How I Entered the World of Car Commercial Videography

Have you ever envisioned yourself capturing the essence of luxury cars on film? I am here to share my journey into the car videography domain.

How It All Began

My journey kicked off back in 1996 when I picked up my first SLR camera, the Canon T-60. Fast forward to 2017, I decided it was time to upgrade to a mirrorless camera, and the Sony A7 became my choice.

Utilizing the 1080p video capabilities of that camera and with my first professional video camera, a DJI Mavic Air that shot stunning 4K video at 30 fps, I realized a paradigm shift was unfolding. With over 21 years in still photography, transitioning to moving images was exhilarating yet demanding, as I had to orchestrate 24, 30, or even 60 frames per second—all of which opened new avenues of creative expression.

Initially, I filmed everything from food and events to travel and interviews. However, I was inspired by the captivating works of others who created films, shorts, and commercials, compelling me to dive into that realm. The desire to create car commercials grew like a seed in my mind.

Important Lessons I Learned

• Don’t be misled by cheap offers: Avoid falling for pitches that propose low-paying jobs with promises of more work later.
• Build your portfolio: Complete as many free projects as you deem necessary to display your talents. In the video industry, it’s your reel that counts more than any grades or credentials.

With this in mind, I understood that to create car commercials, I needed to film cars—clearly a logical step. However, convincing someone to lend you a new or expensive car for your project can be tricky.

The Importance of Asking

Many might assume that no one would let them borrow a luxury car, but thinking that way dwells in negativity and closes doors. Every ‘no’ you receive brings you closer to a ‘yes.’ Most car owners take pride in their vehicles and may desire a well-made film featuring their pride and joy.

Persistence is key. After months of networking through numerous messages, enthusiasm, and a lot of energy, I finally got my breakthrough. A car dealer agreed to let me film their car!

The Journey Through LinkedIn

Let me share my favorite tool that paved my way: LinkedIn. I regard it as “Facebook for Busy Professionals.” It’s a platform where individuals are keen to connect with people who can help them grow or boost their revenue.

I began by expanding my network, connecting with existing acquaintances and targeting marketing managers within that network. Sending connection requests while referencing mutual contacts greatly increases acceptance odds. I later reached out to express my gratitude for the connection and mentioned I was keen to work with influential figures like them by producing promotional videos for their brands at no cost.

With a network of around 1000 contacts, I sent numerous messages and was rewarded with 30 responses — a 3% success rate! One potential client even requested a full day of production, although they did not pay for the editing. Nonetheless, I delivered a polished video as a gift.

Conclusion

The process continued, leading to more paid opportunities down the line. Success in this field seems improbable without aiming for the decision-makers in your desired niche, but remember: it’s up to you to choose your path. Who will you become today?

Watch My Journey

Explore more about taking charge of your videography career via the experiences shared by others in the industry.

For the full details of my story, visit the original article.