X-Jason_Olson
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Mar 6, 2003, 7:23 AM
Post #2 of 2
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Re: Video Keepsake Business
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: About a year ago I started a hobby business taking photos and assembling them into keepsake videos for special occassions. The business has grown substantially to the point that I am unable to keep up with the projects in my spare time. I'm getting 4-5 projects each month from word of mouth with no advertising. I'm considering doing this full-time because I love the work.
: Here is my quandry. I don't think I will be able to fully replace my existing income with keepsake videos alone, but if I could also include transfer of video to dvd or conversion of home movies to video/dvd, I think I can make a pretty good go of it. What equipment would I need to purchase to convert old home movies to video? Do you just project it and tape it? Also, is the keepsake video business short-lived due to new technology that makes it easier to do-it-yourself? I'll be interested in the comments from the experts.
: Barry Shawgo
Barry,
I’ve been in the video industry for more than eight years, with the last three years in duplication and editing. Prior to that, I was transferring film to video and making picture videos for five years. Of course there are pros and cons of both.
First, I have always enjoyed making picture videos and it is something that you COULD make a full-time income. If you’re a creative person, then your clients will definitely like what you do with special effects, etc. But you also need to keep it as a picture video and NOT an effects video. Don’t go overboard by using every effect you have. Select the effect based on what’s in the picture and the mood of the music. If you’re really going to seriously do it full-time, then make sure you have a high quality camera and recorder.
As far as film-to-video, you CAN’T use consumer projectors because the speeds of film and video are different and that’s what causes flicker. To overcome the difference in speed, you’ll need a projector with the right number of blades and one that runs at variable rates (depending on regular 8, super 8, or 16 mm). You might need to spend a few thousand dollars for each of these projectors and getting the parts to repair them can be a nightmare.
When doing film-to-video, you can’t be doing anything else. You’ll need to keep an eye on it and constantly adjust the light and color, and avoid flickers and “hairs” in the film.
The five years that I was doing picture videos and film-to-video transfer, we kept getting busier and busier every year. The trend is continuing but some people are requesting it to DVD rather than VHS. Some people have brought their VHS’ of film transfer in to convert to DVD while others have paid a second time for their film transfer, but this time to DVD so they don’t lose any quality.
I feel that you COULD make your money back and then some with doing video to DVD. But DVD burners/recorders are coming down in price so consumers might be doing it themselves soon.
Being in the video industry, it gets annoying when people say they can do the work themselves with modern consumer technology and then they have to bring in their project to have it “fixed” professionally. What they don’t realize is “crap in…crap out.” It would save them time and money to have it done professionally in the first place.
So, I don’t see the keepsake video industry being short lived, it’s just a matter of keeping up with the changes in consumer needs.
Best of luck!!!
Jason Olson
http://www.ultimatewebdesigning.com/videolson.html
VideOlson - tips, tricks and information for the novice videographer. Links to video production trade magazines.
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