Well, I got thrown for a loop yesterday.
Let me admit that I have a semi-antiquated way of looking at the world. I’m not a complete Luddite - hell, I have a website and a blog. You’re lucky I’m not mailing newsletters. (Hmm...maybe it would be quirky and quaint?) Nope, I hate mail.
Yesterday the question came up?
Do you shoot videos?
Yes, I do, but not much. I shoot my stuff, but I never thought to sell that service. For me, it was much more about photography.
Yes, I’m moving into YouTube, but the video I shot there was going to be more of a vehicle for my still photography.
I spent a lot of time yesterday shooting what should be the reboot of my YouTube channel.
So now, I need to reacclimate to shooting video, which I haven’t done in ages.
I was checking out some vlogs when I ran into this one videographer that said something that hit me hard:
Photography doesn’t do that well.
I rolled my eyes, but this videographer laid out his case well.
One, photography is everywhere. Everyone has an iPhone or smart device that takes pretty good pictures these days. Why would you need a professional photographer when you can save money and take the shot yourself?
Not everybody can shoot great videos. Yes, the iPhone can shoot excellent videos, too, and you can do minor edits in certain apps, but that takes time.
My friend Jerry, a seasoned editor, says it takes about an hour for every minute of edited footage. But, of course, this doesn’t include color correction or sound design, things that can make your video pop.
Photos are consumed for a second or two, and then you move on. I never thought of this, but it made sense when I thought about the direction of Instagram and the rise of TikTok. Video is the direction the most effective content is going.
This is especially important in terms of business. You want potential customers and clients to stick around rather than a second or two. Advertisers love this, of course, because it keeps eyeballs on their products.
You’re more likely to get discovered on YouTube rather than Instagram. Of course, this tidbit wasn’t from the same YouTuber, but Google is the second largest search engine next to Google.
On Instagram, you have to click on a page to discover some new photographers or invite people to your handle.
But YouTube will at least recommend you, so you’re easily discoverable on their platform. Of course, it helps if you post consistently and people are watching and liking your content.
This all makes sense.
Now, it’s funny, because I’m so old, I still try to keep up a blog and believe the written word means something. But, as I said, a Luddite.
I still love photography and taking cool shots, but I need to re-think this video thing because, yes, I think the world of the content of consumption has moved on.
It’s simply just progress.
I’ve got the equipment to do it, and I need to use it and shake the cobwebs out.