Getting started selling travel videos is often the most difficult part for a videographer. Really, you need to land that first contract to gain real experience and confidence.
I’ve found that offering short videos for social media – Facebook, Linked In, You Tube – is a great first step.
Typically these videos are only one minute in length, and they’re easier to sell because they’re cheaper. They’re also a great way to approach clients who might want a full video once they’ve seen your talents.
Step 1: Educate your client to the laws of marketing
Videos and social networks are now major marketing components for companies trying to reach new customers. The average internet user has a limited attention span. Videos grab them in their busy lives.
Suggesting that you can create a short video for a company will definitely grab the attention of a marketing manager or director. You just have to ask.
I find that offering a client a three-month package to start is best.
For $300, I give them three short videos they can use on their website, Facebook page or Linkedin. If they have a YouTube channel, they can put them there. I make each one dedicated to a specific part of the hotel – the pool, the tennis courts, the rooms, etc.
Step 2: Keep it short and sweet
Once you’ve signed an agreement, here’s how to get started…
Take half a day to shoot the entire hotel, piece by piece; the reception and lounge area, a couple of different bedrooms, the swimming pool area, the kids playground, the restaurants, the bar, the sports installations, and the animations in the hotel.
Carefully choose nice frames, include a few panning shots to keep some movement, and be sure to show a few clients in there, so it doesn’t look deserted. Just make sure you film them from a distance so you don’t need a release.
For these short videos, keep the editing light. Only give them a teaser, because you want to keep them yearning for more!
Clean cuts and gentle transitions (nothing too fancy!) will do the trick.
Each video should be about 1-minute long, and if you’ve done a good job, you should end up with about 8 mini videos. Send one a month for your three-month contract. And when it’s done, you still have more to offer.
This is the perfect way to fill up your portfolio for your next prospective clients – and you might also sell a full video to your first client later on. You’ve already got some of the work done.
For them, it’s a small and clever investment. For you, it’s like a trial… but you get paid!
Most of all, it’s a lot of fun. Read on for the best way to plan your video shoot and have fun on the job.
Travel Photography Resources
5 Dos and 2 Don’ts for Travel Photography
Take Great Photos And Get Paid More For Your Travel Articles
Turning a Photography Hobby into a Monthly Income
The Pros Of Selling Your Images As Stock Photography
16 Mobile Photography Tips And Tricks Every Photographer Should Know
