Advice for Starting a Professional Video Career

Charting a path in the video profession.

In most professions, one of the most daunting stages is just getting started. Moving forward into unfamiliar territory feels like stepping off solid ground into the abyss. It always helps to have some sort of direction to give at least some feeling of familiarity.

Over the years we have discussed strategies for getting started as a video professional in your local market. Today we'll look back at the top five DV Fanatics blogs that provide advice for a career in digital video.

The lis of past blogs has been placed in a somewhat chronological order.

How to Become a Video Editor - This is a discussion of the importance of learning the grammar of film and video first. In another words, how best to tell your story. The video tool you learn on is not as important as learning the craft itself.

Creative Professionals: Learn By Doing - There are some people who need to read a book or manual before they can tackle a new tool and then there are those who need to learn by complete immersion. I happen to be the type of person who needs to learn by doing.

Is Being Just a Video Editor Enough? - These days a successful video editor must know all of the support tools to the video editing system and must be able to jump from one system to the next without hesitation.

Freelance Video Editing: Determining Your Rate - Keep in mind that it's important both to you and the existing market, not to price yourself too far below the market range. Doing so sets an expectation that lowers the value of the editing craft.

Video Services Provided for Free - When performing the duties of a video professional, you should never do a project if you feel that you are getting absolutely nothing out of it. For instance, when doing charity work, you are getting something out of it - there is a feeling of using your skills to help the greater good.

Before starting any journey, it's always a good idea to have a map. When starting a new profession, any information you can get your hands on can become that map. I hope DV Fanatics can help you build a map for the journey you are about to begin.