I was editing a corporate job from a month ago and realized every single interview looked flat because the camera was always at eye level. I switched it up on my next shoot in Phoenix, putting one camera low and framing the subject against a window. The client said it looked 'expensive' and paid me an extra $500. Anyone else found a simple framing trick that clients love?
They needed it fast for a legal case, and being the only one who could deliver in 24 hours made me their go-to. Anyone else had a 'bad' rule work out in their favor?
I was editing a corporate interview from a job in Boston last week and the client's mic was peaking the whole time. It took me two extra hours to clean it up in Audition. I know we focus on the picture, but bad audio can ruin a good video fast. Has anyone else found a simple trick to make checking levels a habit before you hit record?
I was filming a three day event for a tech company in Dallas last spring. They asked for a simple recap video, but on day two they wanted a full set of social clips for each speaker, which added about 15 hours of extra editing. I charged my normal day rate plus a flat fee for the recap, so I basically worked for free on the extra stuff. My friend says I should have stuck to my original quote and charged a big change fee. But part of me thinks eating the cost was worth it because they've booked me for two more jobs since then. How do you guys handle scope creep on a multi-day shoot? Do you lock everything down upfront or stay flexible to keep the client happy?
I was filming a ceremony last June when my main camera just died, no warning. The second shooter handed me their spare, and we didn't miss a beat. Do you guys always bring a backup body, or is that overkill for smaller gigs?
Balancing the camera and my emotions was tougher than any client job.
The bird kept interrupting every scene with loud squawks, so have you ever had to bargain with an animal for quiet footage?
Now I have to explain why I'm using a drone to the police while my client waits.
This pile of cardboard and plastic is out of control.
I got a gig to shoot a video for a new cafe last week. While filming the barista making coffee, the steam from the machine kept clouding my camera lens. It took forever to get a clear shot without wiping it every few seconds. Now I'm wondering if there's a better way to deal with moisture during food shoots. What tricks do you use for filming in humid places like kitchens?
Asking questions early stops confusion later!
I keep pushing deadlines and end up working until sunrise. It's starting to hurt my health and I don't know how to stop.
I was on a budget and couldn't afford a steadycam for run and gun shoots. Instead of buying gear, I practiced holding the camera with both hands and using my body as a stabilizer. I keep my elbows tight and move smoothly from the hips. It's not perfect, but it gets the job done for most situations. Now I can shoot steady scenes without extra equipment. This skill saved me money and helped me be more versatile. If you rely on gear too much, you'll panic when it fails. Learn the basics first, then add tools later.
I manage a few client YouTube channels and need to speed up the SEO process. Should I go with Tubebuddy or Optimizify?