Videographer

Videographer
Vital Information-----------------------------------------------------------------Start-up Investment
Low - $1,000 or less for home-based operation
High - $100,000 and up for outside offices and acquisition ofsophisticated equipment.----------------------------------------------------------------Break-even time - 2 months to 1 year-----------------------------------------------------------------Estimate of Annual Revenue and Profit
Revenue $30,000 - $800,000Profit (Pre-tax) $20,000 - $250,000-----------------------------------------------------------------
A Market With Continued Major Growth
New video technology of recent years has created opportunitiesfor a new segment of professional videographers. While certaintypes of video-taping will require a highly skilled videographerin assignments such as sports events, or a stage presentation,other assignments such as the taping of individuals for a datingservice, legal depositions, insurance matters, and most socialevents will mostly require good knowledge of the equipment,experience, and the ability to work with various groups.
The marketability and demand for various services is almostunlimited. Video presentations are more commonly used now onsales presentations of all types, various insurance claimmatters, real estate sales, all types of training material and ina variety of other situations. The market is really only limitedby the ability of the videographer to sell his services for avariety of purposes.
Finding Customers Who Need Your Services
The Individual who has a good personality and enjoys mixing withpeople will have a marked advantage in this field. Since manyindividuals, organizations or companies may never have consideredto utilize video for their event or presentation the trick is tocreate the demand through the sale.
Networking your services through a group of friends andassociates will be most effective along with advertising.Advertising may be used to reach the social event buyer as in thecase of wedding and barmitzvahs and advertising in businesspublications for a variety of business services. Yellow Pageadvertising will also be an excellent way to get known in yourcommunity. Direct mail properly followed up in personal andtelephone sales contacts will also be quite effective.
Churches, hotels, restaurants, florists, jewelers, clubs andother organizations and businesses servicing the social marketwill also be able to generate new leads. Getting your name out toas many of these companies as possible will be a major plus. Itis easy to track social events yourself. Check the social pagesin your newspapers for engagement announcements and synagoguerecords for upcoming batmizah . You can then match names againstthose in the phone book and will be able to mail your brochure orflyer.
You may even consider specializing in a certain market segmentas, e.g. legal videographing. Before you embark on this marketfind out what laws are in your state pertaining to videotapingfor legal purposes. They differ substantially by state. Anexcellent way to get started may be to try associating with courtreporting service. In states where it is legal, many of theseservices now tape the deposition in addition to keeping a writtenrecord of it.
Another fertile market may be to initiate a direct marketingcampaign to an affluent neighborhood to sell video-tapingservices of valuables for insurance records.
In your sales presentations to various businesses, the timesavings that can be accomplished through video presentationsshould be stressed. A real estate agent can save hours of timewhich can be utilized to generate more sales by utilizing videopresentations of residences rather than driving potential buyersall over town.
You may be able effectively use bartering to get your businessgoing. For example, you may want to video-tape one or morecatering events for a carter and in return have the carterrecommend your company. The free video-taping of a social eventfor the owner of a graphic design business or for a printer mayget you a free brochure.
The Operation of Your Video-Taping Business
Operationally it will be rather easy to get started. Depending onyour budget you have the choice of buying equipment outrightwhich can be quite expensive, or you can finance, or rent it. Ifyou are on a relatively tight budget, or are not quite sure ifyou want to pursue this business long term it would beadvantageous to go with the rental option. You will be able torent all the basic equipment required for the taping of most anyevent, such as as camera, player, color monitor, lights and soundequipment. You can even rent editing equipment, or you may wantto utilize an editing service in the beginning. A van or stationwagon to lug the equipment round will be very helpful.
Other expenses will be for basic office supplies, telephone andanswering machine, a professional brochure or 2 to 4 page flyer,business cards, etc.
While specializing in a given area such as social events,business services, or something else will probably make goodbusiness sense over the long term, it may be advantageous topursue all markets during the first year. This will build revenuequicker and you will be able to determine which market you enjoymost.
Working social events can be trying. Some knowledge of socialetiquette and how a certain event should be conducted will bevery helpful. Even more, be sure you know who is truly in chargeof the event. Each event will have is own little idiosyncrasiesdepending on the participants. It may be that a given relativeshould be taped more than someone else. Whoever calls the shotswill be able to direct you.
Surely this business is ideal to be started from your home. Asyour business grows a design a design studio can be rented. Onceyou have the basic equipment in place, most of your revenue willgo to the bottom line, unless you are renting equipment. It istherefore often possible to generate a profit relatively quickly.
While it may be necessary to grant credit to establishedbusinesses and organizations,it is not recommended that you grantcredit for social events. To do so is not commonly done even byhotels and restaurants and is generally considered quite a riskypractice.
Resources
Books & Publications: An excellent book is: "How to Capitalize onthe Video Revolution", Holt, Rinehart & Winston, New York, NY
Videography Magazine, 50 West 23rd St.,New York, NY 10011Broadcast Week, Box 5727, 2500 Curtis St.,S-200, Denver, CO 80205Organizations: Women in Film & Video, 27 West 20th St.,New York,NY 10011-212-206-8555
Film councils can be found in most larger cities.
For additional information helpful in setting up your newbusiness, information about licenses, permits, the legalstructure of your business, taxes, insurance and much more referto the Business Start-Up Fact Finder Manual.