I spent 10 years as a freelance video production professional before moving to an in-house shooter/editor position. Looking back over my career, I realize that there are some things I did right and other things that I could have done differently.

So, if you’re thinking about striking out on your own as an independent shooter, producer, and/or editor for hire, here are some things you should consider before making the leap.

WORK IN-HOUSE FIRST

Whether it’s at an agency, production company, or a corporate marketing department, I think it’s important to spend a few years working full-time as part of an in-house team. Here’s why:

1. It will provide you with an incredible learning experience, because you will be working closely with other production professionals on a daily basis. You will be able to pick up new skills and hone your craft. It’s like going to graduate school, but you’re getting paid for it.

2. It will help you to build a solid network that you can lean upon later when you go out on your own. As you work with people within the business, you need to be establishing good working relationships. When those individuals move on to other opportunities, be sure to stay in touch. Whenever you make the leap to full-time freelancer, you might be able to land work from these individuals. It’s much easier to mine an existing network than try to build one from scratch, when no one is familiar with your work.

LINE UP A REPEAT CLIENT

Before striking out on your own, I think it’s incredibly important that you already have at least one main client that will feed you work on a consistent, monthly basis. This might start out as a small side gig, but as that work continues to grow, taking up more and more of your time, you might reach a point where it makes sense to go out on your own full-time. This is why working at an in-house position is so valuable. You are much more likely to find that repeat client through the network you build.

SET UP A CORPORATION OR LLC

Here’s where I advise you to consult with an attorney or tax professional (or both). Even if you are working solo with no intentions of hiring other people full-time, you need to set up a Corporation or LLC. This serves to protect your personal assets. An attorney or tax professional can guide you on which is right for you.

RENT, DON’T BUY

Don’t rush into buying a ton of gear right out of the gate. You want to keep overhead as low as possible for as long as possible. It’s very easy to rent the camera, lenses, and supporting gear you need on a job-to-job basis and then bill that into your quote. Or, budget in the cost of hiring a DP while you serve as producer and director. Either way, renting vs. buying will not only keep your initial costs down, but you will ensure that you always have the right gear for the client’s needs. However, I would invest in an editing system right away, so that you can always edit your own projects.

What other advice do you have for someone who’s considering a freelance career in video production and post-production? Leave your advice in the Comments.