Are you a videographer looking for paid work? Look no further! In this article, we will provide tips and advice on how to find gigs in the videography industry. From networking and building a strong portfolio, to leveraging job boards and freelance websites, we will explore the various ways you can find paid work as a videographer. So, if you're ready to take your videography career to the next level, read on to learn more!
Where can freelance videographers look for opportunities?
- Freelance videographers can find quality jobs in a variety of places. Some of the more popular options are at university film departments, job boards, postings on social media, and even marketing firms. The first and easiest place to start are these online job platforms for freelance videographers.
1. Creative Cow
BEST PLATFORM FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Creative Cow is an advice and community forum website for those in videography, whether career-wise or as a hobby. Creating an account is free and even allows for logging in using Twitter, Facebook, or Linkedin. Just create a profile and upload a resume to browse freelance, full-time, and part-time jobs. Moreover, you can even look for someone to hire for a job.
How you login to the site says a lot about yourself. Logging in through your LinkedIn presents an image of you that is centered more around a professional job search experience, but logging in through Twitter and Facebook provides a more inclusive look for those who have more or less working experience in the field.
Entry-level experienced people can find that Creative Cow’s job searching is easy and non-intimidating, and the filters for finding jobs are ones you would expect to see on most websites. You can even search for jobs based on what degree level you have. Creative Cow offers a job search experience without clutter, and the other section of the website an opportunity to immerse oneself in a community of videographers from rookies to veterans.
Pro’s:
- Entry-level friendly
- Freelance, part-time, and full-time job listings
- Efficient filtering for specific job types
- Part of an established videographer community
Con’s:
- No “remote work” filter
2. Freelancer
BEST PLATFORM SPECIFIC TO FREELANCERS
Freelancer is a job board for, as you can guess from the name, freelance job searches. It can narrow down to writing, graphic design, and videography jobs just to name a few. Job offers are bid based and the user has to post what price they are willing to work for and then wait for the job to close to see if they've won the bidding.
For someone unfamiliar with the bidding process on freelance jobs, this can seem a bit confusing. For those more experienced, the bid system is fairly detailed and filtering job searches by bid range is an effective tool.
Unfortunately, there is no work-from-home feature. Along with this, job descriptions can sometimes be a bit vague or even suspicious, so it is a website meant to be used with caution. The filters are minimal, and that can be both a benefit or a problem depending on your experience level with freelance searching. This is a platform meant for getting one-time gigs, and the “full-time” filter yielded 0 results at the time of writing, so if you are experienced in short-term freelance work then this website is tailored to you.
Pro’s:
- Multitudes of job offers
- Bid system where you choose how much you get paid
- Free to sign up and use
Con’s:
- Meant for those with experience freelancing
- Possibility of scams
- Very competitive job bids
3. Upwork
BEST BID-BASED FREELANCE PLATFORM
Upwork is another bid-based freelance job website, that offers both short-term and long-term opportunities. Bidding is more simplified, and the website is fairly easy to navigate through. Applying for a job takes a few steps and gives both the ability to link a resume as well as a description of yourself and your talents. There is a service fee Upwork charges from your bid so you do not receive the full amount paid. Searching for freelance jobs on a search engine will typically result in Upwork for quite a few of the hits.
Related Article:
- Best Freelance Platforms for Writers
- Best Freelance Platforms for Photographers
- Best Freelance Platforms for Graphic Designers
What to Look Out for on Upwork
As with Freelancer, Upwork can be a place where scammers use the job postings to try and trick you into getting your bank information, so it is also a website where research and investigation is needed on the job postings. The details of who or what company is posting the job are left out until the bid is successful so this can lead to complications with investigating.
There is however a way to view how much money the job poster has spent on Upwork before you apply, which typically is a good sign the job is legitimate if there is a decent amount of money spent by the poster. Making bids requires a certain number of “connects” which are points necessary to applying for bids. Depleting your connects meets you with a requirement to purchase more, and the more high-profile the job, the more connects it costs. It is $1.50 USD for 10 connects, but to purchase them you can use the funds you have on Upwork so you do not have to link any sensitive payment information. Connects can also be refunded upon a bid closing and you not receiving the job, so that is a decent feature.
Pro’s:
- Friendly to all experience levels
- Simple bidding system
- Buying connects does not require linked bank account info
- Connects are typically refunded if you do not win the bid
Con’s:
- Connects cost money if they are depleted
- Possible scammers
- Time lost on scams due to inability to see who is posting job
4. Simply Hired – Freelance Platform
BEST FREE PLATFORM FOR APPLYING QUICKLY
Simply Hired is a job search website that can be used to find freelance jobs as well as part and full-time work. Search boxes for job title and location are right on the home page allowing you to get right into the search. It is free to create an account on the website, and it can be done with a preexisting Facebook or Google account.
Filters in the job search page include what type of work, such as contract, full-time, etc., as well as the date post date and salary minimum. Just click on the “quick apply” function and answer a few questions. Adding a resume is simple and quick. Not every job allows for the quick apply option though, but the ability makes applying for multiple jobs time efficient.
Each job lists the company name and job description, so you get a good idea of who you are applying to and what experience and responsibilities are involved in the job position. Pay rates are also featured on most postings which is a big plus in saving time. This allows someone who is experienced to search for higher paying positions, or those in entry-level job searching to find positions where the lower pay matches the qualifications they have.
Pro’s:
- Free to use, Facebook/Google account sign up
- Job company an information easily accessible
- Ability to view pay rates
- Basic filters for finding specific jobs
- Quick apply feature
Con’s:
- No number of applicants listed
- Job listings can sometimes be outdated
There are many places where videographers can find paid gigs. Some good places to start looking include job boards and freelance websites such as Upwork, LinkedIn, and Freelancer.com. You can also try reaching out to local businesses and organizations in your area to see if they have any need for videography services. Networking with other professionals in the industry can also be a good way to find paid work. Additionally, many videographers find paid work through referrals from satisfied clients.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQ
There are several ways to get a videography gig. One way is to create a strong portfolio of work that showcases your skills and experience. This will help you to demonstrate your capabilities to potential clients, and give them an idea of the type of work you can do. You can also create a professional profile on freelance websites and job boards, and start networking with other professionals in the industry. This can help you to find potential clients and build your reputation as a videographer. Additionally, reaching out to local businesses and organizations in your area to see if they have any need for videography services can also be a good way to find work. Networking with other professionals in the industry can also be a good way to find paid work.
Yes, there is definitely demand for videographers. In today's digital world, businesses and organizations of all sizes are using video to communicate with their customers and audiences. This has created a strong demand for professionals who can create high-quality videos for a variety of purposes, such as marketing, training, and entertainment. As a result, many videographers are able to find paid work in a variety of industries, including advertising, marketing, film and television, and corporate communications.
To start freelancing as a videographer, you'll need to have a strong portfolio of work to show to potential clients. This will help you to demonstrate your skills and experience, and give clients an idea of the type of work you can do. You'll also need to create a professional profile on freelance websites and job boards, and start networking with other professionals in the industry. This will help you to find potential clients and build your reputation as a freelance videographer. Additionally, it's important to have a clear understanding of your target market and the services you will offer, as well as a plan for pricing and billing your clients.
One of the best ways to getting started is to start a TikTok that showcases your process from start to finished product. Your followers will grow & you'll get more clients. That will allow you to raise your rates as your demand grows.
The amount you charge as a videographer will depend on several factors, such as your level of experience, the complexity of the project, and the location where the work will be done. One of the best ways to determine how much to charge is to compare your services with your competition. What is your competition charging? This will help you to determine a fair and competitive price for your services.
