THE PERFECT BLEND OF CREATIVITY & TECHNICALITY
I have been behind the camera for a few years now, but when I decided to pursue a career in videography, my friends and family were curious. Videography and video editing were so different from my previous work as a strength & conditioning coach and personal trainer, that I suppose their curiosity was warranted. “Why do you want to create videos now?” It was a reasonable question, and it was a question that I had to give some thought to. I knew that this transition “felt” right, but I still needed to ponder it and bring some thought to my answers.
When I was running my fitness business, along with my business partner and our contractors, the vast majority of our marketing was done on our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube). Whether I was taking photos of an event that we were holding, or filming one of our movement-correction videos, it just felt “right” to be behind the camera. This wasn’t a feeling that I acknowledged out loud or even in my head - it was just there. I simply liked it – it felt natural. Back in 2018 I remember thinking, “in another life, I’d get into filmmaking!” Now, after some careful thought, I have some answers for my friends and family as to why I chose this path. Videography (filming & editing) is the perfect blend of creativity and technicality.
THE CREATIVE SIDE
Merriam-Webster: CREATIVE (adjective)
marked by the ability or power to create: given to creating
having the quality of something created rather than imitated: imaginative
managed as to get around legal or conventional limits
Videography allows me to use my creative side – the part of me that is visual and intuitive. This includes the vision and design of a project. Whether I am shooting a product/service ad, or I’m shooting a subject like a person, a vehicle, or a home, there needs to be a plan or design for that video. I never just show up, point, and shoot. I always have a “story” in mind for the video and set of emotions that I want to illicit in the viewer. Who or what am I filming? What is the best way of portraying this person or thing? What do I want the viewer(s) to feel? What are the mood and the tone for this project?
THE TECHNICAL SIDE
Merriam-Webster: TECHNICAL (adjective)
having special and usually practical knowledge of a mechanical or scientific subject
marked by or characteristic of specialization
of or relating to technique
I tend to spend more of my time on this side, most days … I suppose you can call it the “left-brain.” The technical side brings the creative design to life. Camera settings, specific camera movements and angles, scene composition, audio, lighting, editing software, and creative assets such as motion graphics and AI voice-overs – I put all of those elements to use when I am building-out my vision.
A videographer needs BOTH the creative and technical side to do great work, even if they tend to occupy one of those spaces more than the other. Without the creative side, I have nothing to do with all of my gear and software. No plan, no vision, no design … no point. Without the technical side, I have no way of creating the grand vision that I have in my head. I can be as creative as I want, but if I cannot bring those ideas into reality, they stay as just that – ideas and thoughts. This work demands both sides of me and I really enjoy the challenge of bringing ideas to life!
ENTERPRENEURSHIP
Another benefit of this work is that it allows me to flex my “entrepreneurial muscles.” After I decided to leave my last industry, I told myself that I would, 1) develop another high-value skill, and 2) find another type of work that was meaningful to me. I checked off both of those boxes with videography.
In researching some of the most “in-demand,” high paying jobs available in the gig-economy today, I kept seeing certain skills come up repeatedly – project management, sales, coding, copywriting, content creation, and social media management. As a videographer, I need a bit of each one of those skills mentioned above, but I dug deeper into content creation and social media management. To my delight, I discovered that filming and video-editing are massively in demand due to video being KING in marketing and advertising today. This line of work offers me the opportunity to make a living as a freelancer or to scale a film and editing business over time. Imagine getting paid to do what you love … well maybe you’re already doing that!
I had a great time in my previous industry, and I did just about everything that I set out to do. My intentions are exactly the same with this line of work - put out high-quality (digital) products for my clients and scale a successful business. I hope that answer satisfies my friends and my family.
Sources:
“creative.” Merriam-Webster.com. 2024. https://merriam-webster.com (August 17, 2024)
“technical.” Merriam-Webster.com. 2024. https://merriam-webster.com (August 17, 2024)
