARTNERSHIP, I DIDN’T MEAN PEOPLE WHO ARE JUST LOOKING FOR A FREE RIDE. I’M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE A GREAT IDEA, AND SOMEONE WHO HAS THE MARKETING SKILLS TO GET THIS “PROJECT” OFF THE GROUND. I’VE HAD MY FILL OF THE “FREEBIES” MYSELF, AND BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY, WHEN YOUR JUST STARTING OUT AND LEARNING, THEN YES, BY ALL MEANS DO BIRTHDAYS FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND GET YOUR HANDS DIRTY. IT’S NOT SO EASY TO MAKE THE BUCKS WHEN ALL YOU HAVE IS A “CLUE” TO WHAT YOUR DOING.

    IT’S ALSO A GOOD WAY TO FIND OUT FROM FAMILY AND FRIENDS IF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO DO THIS FOR A LIVING. I WAS ONE OF THOSE KIDS GROWING UP WATCHING FOR BOOMS, CONTINUITY, REFLECTIONS FOR CAMERA, LIGHTING, ETC, AND I HAVE ALWAYS HAD THIS IN MY BLOOD. SO, THOSE OF YOU WHO QUIT THEIR JOBS TO STRIKE IT RICH MAKING MOVIES OR THE LIKE, GET OUT THERE AND PRACTICE AND GIVE IT ALL YOU HAVE TO MAKE THE ABSOLUTE BEST. PRACTICE WITH THE CAMERA YOU HAVE, AND SEE IF YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES. GOOD LUCK, AND KEEP WATCHING IZZY’S TUTORIAL VIDEOS AND HE’LL POINT YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION . (stepping down from the soap box now) lol

  • Daniele de Lutzel, France

    Izzy,in principle this is a great idea. One of the reasons I’m learning video is to realize my own ideas.
    I noticed two things in general with demands of people on your skills:
    1.the less they know about it, the more they misjudge the time, material(=bound capital)and effort needed.
    2. Often it is considered as a ‘favour’ as anyway you know how to do this, not a skill that in any situation deserves revenue (“I could do it myself, but you’ll do it so much faster”).
    So I guess the conditions to working on such a scheme would be that both parties are equally passionate about the project. That there is professionalism in managing the project. That the two sides are considered as entrepreneurs collectively investing in the project. As a paid worker you get paid an agreed price, as an entrepreneur you invest with an uncertain gain. And that there is ethics involved as to propriety of ideas, scripts etc. if there is a future conflict.
    Once you get involved in a non business scheme, even with friends, it always helps to lay out the agreement in writing. Helps a lot if something hasn’t been understood correctly and it engages erverybody to stick to the project until the end.

  • Daniele de Lutzel, France

    Izzy,in principle this is a great idea. One of the reasons I’m learning video is to realize my own ideas.
    I noticed two things in general with demands of people on your skills:
    1.the less they know about it, the more they misjudge the time, material(=bound capital)and effort needed.
    2. Often it is considered as a ‘favour’ as anyway you know how to do this, not a skill that in any situation deserves revenue (“I could do it myself, but you’ll do it so much faster”).
    So I guess the conditions to working on such a scheme would be that both parties are equally passionate about the project. That there is professionalism in managing the project. That the two sides are considered as entrepreneurs collectively investing in the project. As a paid worker you get paid an agreed price, as an entrepreneur you invest with an uncertain gain. And that there is ethics involved as to propriety of ideas, scripts etc. if there is a future conflict.
    Once you get involved in a non business scheme, even with friends, it always helps to lay out the agreement in writing. Helps a lot if something hasn’t been understood correctly and it engages erverybody to stick to the project until the end.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/d65fitzer Fitz Randolph

    This is a great idea, which I have doing for some time, but more in the ‘public good’ domain, than making money. Saving water, using public transport, helping others, have been the subject of several of my videos. I’ve done one ‘how-to’ video, Make a Raspberry Jelly Roll, which is now making money selling google ads.
    I’ve teamed up with a creative duo who write and perform children’s songs. We’re going to shoot the song next week and build them a YouTube page as well as market a DVD with this and other songs.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/d65fitzer Fitz Randolph

    This is a great idea, which I have doing for some time, but more in the ‘public good’ domain, than making money. Saving water, using public transport, helping others, have been the subject of several of my videos. I’ve done one ‘how-to’ video, Make a Raspberry Jelly Roll, which is now making money selling google ads.
    I’ve teamed up with a creative duo who write and perform children’s songs. We’re going to shoot the song next week and build them a YouTube page as well as market a DVD with this and other songs.

  • http://www.frontier-media.com Bryan

    Izzy,

    Having been with you and watched you grow from the third podcast I want to say I respect you as a person, a father and a businessman. Given that I really want to say great idea yet from my experience, there are many issues to overcome with these business relationships.

    I’ll start by saying I completely understand the concept of passive income and that a business relationship like this can be a great avenue to that. However, the client in these cases essentially is asking us, the producers, to be the bank. If they had money they would pay us. If they were already a business with no money they would borrow to pay us. The truth is they have no money and only have a good idea and want us to buy into the idea and fund it with our skills and equipment.

    My experience has been that as soon as they ask what kind of camera you are shooting pack up your stuff and go home. Do not provide free consultation to the point that they feel they are up to speed because they will go buy their own equipment. I had one start a production company. Make certain that the other people involved are investing something. If they want to make videos about duck hunting (been there done that) make sure they have to invest extra time describing and explaining duck hunting. Make sure they even have to give up some hunting time to do that. If all you are doing is capturing them doing something they were going to do anyway they have invested nothing. They MUST invest something or it is too easy for them to walk away. When their car breaks down, they have family issues, or they change shift on their day job there is a very good chance the “project” will no longer be top priority and when that happens you will be stuck with a lot of footage and not an end product. A short podcast is not an end prodcut. So given my experiences, I still do participate in these relationships but only when I have control over the website and can shoot all the footage in a day or two. Bottom line is if your going to participate in a business relationship like this pick your partners VERY carefully, maintain full control at all times, and make certain the end product will sell. I’ve just been burned too many times by folks with
    “an idea.” Just my two cents and I hope it helps somebody.

    While on the subject I’ll also say I’m steadily growing tired of the many “contests” available to us. Major industries are refusing to pay for a quality product and instead promote a “contest” where we all supposed to bust our tails for free for some grand prize that is less then half what we should be paid to begin with. I think I’ll have a contest where all these companies send me all their products for free and I’ll make a video about the one I like the best.

  • http://www.frontier-media.com Bryan

    Izzy,

    Having been with you and watched you grow from the third podcast I want to say I respect you as a person, a father and a businessman. Given that I really want to say great idea yet from my experience, there are many issues to overcome with these business relationships.

    I’ll start by saying I completely understand the concept of passive income and that a business relationship like this can be a great avenue to that. However, the client in these cases essentially is asking us, the producers, to be the bank. If they had money they would pay us. If they were already a business with no money they would borrow to pay us. The truth is they have no money and only have a good idea and want us to buy into the idea and fund it with our skills and equipment.

    My experience has been that as soon as they ask what kind of camera you are shooting pack up your stuff and go home. Do not provide free consultation to the point that they feel they are up to speed because they will go buy their own equipment. I had one start a production company. Make certain that the other people involved are investing something. If they want to make videos about duck hunting (been there done that) make sure they have to invest extra time describing and explaining duck hunting. Make sure they even have to give up some hunting time to do that. If all you are doing is capturing them doing something they were going to do anyway they have invested nothing. They MUST invest something or it is too easy for them to walk away. When their car breaks down, they have family issues, or they change shift on their day job there is a very good chance the “project” will no longer be top priority and when that happens you will be stuck with a lot of footage and not an end product. A short podcast is not an end prodcut. So given my experiences, I still do participate in these relationships but only when I have control over the website and can shoot all the footage in a day or two. Bottom line is if your going to participate in a business relationship like this pick your partners VERY carefully, maintain full control at all times, and make certain the end product will sell. I’ve just been burned too many times by folks with
    “an idea.” Just my two cents and I hope it helps somebody.

    While on the subject I’ll also say I’m steadily growing tired of the many “contests” available to us. Major industries are refusing to pay for a quality product and instead promote a “contest” where we all supposed to bust our tails for free for some grand prize that is less then half what we should be paid to begin with. I think I’ll have a contest where all these companies send me all their products for free and I’ll make a video about the one I like the best.

  • http://www.dakphotography.ie David

    Great idea and something we’ve built in to our ‘stills’ business. We are aligned with a few charities that we work with on a regular basis to ‘give something back’, however I didn’t think of the video side of it, but now I will. Thanks.

  • http://www.dakphotography.ie David

    Great idea and something we’ve built in to our ‘stills’ business. We are aligned with a few charities that we work with on a regular basis to ‘give something back’, however I didn’t think of the video side of it, but now I will. Thanks.

  • http://www.kmarmedia.com Ken

    This is absolutely a good suggestion. Not only could it produce income, but it keeps “your chops up.” I learn something every time I do a project. That, alone, is worth something.

  • http://www.kmarmedia.com Ken

    This is absolutely a good suggestion. Not only could it produce income, but it keeps “your chops up.” I learn something every time I do a project. That, alone, is worth something.

  • Andrew

    This is so cool I make movies all the time with my friends.

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