Today I want to talk about something that can relate to any filmmaker or even photographer. I am going to list the top 5 mistakes most filmmakers/photographers make when they are fist starting out. Please share this post with your filmmaker/photographer friends and family as this will benefit them too.
Starting a business in the film/photography industry is very exciting yet very costly, if you don’t know what you’re doing. The first mistake that people make is buying too many expensive things at once.
- Before looking into something very expensive I suggest starting off with average consumer gear to practice on. That way when you have your expensive gear you will be prepared to professionally use it and make money.
- Never overcomplicate things. If a shot requires a small amount of gear, like a Glidecam for a tracking shot, don’t try and add a ton more gear to capture the SAME shot…if you want to use your other gear, plan a different shot because variety is better than having the same shot over and over.
- Watch your exposure and use your zebra indicators. A lot of amateur footage I see is either over or under exposed. I had the same issue starting out…Use your zebra indicator to help you out with exposure.
- Watch your focus! Using SLRs or DSLRs are difficult to keep in focus. So make sure that focus is your priority! Use a monitor and the magnify function on your camera to check focus. Once you become comfortable with your camera, focus will no longer be a concern, so practice focusing!
- When starting out, offer your services for FREE. Yes, you read that right! FREE! That’s how I started out, it was like my own internship. This way if you mess up on a shoot your “client” will be more flexible when money is not involved, plus you get real life experience with problems and solutions. (This is how I got a lot of exposure)
These are 5 top mistakes that most beginners make and I suggest you read that list over and over again. You will be surprised how much this will help you. Have fun filming!
