With the state of today's economy, many businesses are outsourcing work to freelancers. With an estimated 10 million freelancers in this country, how do you make yourself stand out among the crowd? Richard Campbell, a featured user of ProductionHUB, shared with us some of his experiences in the world of freelance work and how to make the most of it. Based out of Atlanta, GA, he has been able to build a successful career through freelance shooting. His recent clients include Fox News, TLC, America's Most Wanted and The Weather Channel.
Richard Campbell, Tvshooter Video Productions
Why did you choose to make a living out of freelance work rather than a traditional job?
As a staffer, I had been thinking of making the move to freelance in order to be able to have a wider variety of work. Shooting the same type stuff all the time was boring me. Then, while shooting freelance on weekends and working as an editor at CNN, I was part of the big layoff in 2001 following the AOL/Time Warner merger. No better time than the present I thought, so since there were few staff gigs available, I decided to jump in headfirst.
What advice would you give to someone trying to make a living out of freelance work?
My advice for anyone thinking of freelancing is: this is a business and you must treat it as such. You have to really work as hard or harder at the business side in order to really survive. That means you have to work as a salesman, selling yourself. You must keep immaculate records and track every penny you spend. Attention to detail on the business side will make sure the "art" side makes money and yes, this is ultimately about making money. Treat it as such, and you'll succeed.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face?
The biggest challenge I face as a freelance shooter is the speed of technology and how fast cameras are becoming outdated. When betacam was king, you could buy a camera and take 5 years to make your money back on it. With new cameras and so many formats, you really need to make it back in 2 years. Investing in new cameras and formats has really become almost like a craps game.
How did you become successful in the film / TV industry?
My success has many factors involved. Of course hard work, and making sure I not only have the skills to do great work, but keep learning new skills and polishing the old ones. I answer every phone call, if at all possible. You never know when it's a possible client, and if they can't reach you right away they may call someone else. As a freelancer you have to be willing to sacrifice more time out of your life to succeed. Treat each job as if it's an audition for another-because it is. And always be nice. Being friendly, polite and business minded will carry you far.
So how do you make yourself stand out among the sea of freelancers? ProductionHUB can help you. Create a profile for yourself so the targeted users can find you. Consider becoming a featured member so potential employers can easily find you. Be more proactive: search jobs or our recent project requests to see if you are a good match for any upcoming gigs. Take Campbell's advice, and use the power of ProductionHUB to sell yourself.
