Hi Guys,

I really love shooting weddings with my xha1 but my clients are constantly asking for cinematic style movies and they keep referring me to website that show companies who obviously use DSLRs. This now means I need to employ another person to look after the XHA1 while I also shoot with the DSLR so I can mix between the footage. I am worried that who ever I employ to manage the XHA1 will literary go off and start on their own. Has this happened to anybody before and are their anyways you think I can avoid this?

I hired a second shooter and this was a strong concern I had too. What I found I did was to stay away from those fresh out of some school and look toward the "stay at home moms" or the older, almost semi retired, applicants I got. There are no guarantees, but when interviewing people you need to pay as much or more attention to their life's goals and ambitions, as to their experience.

I would say find the person that works best for what you are trying to accomplish and be happy if you get a season out of them.

Everyone will eventually try it on their own... Even the stay-at-home mom...
I have a second shooter contract that includes, licensing, AND a 12 month non-compete, non-solicitation paragraph - very common int the IT world.

If your going to teach them for free, and even pay them some cash - you have a right to ask them not to compete with your business and not to solicit your customers for anything.. If they don't sign, you don't hire them. You can always revoke the non-compete later if you want.

Working with someone who can and will set out on their own can be to your advantage.

First off, those people are often more enthusiastic and more motivated to do a good job. They really love what they are doing.

Secondly, they can generate work for you.

Unless they are a bona-fide employee, treat your second shooters as established peers. They can work for you, for someone else, or for themselves.

First and foremost, it's not the DSLR that makes for a cinematic production. It's how you shoot and how you edit. You can produce cinematic work with XHA1's just as we used to.

Everyone will eventually try it on their own... Even the stay-at-home mom...

What about your wife? Must I be worried??

First and foremost, it's not the DSLR that makes for a cinematic production. It's how you shoot and how you edit. You can produce cinematic work with XHA1's just as we used to.

Here, here.

I see it differently...even if we pay our assistants and we are the technically the "Boss" i see it more as a mentorship who one day would like to see them succeed on their own...there are enough weddings to go around for everyone specially in my area..plus from what i've seen, even if someone tries to copy your work it will not look like your work because most people have different visual aptitudes...a great example is Jason Magbanua's work...out of the hundreds that try to imitate his work..it just doesn't look the same no matter how hard they try...

What about your wife? Must I be worried??

Why be worried, embrace her desire. All the cash makes it to the same bank account - and she'll get different clients being a woman and having a different shooting style. Could be a great thing.

I shoot on my 5d mark 2 , 550d on the steadicam and monitor the wireless audio on my sony z5. I dont need to employ anyone.

I contacted the local Tafe & Uni and got some 3rd year students from the film course, they're eager to get some experience and you can teach them 'your' way of doing things.

How are they going to compete? - do they have their own equipment? business experience? and so what if they do, a few years down the track - I'd be pleased that I got them into the business.

I would look into training yourself if you are worried about competition. You need to invest in your skills. That same person is going to learn on their own (maybe a little slower), so you better develop the skills to stand out regardless.

I take the angle that its better to help others, cause I feel in the end its rewarding. I've worked with local competitors, and in the end they are sending me their double bookings. Better take this person as a friend rather than an enemy.