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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

How can I make money with a Red camera??

C

Carl Epstein

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Ok so I am an auto shop owner going through mid life crisis. Instead of a red Corvette I got a Red video camera. I am in the process of dropping 40 k on video equipment. In my business when I spend 40 k on something it makes me money back. I started this so I could take video of squirrels in the park or my wife sitting on the couch. Now I am thinking... Hmmm maybe I could make some money to support my hobby. You guys are obviously professionals in this field. Any suggestions??
 
You can rent it out but then you won't have it to shoot personal stuff on? Or make a reel and try to land paying work?
 
you can rent it out and watch it get all scratched up and abused by student short films for 250/weekend lol
 
You could make "Shop Videos" for your auto shop business. Market the hell out of what you do or make short videos like Phil's "Forged" video but with cool auto shop stuff (that the normal joe doesn't see daily). Money comes in from the shop not the camera (it's Marketing).

Otherwise, yes, a rental business can make you money but also lead to lots of fear. Who do you rent it to...insurance...them needing more gear... it's a second business.

If you rather shoot, you could shoot weddings and family stuff like Bar Mitzvahs and Anniversaries. If it's just side cash, this might be a way to play (since it might take time to get really good and thus charging low makes sense).

Other then that, treat it as an expensive hobby and simply enjoy. The cost is evened out by making and having quality family memories...HIGH END QUALITY...ha, ha.
 
Um... not sure if trolling or serious...

I'd say if you have zero background in film/filmmaking/photography.... start learning the basics. Exposure, composition, proper lighting, etc. If you don't know any of that then you would have just as much success with a Sony Handycam...
 
Do you have a background in filmmaking or is this a completely new hobby for you? I personally wouldn't spend $40k into camera equipment with hopes of making your money back if i was just starting out. Whatever your decision ends up being i wish you luck.
 
9 times out of 10 (or maybe 99 out of 100) it's the cameraman that makes it work, not the camera. The best guys can make iPhone shots look amazing and tell a story. To a large extent it's what's behind the camera that is most important, and not the gear. But RED cams are surely worthy of lusting over in a similar way that one wants a fast computer, fast car, or fast woman! So your story doesn't surprise me at all...I'm sure everyone on here can relate somewhat, regardless of experience.
 
Carl Epstein said:
I started this so I could take video of squirrels in the park or my wife sitting on the couch. Now I am thinking... Hmmm maybe I could make some money to support my hobby. You guys are obviously professionals in this field. Any suggestions??
Click to expand...

More specifics would help.

What type of squirrels ?
 
Find a local shooter who you trust. Someone who works often. Tell them that the camera normally would go out for X (e.g$800pd) but you can give it to them for Y (e.g$600pd) and that they can keep the margin. Say they that will have good access to the camera and can work with you to get the rig in a good usable setup. Make sure you have a very good case setup and make sure they know that you expect it to come back the same way that it goes out. - Something like the yet to be announced Weapon version of this, that holds all the accs and body in one case. http://www.innerspacecases.com/red-epic-ata-shipping-case-standard-version/

This person is now an 'owner operator' in the markets eyes & you are now getting a passive income of the squirrel cam!
While still having it most of the time.

Like any good autoshop, presentation and organization of equipment goes a long way.

Good luck!
 
The generosity of this board has no bounds. I mean that seriously and literally. You guys are the best!
 
Thanks for all the replies. Not a joke at all. I am doing ok in the auto business so it's not like I have to count on a return on investment. I have quite an extensive background in still photo from my darkroom days in the 70's working with Ektachrome and cibachrome in a canister through the 5d mk ii. I am a scuba instructor and do quite a bit of underwater video with a Canon XA10. I feel I have a good eye for photo and video. I got the replies I was expecting. I knew I was opening myself up for all kinds of answers. (: Its mostly for creativity ideas from my friends at Reduser. I think the best idea is to follow the suggestion of working with another professional at weddings etc and learn the ropes. I only have weekends to play. I am surely a pixel watcher. I like to expand as far as possible in post to see just how crisp the pixels are so Red and R3d was a natural choice. BTW we do have brown and some black squirrels. (:
 
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If you have the gear and basic photo knowledge, see if you can find a professional shooter in your area. Ofeer him/her a break on the rental for the package and offer to assist. You get to look out for your gear, you get to learn, the pro shooter gets to bill full book value on your gear and pocket the discount, or use higher end gear than they normally would for the same price.

Nick
 
Great idea Nick. That way I can keep an eye on the gear also. It's like a rent to learn plan.
 
We have a saying in the helicopter business: If you want to end up with a small fortune in the helicopter business, start off with a big one. Off topic but might apply.
 
<RANT>You can't make money with a RED camera. Content which gathers an audience makes money. There are many ways to use the tool as part of content development. Make the camera available to someone who has content but needs gear for a fee. Become an expert on some aspect of content development who uses the camera and be hired by someone who has content but needs gear and operators. Or, from my perspective and I'd say the wisest, make content that gathers an audience and earn money. Either directly from the audience or by selling access to the audience. In that case you use the tools necessary to accomplish the task. The rub is that to make content compelling enough that more people than your mother or best friend would watch it, is very hard. That's why so few can do it and most work to realize the content goals of others. </RANT>

I apologize in advance if anyone is offended by my post. I hope it is not taken to diminish the artistry or craft of those who participate in taking content from an idea to a viewable experience. Without those artist and experts it's not possible to make anything to watch. This is why I used my "RANT" tags. I would add that without the idea for the content first, nothing can happen.
 
No big deal just dropped $40,000.00 so I can make squirrel videos... I'd watch a squirrel video but only if it was shot on Weapon 8k, gotta fill my 8k desktop screen.
 
Thanks Chris, One of the most mature replies I have gotten.

Clark did you spend 40 k to take squirrel videos too??? Maybe we can put our heads together and make a squirrel documentary and sell it to National Geographic and pay for our equipment. As Chris said it is compelling content that makes money. (:
 
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