And I don't mean side-cropped horizontal, but share that too if you feel so compelled. It's just not what I'm looking for.

I've only shot a few vertical video gigs, usually only when a social media manager specifically requests 9x16 raw clips. Otherwise I'd be side-cropping too. But I'm sure my vertical setup (pictured for interviews) isn't ideal compared to those of you who do it a lot more.

Hi everyone,

I am sure this has been posted thousands of times before but I'm looking for some advice from people who have gone freelance in videography or filmmaking, particularly when it comes to finding clients and actually making a living from it.

I currently work full time as a videographer / video editor in London, but I'd love to eventually go freelance and hopefully make the jump sometime next year. I've been doing video work for a few years now and have my own portfolio website, but finding paying clients is the bit I'm not too sure about.

One idea I've had is to start going into local independent businesses, cafes, restaurants, shops etc and handing out my business cards. Rather than just walking in and asking if they need any video work done, I'd try to have a genuine conversation, show an interest in what they do and see if there's an opportunity to help them with video content. Has anyone tried this? Did it actually lead to any work, or is there a better way to approach it?

I'd also love to eventually get into travel and documentary filmmaking, travelling to different places and telling stories, although I realise that's probably a difficult area to break into, especially when starting out. I'm happy to take on other types of video work to build up my experience, contacts and income in the meantime.

A few things I'd love to hear your thoughts on:

• How did you get your first few paying clients when you started freelancing?

• Is approaching local businesses in person worth doing, or would you focus more on emails, networking or social media?

• How did you work out what to charge, especially when you were starting out?

• For anyone working in travel or documentary filmmaking, how did you get into that side of the industry?

• Equipment wise, I currently own a Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K and am thinking about upgrading at some point. What cameras and other kit would you recommend for freelance work? Is upgrading actually worth it, or is it better to stick with what you have until the work starts coming in?

I'm trying to be sensible about it and build things up alongside my full time job rather than just quitting and hoping for the best.

Would really appreciate hearing about people's experiences, what worked for you, and anything you wish you'd known before going freelance.

Cheers!

My first take on a stylized wedding concept shoot. Let me know what you think!

I live on the coast and it’s often very windy. I recorded a load of clips this weekend of strong wind and crashing waves and the audio is much better than without the mic but the windshield is also not good enough to stop distortion.

Should I buy a second windshield and double bag it?

Hi all - looking for some help here. I (absolutely no videography experience whatsoever) am trying to help my wife balance her Sony A7 IV camera with lens. I’ve managed to get this far in the setup, and am now trying to balance the tilt axes. Per the videos I’m watching, the camera should be able to tilt up and not move forward / backwards. However, the lens is simply too heavy - it collapses in both directions no matter what I try to do. The combined weight is ostensibly 3.5lbs, so the gimbal should be able to handle it.

What am I doing wrong? Any tips? TIA

I'm an avid amateur videographer (youth sports & performing arts, community events, some travel / outdoor) and I'm considering adding a manual stabilizer for mobility vs fixed tripod always. I need help figuring out which features really matter as I'm down to three options.

1. How important are fine tuning knobs on the head?

2. How likely is it that I'll want to buy a vest & arm in the future?

3. For vest & arm rigs, does the maximum payload weight mean just the camera rig? Or camera and stabilizer together?

Thanks in advance!

I finally got a dedicated video camera in the form of the Blackmagic 6k Full Frame, and I am loving it so far. The monitor, the way the camera feels in the hand, the image. I've only ever used photography lenses on my A7III, but I'd love to get better at manually focusing and using lenses with more character.

Currently, the Lumix S9 18-40 kit lens is my only L-mount lens. I've done research on good starter cinema glass, but I was curious if there was anyone who could share their experience with some of the ones I have my eye on, or if they recommend I simply hold off and avoid any of these options entirely.

1. 7artisans Spectrum - I like the image quality, but there are some issues like focus breathing and color inconsistency. Still, it's hard to beat $250-$300 per lens.

2. 7artisans Dream - I really love the look of these, and they are similarly priced to the Spectrums, but I do worry a bit about the 2ft minimum focus distance.

3. Variety of Sirui anamorphic lenses - Sirui is doing a big sale on a lot of their anamorphic lenses, perhaps the most intriguing of which is the Venus 50mm for $300.

4. Sirui VP-1 - The most expensive set of lenses, but I love the versatility of changing out mounts since I might keep at least one Sony camera around. I dont love the footage I've seen from people using them so far, but they don't look bad at all.

Of course, I could just keep on keeping on with vintage lenses, can't go wrong there. I'm looking to get more into documentaries, and I help shoot short films from time to time. These lenses would basically be for narrative work. Any testimonies or advice would be welcome. I try not to worry about gear too much, but I also like to know as much as I can before a purchase.

Hey fellow filmmakers,

I’m Don, an Australian writer/director. For my latest short, Click Clack, Front & Caps, we filmed in a moving car across the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The production involved multiple base camps, follow cars and coordinating transport while making the scene feel like an intimate moment between the characters. I wrote, directed, produced and edited the film.

The story follows Eve on the drive home after an all-night hotel party. She finally gets a moment alone with her brother’s best mate and shoots her shot, but he’s coming up on MDMA.

Full film, just under 10 minutes:
https://youtu.be/edf5Slu6Z6U

Happy to discuss the production logistics and what I learned making it.

Hey all! I am tasked with shooting a series of interviews on a designed set. Inspirations is below. I have an FX3, A7V, and will probably rent another FX3 or similar. For lighting I’m thinking 3 P300Cs (two cross lighting the subjects from behind with one in front to bring up level). I will also attach egg crates for spill. I want it to be really soft and deliberate. The space is big but the ceiling average height. Will have tan cloth backdrop, two plants on each side of talent, two chairs and an end table. Also thinking of adding tube lights to the background to add interest.

My question is should I bring bigger diffusion cloths and flags for lighting? Am I overlooking something? I’m not the best when it comes to audio so I’d like to also ask you all what would be a good audio setup.

Context to all of this is that it’s out of state and I need to either buy and return pack it my luggage or rent it along with the other lighting equipment. Further context is they expect a few of these interviews (~15 minutes each) done by the end of the night each day for 3 days. I’m even considering doing like atem? switcher and do it live to save time. Idk

https://pin.it/Mswkvaw8z
Take a look! 📌

A collection of moments from my travels through Norway, exploring its landscapes and documenting the journey along the way.

Shot on Lumix S5IIX, Lumix S 50mm f/1.8, and Lumix S 20–60mm f/3.5–5.6.

Graded in DaVinci Resolve.

Hey everyone!

Frame.io has a great iOS app, but on Android we’ve been stuck using the mobile browser for years.

To fix that, I built Final(ish) — a native, free, and open-source Android client powered by the official Frame.io V4 API. It’s built from scratch using Kotlin, Jetpack Compose, and Media3, optimized for both phones and tablets.

What it does:

• Precision Player: Frame-by-frame stepping, timecode display, aspect ratio masks, and variable speeds.
• Review & Markups: Time-coded comments, range comments, on-frame pen drawing, and version approval.
• Version Stacks: Compare cuts side-by-side or with a wipe slider.
• Offline & Demo Mode: Works offline with cached media, and includes an instant Demo Mode with sample projects if you want to test it before signing in.

🔍 Heads-Up on Current API Limitations:

Because Final(ish) relies on the public Frame.io V4 API, a couple of things have to open in the browser until Adobe/Frame.io exposes them in the API:

• Comment replies & @mentions: You can read replies, but posting a reply currently redirects to the web cut.
• External review links: The API only allows accessing accounts you belong to; links sent from external accounts open in the mobile browser.

How to test the Closed Beta:

The app is currently in Closed Beta on Google Play:

1. Join the testers group: https://groups.google.com/g/finalish-testers/
2. Opt in on Google Play: https://play.google.com/apps/testing/dev.finalish (tap "Become a tester")
3. Download it directly from the Play Store!

• Direct APK (GitHub Releases): https://github.com/TeoVader/finalish/releases/latest
• Source code (GPL-3.0): https://github.com/TeoVader/finalish
• Found a bug? Shake your phone inside the app to report it.

(Note: Requires a Frame.io V4 account signed in via Adobe ID).

Built with AI assistance under my architectural design, direct supervision, and manual testing on physical devices.

I’d love to hear how it runs on your devices and what features you’d like to see next!

Shot on iPhone 15 no heavy editing

So my business is in a cashflow squeeze and we are looking to cut costs wherever possible. Vimeo is ridiculously expensive for what they are so are the first to go. However, Vimeo has simply put up their prices (again) and autorenewed. They did not send a message prior to this but this is the UK. We can simply cancel it and get a refund.

Because the law in the UK is the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 (DMCCA) means they legally have to refund us if we notify them of cancellation within 14 days of the renewal.

Except Vimeo doesn't do that. On their website, when I've tried to cancel, they have not offered a refund and instead want to illegally keep my money. And simultaneously cancel. So basically the worst of all worlds.

Anyone have any ideas? Is there a phone number? Someone there I can speak to?

Considering one for documentary, to be smaller than my C200's, and more modular, but with a similar hours long battery life, higher record formats, interchangeable-lenses and external EVF/monitor options.

I know it is missing things like internal NDs, and on-body XLRs. But it has somethings that a lot of cameras in the budget dont, like high bit rate, high bit depth, and higher frame rate 4k. Plus MFT is really nice for videoproduction.

My budget is ~$1000-$1500 CAD or ~$713-$1067 USD (this camera, here, comes in at about $1500).

So far I really like it and have one for sale near me. What are some potential production downsides that would make it in-ideal?

I’m filming a 3-person talk show(probably more in the future) and struggling with microphone bleed and the amount of audio editing required in DaVinci Resolve.
Current setup:
● RØDE Wireless PRO with Lavalier II microphones
● DJI Mic
● Sennheiser MKE 600 for general audio
● Zoom H6 and Zoom F3 recorders
Everyone has their own audio track, but the lavaliers pick up quite a bit of the other speakers, making post-production tedious.
I’m considering a few options:
1. Upgrading to better lavaliers (Sanken COS-11D, DPA, etc.).
2. Using two overhead boom mics to cover all three people.
3. Switching to three Behringer XM8500 dynamic mics connected directly to my Zoom H6.
I’d prefer keeping microphones out of frame, but audio quality and an efficient editing workflow are more important.
Budget: around $1,000 max, preferably much less.
What would you recommend? Is upgrading the lavaliers actually worth it, or should I change my recording approach entirely?

Hi All!

I try shooting these low angle shots using Samsung s23 ultra and DJI om 4 gimbal but shots aren't stable.

Is this because of shaky hand, having gimbal doesn't help in this case?

Hey everyone!

​Shifting gears from on-set hero tools to the editing desk:

​How’s your current setup treating you? Are you running a beast of a rig, or squeezing every last drop of life out of a older laptop like me?

​My computer is currently struggling to keep up with 4K 50fps multicam without losing timeline flow. Though I have to admit, buying a humble Anker 9-in-1 hub and a 1TB Samsung SSD recently felt like a total life upgrade. Simple tools for the win!

​Quick questions for the community:

​Proxies or no proxies? Are you creating them religiously or risking it all on native files?

​The new NVIDIA Spark chips: Total game-changer or just hype for videographers? Would you buy in?

​Let’s hear about your setups, your timeline headaches, and any small gear tricks saving your daily life!

So as the title implies I'm kind of torn between two things right now.

I want to have either a stabilizer like the DJI Mobile 4/5/6/7/8. the DJI Ronin or something like the DJI pocket 4p to videotape B roll footage or just in general better looking shots. Once I'm further along I would also like to make videos of cars driving but that is about a year or so out at this point.

And because if I use my current setup (iphone 17 pro max and the Blackmagic camera app) the stabilization works, but the moments where I walk are still very wobbly/shakey.

What would my best course of action be with this? should I just get an older stablizer like the DJI osmo mobile 4 or something or is this a skill issue that can be learned to fix in post, like Davinci?

again any and all help is appreciated because right now I'm not sure a secondhand 40 bucks dji gimbal could help me with what I want or if it's better to save up and get something dedicated like the pocket 4p.

(I do want to add, I am refering to DJI stuff in this post a lot purely because I am very new to all of this and DJI is one of the brands I know the two products of. if you have other things/brands I'd love to hear it)

Im really lost on what tripod to get for my motorsports videography.

I have been looking at some of smallrig's tripods. First i looked at smallrigs AD14 Carbon Fiber Heavy Duty Tripod but then figured out that the the length is too long to possible fit in my suitcase. Then i took a look at the SmallRig x Potato Jet TRIBEX SE Tripod but my issue is the price can a tripod really be worth 452,9€??

So i guess my question is, are there anybody who have any recommended tripods for videography?

Hi there! I'm a commercial/music video director and I've found myself feeling like any time I send in a PDF or InDesign Publish Online treatment link to pitch on a project it feels like just throwing a concept into the abyss. I never know if my treatment is actually being read or if there's an element of it that loses a reader's interest where if I could identify that problem, I could fix it.

So, as a side project for the last little bit I built what I think is a better way to share treatments. It has detailed analytics and gives a timeline view of everything someone does when they look at your deck, how long they spend on each page, what they click on, and where they lose interest.

It also has a built-in reel creation tool that directly connects to your treatment, so you can send in one link and a client can flip between the pitch package and a custom video reel of your past work for the job (both of which offer detailed analytics)

I know this is a pretty niche app as it's directly built for pitching directors, but if that's you and you want to try it out, I'd love to get some feedback! If there are any hidden bugs or feature ideas you have my DMs are open! It's currently in alpha right now but I've already begun using it on my own pitches and it's been a breath of fresh air.

https://folio.direct/

Link here - in the sign up area you need to select request invitation for access. Please include a link to portfolio for me to approve the request as for now I do want to limit sign-ups to just directors/creatives. Appreciate your time!!

Video is from my girlfriend

On an action production where I led a camera unit, we had complete creative freedom from the director and camera department. During the briefings, I was usually asked where we wanted to position ourselves.

If they wanted a specific shot, we did that first. After that, we were given room to shoot our own ideas. We followed the storyboard and the planned shots and also brought additional ideas into the sequence.

How do you agree on the required shot and the room for alternatives during a briefing?