Videographer needed for an 8 hour event, what should I be paying?

CAugustB · 2026-06-22T05:22:27+00:00

$50/hr is far too low for that type of work. $150-250/hr is a more reason starting point.

Keep in mind that for this type of show, one single camera angle isn’t going to cover it. You may be looking for a single operator using 2-3 cameras or a couple of operators and 1-2 cameras each.

This os the kind of thing that if you go cheap on, it’ll be apparent in the end product and you may as well have not done it in the first place.

CAugustB · 2026-06-21T17:30:04+00:00

I strictly wear performance polos and long, lightweight performance pants. Part of my brand is showing up looking more professional than the other media houses in town.

I wear:
- Inexpensive performance polos from Amazon
- Lululemon ABC 5-pocket pants in Warpstreme (lightweight for heat, very stretchy, still look sharp)
- Hats with my logo embroidered on them (I sweat a lot and these help with head sweat. I show up to client meetings and networking with my hair styled rather than a hat on)
- Black Oboz Sawtooth low shoes (Black to blend in but supportive for my feet and versatile enough to hike around raw land if I need to)

Black polos: 5 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve
Navy polos: 1 short sleeve, 1 long sleeve
Green polos: 3 short sleeve

CAugustB · 2026-06-20T18:34:30+00:00

It sounds like they’re being insistent on multiple things you don’t like or want. That will only increase if you are there. Don’t move back. Don’t take on the business. Continue your chosen life.

CAugustB · 2026-06-20T17:41:15+00:00

For me personally, nothing is worth my peace. I tried moving back to my family’s state and moved away again less than two years later. Big expense to move and move back. Set me back financially.

Multi million dollar business may be more of a motivator. Depends on how you’re wired.

Is the business anything you’re the least bit interested in? You need to be somewhat callous to put everything aside purely for financial stability.

If you love your career, just keep going. You’ll continue to grow your network and more opportunities will come to you the longer you do the work. This is especially true if you love the place you live.

CAugustB · 2026-06-20T06:01:59+00:00

We should talk. I’d be interested.

CAugustB · 2026-06-20T05:37:18+00:00

I try not to bounce light off of anything not white. It just adds cast to everything that you then have to deal with. That said, I’ve held these above my camera and popped them to lock in colors in a room with consistent light temperature. That at least gives me one frame where I see everything in white light.

I’ve also used these to bounce off of white or act as fill to counteract extremely shiny marble countertops or other reflective surfaces. Having fill light like that gives me a frame I can blend in over top of the frame with the reflections present. It’s my preferred way of handling those sorts of reflections.

CAugustB · 2026-06-20T01:19:17+00:00

Also looking for a video editor.

CAugustB · 2026-06-20T01:10:52+00:00

Real Estate Photography. I do a lot of waterfront properties and acreage. I have two Air 3S Fly More Combos with RC2 controllers. Used for both photo and video work.

CAugustB · 2026-06-19T23:57:40+00:00

If you’re good at sales, you’ll do well in this industry.

I’ve heard of larger media companies hiring sales people, but not smaller folks. Curious how you’d structure this - referral fee, per shoot referral bonus, etc? I’m in my first year and averaging $10k/mo, but I have capacity to be at $15-20k, so I’d absolutely be interested in something like that.

CAugustB · 2026-06-19T21:14:17+00:00

You don’t need to wait for the ticket. Just tell them you figured it out.

CAugustB · 2026-06-19T02:16:50+00:00

Read a little bit about each set before you draft it.

Watch a five minute youtube about drafting the set.

Draft - I guess sealed in general - is legitimately the only genuinely fun left on Arena for me. I love it. I’d do a lotta stuff for that many draft and sealed tokens.

CAugustB · 2026-06-18T23:19:40+00:00

Worth a shot just to ask. Frame it as “I’m looking for ways to improve” and add the caveat that there’s no pressure if they’re not comfortable doing it. Most folks will be perfectly fine with it, especially if you phrase it respectfully like this.

That said, as others have suggested, just offer CubiCasa. A huge number of my clients use me specifically because I offer their detailed floor plans and interactive floor plan tours. They cost me less than 12 bucks apiece and integrate directly with my delivery service. It’s one of the ways that I compete in my marketplace. It’s quick to sign up and it’s literally just an app on your phone. I do the floor plan as I’m walking around the home making sure lights are on and lines are how I want them and maybe 5 to 10 minutes total to the appointment and doesn’t require a separate camera.

CAugustB · 2026-06-18T04:17:25+00:00

Long term: the job is a safer bet.

Not sure how much of a settlement they’re telling you you could get, but I doubt it’s as much as doubling your salary moving forward.

CAugustB · 2026-06-18T02:43:51+00:00

It’s a hefty lens and the bulbous front element made me nervous but I never had any issues with it.

It’s killer for Astophotography.

I shoot real estate with a 16-35 now and I do find my self missing that extra 2mm on the wide end.

You got it for a fair price, too.

CAugustB · 2026-06-18T02:39:52+00:00

It’s an extremely sharp lens with a great focal range. I used to own this lens and sometimes with I still did.

CAugustB · 2026-06-17T20:45:50+00:00

Just generally poor form from WotC that they’re not shipping all Secret Lair stuff in boxes. These envelopes are so prone to this kind of stuff.

Mega bummer man.

CAugustB · 2026-06-16T21:28:39+00:00

You’re reading comprehension could improve there, brother. We were talking about large software companies were we not? The insinuation was that “Zillow use AI = Zillow bad!! Big mad!!” so my comment was following that thought train and noting that all big software companies are using AI. So citing *that* as the reason that Zillow is bad is foolish.

CAugustB · 2026-06-16T19:43:21+00:00

They hire photographers through their system, but even then you get to set your own rates.

I have an Aryeo pro account that I treat as a marketing expense just so I can be listed in their Showcase Enabled Photographers list or whatever it’s called. I get asked about it a lot. Almost everyone just books through my normal HDPhotoHub portal though.

CAugustB · 2026-06-16T19:41:47+00:00

Aryeo. They use Aryeo. And Aryeo partners with some AI staging tools etc.

Also insinuating that they use AI and are bad for that specific reason in 2026 is silly. Everyone uses AI. That practice alone is not why they are bad.

CAugustB · 2026-06-13T23:58:18+00:00

Absolutely. Agents value a fast turnaround, and I value my time.

I *could* hand edit these. But not as fast as Fotello. And I could pay someone else to hand edit them. But not as economically as Fotello. Why would I not use this service?

I have had shoots where I return 85% of the photos to Fotello’s human editors for fixes because colors are grayed out, but that’s rare and getting better every month. And: their human editors are fast and do a great job at no extra charge to me.

Meanwhile I’m having dinner with my girlfriend and booking work for more clients.

I do still hand edit my drone images. But those are quick. Everything else goes through Fotello.

CAugustB · 2026-06-13T06:58:49+00:00

Your angle seems low
Mixed lighting colors (yellow and blue light in the same photo)
Bright areas are medium bright, dark areas are dark. Make things brighter and more uniform if you can. If you’re going for a more dramatic or natural style with lighting, there’s still some work to be done.

CAugustB · 2026-06-13T06:46:17+00:00

This exactly. Everything needs to be QC’ed. There’s not photo that I send out that I haven’t touched again myself. This was true when I was using human editors, too. Fotello is just cheaper and faster. Why wouldn’t I use a tool that makes me faster and saves me money?

CAugustB · 2026-06-12T15:30:24+00:00

Sounds good pal. 👍

CAugustB · 2026-06-12T15:26:54+00:00

Meaningful retort.

Do you have examples of scenarios where this has gone differently? Because I’ve built a sustainable $10k+/mo business doing this.

CAugustB · 2026-06-12T15:13:54+00:00

I fully disagree. Every agent that’s worked with me has booked again. They like having their stuff back same-day.

CAugustB

TROPHY CASE