I forgot the most important one...music videos! They're perfect for you, since you have a recording studio. Just be sure to get payment; a lot of bands wanting to make a music video will poor-mouth you. Just remember that they had the money to buy all those instruments and amps -- they can afford to pay you if they really want the project.

>>I continue to be amazed at the time, stress and effort folks are clamoring to put into the seemingly least rewarding thing you can do with a video camera.<<

I must humbly disagree with you on this. I'm actually qutie shocked to see such a statement. Producing a professional video production of perhaps the most important, romantic, private, personal, and spiritual day of a couple's life is in my opinion one of the MOST rewarding things you can do with a video camera.

>>I believe that wedding videographers must be ego driven, trying to produce that great video for fame rather than fortune. There are some wedding vid folks doing well but it seems they are not the norm. <<

As Rain Man would say, there are "lots and lots of 'em." That is, wedding videographers who make a great living.

>>My recommendation would be to seek other things to point your video camera at!<<
I disagree with this suggestion only because Hardrock will have the same problem with any market he targets if his sales and marketing aren't on point. As BBalser said, it's not the industry, it's the marketing.

I understand that your outlook on wedding videography is a result of your personal experiences. I just want to share with the group that based on MY experiences and colleagues, Wedding Videography is alive and well and one of the most rewarding and fulfilling jobs one can have. We make memorable, meanginful, and magnificent movies of the most important moments in a couple's life. We create works of art that have the power to save marriages and bring families closer together. We create movies that make people laugh and cry. We often capture the last living moments of those who will soon depart us (e.g. grandparents nearing death's door; fathers of brides who die of a stroke 6 months after the wedding and only two weeks before Christmas; etc.) How can anyone say that isn't rewarding.

Yes, it is tough to be a success at this business. Name a business where that ISN'T the case. And yes, corporate work is generally more profitable that wedding work (on an hourly basis). But if you market yourself right, AND if you have the talent and work to back it up, you can be amazingly successful in this business, and earn what you're worth. In fact, I submit that wedding videography is the only aspect of video production where the earning potential can actually eclipse all over forms of video production. Due to the nature of the business, "celebrity" videographers earn $10k to $30K per wedding, strictly because they are THE videographer to have. A corporation won't pay a significant premeium for a production company just because XYZ Corp. used. them. However, there are brides who will pay a premium for a videographer just because they did So-and-so's wedding.

Hardrock, feel free to email or call me if you'd like one on one advice and encouragement. I'd be happy to share with you what has helped our company succeed in this market. (We've been in business almost four years).

Wishing you all the best,
Ron