{"id":94022,"date":"2017-08-24T07:00:46","date_gmt":"2017-08-24T12:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/?p=94022"},"modified":"2017-08-22T16:10:12","modified_gmt":"2017-08-22T21:10:12","slug":"guidelines-for-new-video-projects","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.premiumbeat.com\/blog\/guidelines-for-new-video-projects\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Tenets to Consider When Taking on New Video Projects"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let’s take a look at the “Three P’s” of taking on new filmmaking or videography projects: passion, prestige, and profit.<\/h2>\n

Cover image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

As a freelance videographer or editor<\/strong>, you have the luxury (or burden, at times) of choosing the projects you work on<\/strong>. Sometimes, these gigs can be for awesome clients, representing awesome brands<\/strong> that will improve\u00a0your reel while making you some money.<\/p>\n

Other times, you’ll have to\u00a0work for little to no money<\/strong>, for terrible clients, and for boring brands you wouldn’t want anyone to see. So how do you, as a smart investor in your own brand<\/strong>, make these video project decisions?<\/p>\n

Well, let’s explore what I like to call the “Three P’s of Picking Projects.”<\/strong> If you cross-examine a new project with the values of these three tenets (passion, prestige, and profit)<\/strong>, you can make smart decisions to help you improve\u00a0your craft, expand your portfolio, and further your career<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Tenet One: Passion<\/h3>\n

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\n<\/a>Image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

Understanding what makes you tick is a huge part of defining your own success<\/strong>. There are certain types of projects that we all gravitate to that\u00a0don’t feel like work at all. These “passion” projects<\/strong>\u00a0motivate you to dive in, try new things, and make the best work possible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Passion projects are sometimes few and far between<\/strong>. Sometimes, you have to make or find them yourself, but they are highly important to your creative well-being<\/strong>. However, they are also often the types of projects that\u00a0pay the least<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 but, they can be highly prestigious<\/strong> (think of a film getting into a festival, or winning an award).<\/p>\n

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Tenet Two: Prestige<\/h3>\n

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\n<\/a>Image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

When choosing a project, it’s also important to consider how the project will reflect back on you<\/strong>. If you’re in a corporate track, working with big corporate brands may offer a level of prestige<\/strong>\u00a0that validates your work and your brand. Your work could also get a boost by appearing\u00a0on a national stage<\/strong> and garnering thousands more views than anything you could do on your own.<\/p>\n

Sometimes clients can be aware of this (nonprofits and savvy start-up clients do this all the time), and they may ask for cheaper prices or pro-bono work<\/strong> to help elevate your brand with the work.<\/p>\n

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Tenet Three: Profit<\/h3>\n

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\n<\/a>Image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

This may be the most important tenet to consider<\/strong>. If video production is your career, you have to make decisions that\u00a0will make you money to pay your bills<\/strong>. While passion and prestige are important \u2014 and can help garner higher profits in the future \u2014<\/strong>\u00a0at the end of the day, you will always need to consider what a project pays.<\/p>\n

As such, the most profitable projects\u00a0are often the least prestigious and inspire\u00a0the least passion<\/strong>. Some examples might include<\/strong> medical industry work, long-form HR training video series, or corporate explainer videos \u2014 to name a few…<\/p>\n

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How to Maximize All Three<\/b><\/h3>\n

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\n<\/a>Image via Shutterstock<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

So, if these are the three tenets of your video project decision-making rubric<\/strong>, your goal as a video professional is to find ways to maximize all three.<\/p>\n

1) Be upfront with potential clients about which tenets are lacking in a project.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When considering projects and talking with clients, I’ve found it helpful to be upfront about what I’m\u00a0good at, what I’d like to do, and what I expect as\u00a0fair pay<\/strong>. If they’re asking for work that doesn’t satisfy all three tenets, let them know and give them options. There are very rare instances when clients offer perfect projects off-the-bat. It usually takes communication and negotiation to find the sweet spot<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

2) Fill in the gaps yourself.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If there are no ways\u00a0to account for lacking tenets, be proactive and find ways to do it yourself<\/strong>. If you know you’ll be doing a bunch of profitable but boring work<\/strong> for several weeks, find fun passion projects to work on during the weekend<\/strong>. Maybe volunteer your time for a nonprofit to try a new technique you’re excited to use<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

If you’re only working fun projects that aren’t paying the bills, you may need to buck up and take on some profitable work<\/strong>\u00a0to build up your brand for\u00a0more prestigious work.<\/p>\n

3) Don’t take on projects that sap your ability to balance the three.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At the end of the day, if you aren’t finding that balance of passion, prestige, and profit, your work is going to suffer<\/strong>, and your career\u00a0can become\u00a0untenable.\u00a0It’s up to you to understand your video project decision rubric and what’s best for your career<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For more tips about navigating the world of freelance video production and editing<\/strong>, check out the following resources.<\/p>\n