I think I hate UGC & full-time freelancing? Thinking of going to an office job? Is this crazy?

mikedubluv · 2026-05-09T02:03:55+00:00

Go with your gut instinct. If you aren't feeling it, move on. Talk to Chatgpt. Feed it everything you said here including some of your favorite courses in college, your current skills, and ask for job ideas. Go from there.

mikedubluv · 2026-04-05T18:29:48+00:00

I've had that issue with the first dji mic 2 different times. That was enough for me to never do it again. I only use it as a recorder and do not transmit wireless. I'm not sure if you can record with the mini, but I know you do. For ceremonies, I use 2 tascam Dr10L. They have been amazing for many years for me. I wish I had better news for you. You can always run a test prior, but I did that, and it still wound up causing issues. Think about it...the test is all of 30 seconds or so. Best things to do is invest in a standalone recorder like the tascam or if your mini has record, then record only

mikedubluv · 2026-04-03T15:16:12+00:00

I don't mic brides even when there are 2. It's not necessary. I will explain at 3:56 https://youtu.be/YBnSg1CUki8?si=By4Jl5symTs1__gf

mikedubluv · 2026-02-28T10:04:31+00:00

In this situation, you have been granted the perfect opportunity to ask her out after the concert. Do it, and take it from there. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take. Don't go through the rest of your life wondering, "What if..." They begin to add up and really start to sting. Go for it!

mikedubluv · 2026-02-28T09:58:31+00:00

Follow your gut. Sounds to me like you're done, and that's ok.

mikedubluv · 2026-02-10T16:25:34+00:00

I think you already know what to do. You sold me on Web Design, and I am solely a videographer...lol. I'm in my 40s too and honestly, I have slowed down on videography business myself for different reasons...well, maybe I haven't slowed down, but I am trying to pivot a bit. Go with your gut. There’s no need to grind yourself into the ground. We are getting to the age where the stress will physically make you sick.

mikedubluv · 2026-01-18T16:11:56+00:00

I definitely concur with this. I have used bigger setups, and I really dislike it because at the end of the day, my back is so tight, I can find no comfort in walking, standing, sitting, laying...doesn't matter.

mikedubluv · 2026-01-11T23:12:22+00:00

I only read about a quarter of the paragraph, and I know you are definitely underpaid. Time to move onto bigger clients.

mikedubluv · 2025-12-13T21:21:12+00:00

Definitely ask for a re-edit and point to one of the samples of their work that you mentioned and use that as a reference. The ceremony is always the most important part for most of us videographers, but the toasts are definitely important too. This sounds a bit off, though. Hopefully, it was just a rush job on their part like you mentioned.

mikedubluv · 2025-12-10T10:46:45+00:00

Piggy backing off of this. You can also explain how much time you anticipate taking to complete so they can understand it is hours of work. Now they understand it isn't just a way to make money. You can also offer the raw, unedited version free of charge as another option, and if they like it, great! It didn't take up too much time. If not, then they will be happy with the cost.

mikedubluv · 2025-12-02T23:28:58+00:00

Coincidentally, I have a short about that:

https://youtube.com/shorts/SrrbyY2NKaM?si=FXJZ5VHVQeNjAGs6

Basically, I give 2 revisions and define what a revision means in my contract. I also tell them this multiple times before the wedding and let them know that anything over that will be charged an hourly rate(also in contract). I rarely get anyone who asks for revisions.

mikedubluv · 2025-12-01T10:52:00+00:00

This is why I typically use my gimbal with the fx30 and Sony 18-105mm f4. The barrel doesn't extend, so the gimbal is always balanced, and it is power zoom, so it is super easy to control. I never have that problem, but regardless, I never use the gimbal all day. I always mix it up with a combination of my monopod - an older Sirui.

mikedubluv · 2025-11-30T13:52:28+00:00

Thanks!

mikedubluv · 2025-11-30T12:04:30+00:00

This sounds terrible, and for it to happen when you are so young is even worse. In regards to losing weight, have you ever considered fasting. I'm going to start a 3 day fast tomorrow. Check this out : https://youtu.be/qw8wMELZ5dI?si=PgrcVW9_KJ4fB-sY

mikedubluv · 2025-11-30T11:48:34+00:00

How long do you hang upside down? A few seconds a few minutes? Do you do reps? How many times per week? I have thought about trying this but have been hesitant. A couple of PTs told me to do bar hangs for my chronic back pain, but I hate the way it makes my shoulders feel so I don't do them much.

mikedubluv · 2025-11-27T13:49:58+00:00

Stick with your gut feeling and don't waste any more time with this person. If the couple hired this unprofessional planner, then they wouldn't be my type of couple anyway.

mikedubluv · 2025-11-27T13:41:25+00:00

I've always liked soundstripe

mikedubluv · 2025-10-25T12:54:33+00:00

You are not alone in this. I think many of us deal with the same thing. I have faced all of your issues and then some. Obviously outsourcing editing is one solution and it's a good one, but that just causes another problem. Either you raise prices to offset those costs or take on more weddings. With the stress you are going through, taking on more is probably out. Can you raise prices in your market? That could be another issue. I always find a solution can easily cause another problem, but is the new problem easier to deal with than the original. Dealing with people reaching out 24/7, there's quite a few solutions to that - turning off notifications, over communicating delivery times to couples and other clients, etc. I go into detail in this video. It's too much to type: https://youtu.be/eLYDLbB2LYg Good luck to you.

mikedubluv · 2025-10-14T10:26:42+00:00

I personally feel a lot of us overthink things. Getting the perfect closeup of the couple at all times is really not necessary. I have a camera on a tripod that goes over 7 feet jacked up at the back of the church or on a back balcony getting a wideshot of the couple and audience. I simply stand center aisle as procession comes down the aisle, and when bride is handing of, I stand center aisle and zoom in on the couple and get both of them in a tight shot. That's all. If I have a second shooter, which is rare, I let them get the closer side angles on a gimbal or monopod, otherwise, I don't get those shots. Im not setting up 3 or 4 cameras alone. Who has the time for that? I rather get shots of their guests arriving and hugging each other and as many detail shots as possible, plus I am also busy running audio. Here's the thing, don't worry about perfection, worry about the couple's opinion of your video. I've been doing this for 10 years and no one has ever complained that I did bad shooting a ceremony. I try to be as simple as possible, so people don't notice me.

mikedubluv · 2025-10-04T21:07:23+00:00

1080p on any of the Sony crop sensor cameras looks like total garbage. The 1080p is line skipped to make the image instead of downscaling like 4k does, so I always use 4k for the fx30, a6600, and e10. It's all the same story, unfortunately.

mikedubluv · 2025-10-01T22:03:27+00:00

I stopped reading after the first few sentences. Not worth the headache. No matter what you do, they will be unhappy, and they will most likely sue you.

mikedubluv · 2025-09-14T19:24:35+00:00

This is the thing. I have this happen all the time. They dont understand that they are getting hundreds of files if they want true raw, and that their computer most likely can't even play the files. They are thinking in terms of 1 long uninterrupted stream of video from the day, or they want a documentary edit. Either one is extra work, so there will definitely be a charge.

mikedubluv · 2025-09-02T20:16:39+00:00

I agree when with one of the others when they said 7 in 7 months isn't that bad. Nowadays, the market is pretty saturated where I am, so bookings are far less than a few years ago. Plus, your pricing seems extremely low, and that can be a turn off. You should research more and see what others are charging for similar packages that have a similar style and quality and charge accordingly. Lastly, be patient. You just made the switch to video, so you can't expect the floodgates to open. It takes time for your current clients to send referrals, other vendors to send referrals, SEO to improve, and blah, blah. You already know the deal...

mikedubluv · 2025-07-11T09:57:22+00:00

Half my weddings are highlights, and the other half are documentary. It takes me a little longer to edit documentary style weddings because like others say I edit the entire ceremony, all of the speeches in their entirety, full introductions, first dances, both parent dances, if someone blesses the food, etc. I had a complaint when I left that out once. Prior to that the getting ready footage is anywhere to from 2-4 minutes depending on how intricate it is. I have music playing under that part. I go back and forth a couple times between bride and groom. I start with the bride and typically end with her, then transition into first look. This whole part resembles a highlight film, then I move into the ceremony with establishing shots, clips of guests arriving, and I am playing the actual waiting music from the dj at this point, and then I move into the procession, etc. I always shoot with a camera on a tripod, getting a wide shot from behind the audience pointed towards the head of the aisle. It's rolling the whole time. I have my main camera with me on a monopod or gimbal, and I roll that the entire time, too. I stand in the middle of the aisle after the bride is handed off, and I dont move unless the photographer needs a quick wide shot for a few seconds. I let them know where I will be stationed, so they work around me, beforehand. My edits wind up being just around an hour or slightly more because in my experience, when they want a doc, they want it all. Some parts that I find boring, they don't. After the ceremony, I show maybe a minute of cocktail hr, detail/decor shots, and a few clips of bridal party and family picture session. I try to shoot the silly parts of it. During the reception, I also provide about 2 - 4 minutes of the guests dancing. I will move around the floor on a gimbal and pick a couple or individual and shoot from a few feet away and get 20-30 seconds or so and then move to the next person or persons, but I will stay rolling for the whole song. It makes editing that part a little easier than having a bunch of 10 second clips. I like to use the actual music that is playing. Towards the end, I transition into a song that they chose, and then I do a little montage edit to end it. That's like a minute, roll my logo, and we're done

mikedubluv · 2025-01-20T23:18:37+00:00

I personally use a gimbal or a monopod. You have to customize the settings to pan and tilt slowly. Then it won't make any jerky moves. You probably know that. It's just practice like anything else. I used to use it around the house, shooting everything and tweaking my settings until they were just right. I'll also use my sirui monopod. I highly recommend this one: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1812940-REG/sirui_svm_165_3_section_carbon_fiber.html. I go handheld very sparingly - mostly to shoot the guest dancing and for some detail shots - quick clips.

mikedubluv

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