Make Money Renting Your Camera Gear

[@chronoscopefilm5984]

Such excellent information on your channel Matt. Bravo. Hope you don't stop, I learn something in every one and they're very easy to listen to; no stupid transitions and unnecessary music, no pushing sponsor brands...just a calm, natural/unforced and knowledgable voice.

[@matt-porwoll]

I really appreciate that! I feel that so much information (or lack there of) gets covered up by fancy nonsense. I just want to present what I have to share for people to learn from, pure and simple. I'm glad its working for you!

[@DANAMIONLINE]

Peace, Matt, you brought up a good point about gear investments. For those just starting, consider that the gear you buy on a tight budget might not be in high demand for rentals to other filmmakers or rental houses. For instance, a $1500 or $2K camera might not get rented often, and that third-party light you bought because it fit your budget might not be a hot rental item either. When you’re ready to upgrade your starter kit, ask yourself what would be the wisest investment. Take vintage lenses, for example; some, like Super Takumars, have value but aren’t as expensive or in demand as Leica R lenses. It’s all about finding the right balance between quality, your budget, and the market.

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks! You're absolutely right. When you're starting out with cheaper equipment, don't expect to rent it a la carte, but instead build into your personal day rate to show up with what you need. As you grow from there, buy not only what you can (and will) use on a regular basis, but also understand your market and what people are looking for.

[@RoubenFreeman]

What good timing! Another really useful video. I've just started to go through and work out those return ratios on my gear. I was really surprised to see how much better the ratio was for my lighting then for my camera.

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks! Looking to see what's actually working is the best way to know what purchasing decisions you need to make moving forward!

[@bseng]

Great video Matt! I wish I knew a lot of this knowledge when I first started out in my career, I've definitely made my fair share of poor business purchases in the past.

[@matt-porwoll]

Thanks! And I hear you! Owning and renting equipment can be a long game, but once you start, you figure out what works and what doesn't along the way :)

[@TwangThang57]

How common is the situation where scammers who pose as legit videographers/cinematographers, production units...., steal equipment for the cost of a rental?

[@matt-porwoll]

It can certainly happen, so be sure you have all required insurance and payment options to cover you in the event that happens. But if anything seems off when doing a rental with someone, it might be in your best interest to not go through with the rental.

[@AJ-on-youtube]

I WISH it was as easy as going to rental houses' websites and looking at their prices. Most of them don't list their prices on their websites, and they make you apply for a quote, so if you don't actually WANT to rent the equipment, you have to contact them and pretend like you do, which is shady.

[@matt-porwoll]

That's true, a lot of rental houses, especially in larger markets, won't list the prices on their website. But if you look at other rental options as well like I talked about, you can get a pretty good idea of the going rates in town. It's all about getting as much information as you can from wherever you can get it.

[@IsraelSuperguide]

Interested concept in North America's but irrelevant for international audience. In my country we don't even have rental shops. Either you have it or you don't. What I do, if I update I sell my items.

[@matt-porwoll]

Having worked around the world, I can tell you there are people who want to rent their equipment. Sometimes have to get creative in finding them. If you are wanting to rent out your equipment to productions that are coming into town, I would recommend building relationships with local fixers who can recommend you and your equipment when theres a need. Everyone is looking to both rent out their gear as well as renting from people that own it, even if it doesn't come from a system like traditional rental shops.

[@AJ-on-youtube]

What kind of insurance should you have, and is it exorbitantly expensive? And how do you account for people potentially stealing it? I've heard that some rental insurance policies don't cover that.

[@matt-porwoll]

For camera equipment, you should ideally have an Inland Marine Policy. Where you get this is up to you, and the cost will depend on a variety of factors - total replacement value, whether you want additional coverages like the ability to rent outside equipment, rental coverage in the event of a theft, etc. When it comes to theft, be sure to talk to your broker about elements you may need in place wherever you are storing your gear, and whether they cover vehicles as well. But generally speaking, these policies will cover theft. Hope that helps!