Right guys I need some advice.
Basically I want to make a living through filming and am having a bit of trouble. In my second year at uni I started up my video company and after about a year at trying, things started to be go well. A few months ago I had steady-ish work and was filming videos for schools and the NHS. Then suddenly for no obvious reason work just stopped coming in.

I therefore started to plug at wedding videos. I've got leaflets in newspapers and adverts all over the internet. I charge less than pretty much everybody and today I just had a table at a wedding fayre in which I was more or less ignored for five hours.

There is just absolutely nothing coming in and I'm not sure what I'm doing wrong. Any advice as to what I'm doing wrong or anything else I could do would be really useful.

You are probably doing nothing wrong, its more likely the recession biting.


PB

I agree with Paintboffin, self employment is always peaks and troughs and the way it is at the moment, more likely to be troughs. I've been self employed for around 28 years and at a stage were i don't have to worry that much, on saying that i wouldn't like to be starting up now or be a fledgling business.
Its important to know when to get out and not let a business drag you under. I also know all to well, one minute you have nothing on and after a few incoming calls you end up with a few weeks work.
Its one of those things only you can decide what to do, good luck.

I used to be self employed a few years ago but unfortunately I went under went Camel Lairds went, They took out many local businesses at that time thanks to Thatcher.
I would not like to be in a business starting position in the current business climate now though.

Lets hope the recession is over soon, there is just no spare money about ATM.

PB

don't give up try putting some flyers in hairdressers, free adverts in places like Wilkinsons local shops. Keep going because I do Avon sometimes orders flood in other times it is hard going. Another place to try is the local parish mag. they don't charge much for adverts. If you do a good job word of mouth goes a long way. Just don't give up go over old territory and keep going. Good luck. Diane

There was somebody on here the other day looking for someone to film her wedding. It might be worth having a look for it. Good luck with your business.

The two things we are doing are business promos and wedding videos. With the business videos I understand that people might not have the money to market themselves in that way. However with weddings people still seem to be spending thousands and thousands of pounds.

For not much money we film the whole day into a dvd which people can then watch forever. As we're only just starting we cost a fraction of what most photographers do. The benefit of video over photography is that things like vows and speeches can obviously be relived more effectively than just a photo of them.

I know people will be willing to pay for what we do I just can't seem to find them. At the next table to us today a photographer was booked for £1500. If they'll pay that for photos I know people will be willing to spend a third of that on us. The fact that we keep not hearing anything makes me think I must be doing something wrong. I just can't figure out exactly what. Thanks for all your advice though guys.

Hello Punchit .Have you thought of going into Tiffany`s on the corner of Mill Lane wallasey opposite the fire station,(or any other wedding dress shop) suggest a 10 percent off and asking if you could leave some of your leaflets on the counter .First point of call for a wedding would be the dress there you go good luck June

Hi June,
That's a good idea. We have put leaflets out in shops and places but but haven't been to Tiffany's. I guess it can't hurt us to try so thank you!

My understanding of that passage is that you do cheap video, and only video.

Brides, and grooms, like to carry photo's of their big day so they can show to all and sundry, whenever, where ever necessary.

That is something they can't do with a DVD, if they want cheap video, they'll get uncle Billy to do it on his phone, and pay a proper photographer to take the wedding photo's.

Answer would seem to suggest that you buy a stills camera and learn to use it, or team up with some one who has and can use it.

Don't take this next bit the wrong way, it's meant to be constructive, not insulting.

Raise your prices so prospective customers will think you're serious and not some cowboy on the make, it's most womens big day, they know if it's done properly it doesn't come cheap.

Best of luck with your future prospects.

Punchit get some leaflets to Heidi`s in Wallasey Village and we will put some in the window for you and if you like i will take some to Tiffany`s for you .I think Silverback hit the nail on the head though ,Do put your price`s up ,dont be afraid of doing that ,At the end of the day we all want to earn a living and maybe you can then comfortably give 10 percent off,June

June that's really nice of you thank you very much!
We'll try and make it down to Heidi's tomorrow or the day after. Thank You!

And Silverback as for us being cheap... Well we realise that we are new to this so we just want to attract some attention by undercutting others doing the same. Obviously this wouldn't be forever. Just a few to get the ball rolling. Maybe this is a mistake and does make us sound cheap though.

An example of the kind of video we can make is below on youtube. As you can see it is of a professional quality and a lot better than somebody untrained could do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J71q-j9Xd6g
However I do take your point and this is something I'm going to have to think about.

Bit of advice, on low zoom shots and when you are panning the camera .... switch image stabilizers off on the camera, it causes jerky panning as the stabilizer achieves and loses lock all the time.

You fished for five hours and caught nothing, guy on next table caught one into four figures............

If you show no confidence in your work, why should prospective customers.

Cheap is cheap for a reason, usually it means second or third rate.

There will be no chance of re shoots, it's one of those once in a lifetime things.

The customer knows this, and no matter how little money they have they will want to try to ensure they will get the best they can.

I was involved in the wedding industry for many years, so feel well qualified to offer a few words of advice;
I presume you had a sample wedding video playing at the wedding fair, prospective brides and grooms like to see an example of your work.
Very important, you need to be very 'smiley;, approach people, just chat to them, get a dialogue going, be aware that most business is by reccomendation, so once you get some bookings, it should be easier to build on that.
Try and work with other wedding suppliers, ie. Florists, meswear Hire, Jewellers,Stationers, Venues, DJ's, Bridal Shops, Hairdressers that specialise in Wedding Hair.
Also Bridal Fairs can be hard going, a good fifty percent of the poeple coming through the door, will have already booked everything, and are just on a day out, it's pretty rare to actually book anything on the day, but by being memorable, you can pick up business later on, remember some couples are looking two years ahead!!
One word of caution, lots of people think the Wedding Business is a lovely industry to be involved in, beleive me it's probably one of the hardest things to break in to going, and it's only for the Brave, Good Luck!!!!

Hi Katiechops,
That's really great advice. We did have a couple of videos showing at our table yes. I think our biggest mistake from yesterday was in expecting people to talk to us. I think next time we will be handing out leaflets to people in order to break the ice and start chatting. Like you say we probably won't get bookings right away but it can't hurt to make them aware of us now.

When you say we should work with other wedding suppliers what advice would you give there? Do you mean we should give them a percentage for every recommendation or that we should just leave fliers with them? Like I mentioned up until now we've been doing business video adverts so the procedures of the wedding world are a little new to me.