Some Clients Hire Us To Travel For Shoots
A majority of Jumpstart Video’s work is done right here in your backyard. Local and small businesses are always the heartbeat that keeps this business alive. Nevertheless, sometimes a unique call comes in for us to travel for shoots. Videographers, editors, and creatives live and work all across the country. However, there is always an added value to working with the team you know that an unknown freelancer hired online can never provide. A producer you’ve worked with for years, a videographer that knows your brand and vision. These core connections can be all the difference that make traveling worth more than an unfamiliar contractor.
Planning and Packing Video Gear to Travel For Shoots
I have recently had a few amazing opportunities to travel for shoots. Because of this, I have started to follow a few rules of thumb when packing and planning gear. The first question to ask is; can everything fit in your luggage, or will items need to be shipped ahead of time? Lenses, cameras and lights are expensive. Keeping them as your direct responsibility and less up to chance is reflected in that sticker price. The second rule comes if you did ship any gear ahead of time. If you can only keep a few things on your person, try to make it enough to still conduct a video shoot if everything else gets lost. With you take at least some type of camera, a battery or two, some form of audio like a shotgun mic or lav, and a small light.
What to Do When On Location
If you packed correctly, your gear should be versatile, yet compact-able enough to go from location to hotel and back again. Furthermore, keep inventory of items you can leave behind. Chargers can stay at the hotel. Try to lock up large tripods or light stands on location so you don’t need to move them every night. Finally, back up all of your media every day, even if you brought enough SD cards. There is no need to risk formatting the wrong card or losing it in transit. Make the trip worth yours and the clients time. Impress them with your work and ability to complete all requested tasks. And above all else, enjoy your time. Explore the fun destinations you are sent to. Meet the people you work with to build connections. Your skillset and client relations has warranted your travel. You should celebrate this and expand your professional experience.
