I Hire Videographers a LOT... Best Advice I can Give You.

TLDR: Be a Better Hang

After Over a Decade of filmmaking, corporate videography, television writing, feature film editing, and camera operating I've found one piece of advice to be universally true:

If you want to grow your business focus on growing SOCIALLY.

Let me explain.

I have hired many BTS videographers over the years to capture behind-the-scenes content for television productions. People of all backgrounds, skill levels, and personality types.

There is only one commonality between them...

They were all people I respected, trusted, and ENJOYED SPENDING TIME WITH.

There are even examples where outright I would hire a LESS skilled videographer at a competitive day rate because he/she was a good person and had a fun energy. Every single client I have ever worked with has done the same.

When you grow up hearing how vital knowing your craft is, it's easy to only focus on that. How to expose, camera selection, better lighting, etc.

This is the truth...

Being a good hang is a huge part of this craft.

Not sold?

Let me give a real life example. I was traveling the country a few years ago filming corporate content for a large Fortune 500 client. Myself, another videographer, and the producer were the crew (It was during COVID so we were operating with as few people as possible).

For WEEKS I watched as the other videographer was just a generally negative presence on set. Told long rambling stories, overshared about his divorce, took too many phone calls, and just generally wasn't an uplifting presence.

But here's the thing... He was INCREDIBLE at lighting and setting up interviews.

Still, It didn't matter.

I watched as he was never hired again and replaced with someone much less experienced and the product suffered.

The client didn't care AT ALL. What they cared about was the process of actually filming, and not having to deal with that videographer's personality. I've seen this same thing dozens and dozens of times.

Point being, treat social skills like a part of your craft, try to gain self awareness, and know that in an industry that is largely word of mouth almost EVERYONE is a personality hire.