How long have you been shooting Video.

[Denny Kyser]

The videographers on this site are awsome, I have been coming here for inspiration for a long time, usually just looking at wedding clips.

How long have you guys been doing this seriously?
I get my inspiration from you guys, where do you get yours from?

Also thanks for helping me and other newbies, I know its a pain answering all the clueless questions we ask.

Denny

[Don Bloom]

Ive been doing video of all types for 25 years. I started as a still photographer in 1971 and did that for 12 years before making the switch.
Sometimes I wonder why I did ;-)

Inspiration? Hmmm, I guess for all of my beefing about doing 40 to 50 weddings a year for all these years I still enjoy it. Maybe not as much as I used to but none the less, I still do like getting in with people who are celebrating the most important day of their lives (up to that moment)

I will admit though that towards the end of the year my 'inspriation' runs very low and I can't wait for the year to be over.

Don

[Chris Barcellos]

I have done 4 family weddings in recent years, as an adjunct to my videography hobby. They are hard work, and it seems as if I can't go to a wedding anymore without my left I squinting as I watch the wedding through an imaginary viewfinder

One of the primary things I do in my "real life" is negotiate through the emotions and legalities of marital dissolutions. I prefer the emotions and excitement of a wedding over that any day....

[Matt Bishop]

I have been running my business full time for exactly 1 year now. I did go to college and major in communications :electronic media so that is where I first go into the video and multimedia industry. I freelanced through college and worked at a job for a year and half after that as a web designer...that was mainly just a filler while I was building up the business though. So I can say that I've been doing video work for about 5 years and really seriously for the past 2 or so.

I didnt start following this board too much until the middle of last summer and now I'm always on because I'm sitting on my butt at home and I can do whatever I want :-) ahhh the joys of full time! I agree with you though, an amazing bunch of people on here!

Matt

[Ethan Cooper]

I went to school for video and then worked at a production company for about 4 years after that was over. I've been running Silver Media part time for the 4 years I was working in production and full time now for about 6 months. With school and professional experience I'd say I've been really shooting about 6 years.
My wedding shooting got much better by watching Glen Elliott, Joshua Smith, several of those dudes in the Philippines (what's in the water over there?), and countless others.
Trust me when I say this, we're all still learning. Every time I shoot a wedding I refine my skill that much more, not just in shooting, but in all aspects of the production. Now if only I can get audio down to a science...

[Ger Griffin]

I did my first wedding video professionally 15 years ago at the age of 15 for my parents business. My dad was a photographer and my mother the videographer prior to me taking over. We didn't know much about it really but stuck with it. I packed it in and headed off to a media production course in Dublin and then on to England to get my degree. I specialised in editing and since then worked in graphics/fx and general post production in a few different jobs all to find myself back here in the last 4 months, the place i love, working for myself and resurecting the old family business!
I can honestly say its the first time Ive been content since I was last doing weddings.

[Harold Schreiber]

HI folks,

Hate to date my self, but I started out before you could get Video Recorders in public. Used JVC equipment in my State Employment Service job, training folks how to Job Interview. Had to string the tape thru the recorder just like the audio recorders of the day. Mid 70's.

Since then I've done a wide range of Videography as a hobby.

Started out doing some weddings and other stuff using the Everex and Canon two piece units. (Cam and Recorder sperates)

When I went to the Court system, I did a lot of Video for the training/educational events we had over those years. For the first couple years there, we had the monster U-Max recorders.

I still have, but seldom use, my Pana S-VHS Camcorder made in 1989. Still works like new.

Of my other 5 Cams, my TRV950 and new HV20, are the best I have now.

Currently doing some horse shows, a wedding or two, school reunions, variety shows, what ever comes along by way of mouth. Since I retired, I'm trying to travel more.

Harold

[Denny Kyser]

Wow, glad to see a good mix of newer guys and vets on here.

I am also glad to see that many still have the passion after years of doing it.
I know what people mean when they see everything through a viewfinder. I call this "Photo Head" my wife and I have it 24/7 until around September, then we are ready for a slow down. We shoot over 200 seniors, and a dozen weddings a year so like many inspiration is being pushed to the rear by experience a little bit come the end of the year.

[Bill Grant]

I've been in business about 3 years (first real solo professional gig in 2005) but I shot my first wedding in 2002. It was my sister in law's and it was because I just bought a video camera for no real reason. I shot 3 weddings that year with 1 camera, no audio equipment and no tripod. I got paid for 1 ($150). I called a local DJ to see if there was any work in that field in 2004 and he said no but he needed video help, and here I am. I shot for him off and on for a year or so, and dove into all the info on video I could find. My wife has been a photographer for about 12 years, so I naturally gravitated towards weddings, and we formed our company in 2005. My first setup was a Canon GL1 and a Panasonic GS-120, a senheiser G2, and the cheapest tripod and head combo that Bogen makes. I now use 3 Sony Vx2100s. I did 4 weddings in 2005, 17 in 2006 and 24 in 2007. I have been full time in video since July of 2007, and already have 12 weddings booked for 2008. Hope I didn't bore with the recent history lesson. The 1 single event that changed my career path completely was attending the Von Lankens OneonOne workshop in November of 2006. I would still be struggling with alot of the questions they answered in 2 days. It has taken me a year or so of very hard work to finally feel like I'm getting there, but that alone started me on the path to doing this full time. Good luck.
Bill Grant

[Denny Kyser]

Bill not boring at all, if anything inspirational. I have found out through my photography business that you dont only have to educate your market area, you also have to help to educate others in your line of business. The sooner they realize they cant give their work away the better it is for everyone.

[Bill Mecca]

Let's see, I started in TV news in 1982 in front of the camera, did that for a couple of stations until 1989, then branched off into radio news. Since 1994 I have been a state agency's Video Production Coordinator. Fancy title that means I am an entire video production department wrapped up in one person. I produce training and public education videos.

I also do the occassional freelance project, freelance voiceover and on-camera appearance, self-produced a documentary/educational video, and continue to produce my own projects.

[Vito DeFilippo]

Great thread.

About 6 years ago, I was looking for something to do on the side to supplement my acting work, (which leaves you with about 98% free time). I had edited a couple of short films for fun and loved it, so took a one year intensive editing/film certificate degree. Then pounded the pavement looking for work in post production. Got nothing.

Then I was hired to edit wedding video. Oh God, I thought, not weddings. But I found myself getting emotional when editing. The material is so powerful. And here I was being disappointed I couldn't do beer commercials.

Shortly after, the studio got me to start shooting as well. So thanks to them, I know how to handle a camera, and I have tons of shooting and editing experience in weddings, events, and corporate video. And I ended up buying my own equipment, which weddings have paid for.

I will always be thankful that I found this work, no matter where it leads.