The Truth About Quitting Your Job to Pursue Wedding Filmmaking

[@shotmakermedia]

I don't know that I've ever related to a KZbin video more than this one. Wow, I'm at a loss for words. Keep pushing man.

[@EverWhereFilms]

Man, it always kills me to hear you discouraged. 😭 You're so good at what you do, but I totally get how doing the same thing over and over can wear you down. "I didn't have the passion to run a business," rings true for me. I'd love to see you create space for a passion project. Like what's something you find inspiring or interesting? I'd love you see you make a short film about something that means alot to you... and although I love seeing your face, you can't be the narrator. Make space for Jaired outside the wedding world. 👏🏻.... Also, I think doing a certain percentage of commercial work each year has given my mind a break between wedding edits, and it gives me a different creative outlet.

[@WaywardNorth]

Comes with the territory I suppose lol and the seasons. I need to up my vitamin D so I don’t fall into emo Jaired. But man, I have so many short films that I’ve written that I would be so psyched about making. Or just even elevating the content on this channel or starting a new KZbin channel that focuses on life through a more cinematic lens. I’m a journey to find who Jaired with an “i” is outside of weddings. He’s somewhere and something just not sure what quite yet. Appreciate you always!

[@EverWhereFilms]

@ man, take one of those short films scripts and throw yourself into it in the off season. Do it like someone is paying you to do it. Maybe the shortest one you really like, so you know it’s doable. Okay, I’m done being old man Brando. Much love brotha. I appreciate you.

[@thepl4yer235]

@@WaywardNorthIt seems you are being called to be something greater, why deny it?

[@Kiwireels]

Going back a couple of years ago I studied a diploma in small business management just to help me look at things different. It definitely helped me work on my business not in it. However as this business evolves as the term "content creator" is becoming the more goto thing for couples here. Where i had the joy of just being the guy that films and edits I now need to be way way more and that has taken some of the passion away for me. I guess for example the higher end wedding film makers such as Ray roman are always having stress about remaining at the top of their game' which can often take away the pure joy.

[@GarretWeintrob]

This really resonates. I'm going into my third year as a full-time freelancer and experiencing a lot of the same feelings. Still have a strong love for what I do and no intentions of stopping, but the business side of things just gets so draining sometimes. Appreciate you making this video, it helps to know there are others out there going through the same thing!

[@XxDeathsEnemyxX]

Photography was my passion, then, 2019 I did 30+ weddings, tons of other portrait and senior session. Ended up hating the business side. Took a break, now back, doing enough to enjoy but not to start hating it. Now learning to do video and want to start doing that because that’s where I ultimately wanted to be.

[@lumosmediahouseweddings9953]

Really resonated with me. Busy season = the thick of the struggle for me. Almost through and this is some great motivation

[@LatterDayLady]

I’m not even close to full time or have ever been but I’ve been doing this on the side of normal life for the past decade. Now I have a son and other selfish hobbies and I’d much rather just be present in those moments rather than be stuck behind a computer editing all day. I’ve really scaled back and in this phase of life, if I only shoot 3 weddings a year, I’m okay with that. It’s never been about the money for me so I stopped making it that way. Now I truly only say yes to a wedding when I actually want to do it. Also, I am even outsourcing those few wedding films and only editing the “easy stuff”is that I have mental capacity to do the other parts of the business.

[@tb0ne205]

Have you thought about hiring a consistent second to teach and outsourcing projects to them with a piece of the profit? Still make money while decreasing workload🤷🏾‍♂️

[@WaywardNorth]

@@tb0ne205 Absolutely! I find it’s easier to outsource with a trusted brand in the current moment but I’m definitely for building a team in house

[@HwayVision]

This is the problem with working alone. We all have our own strengths and recently I teamed up with my lady so we can help each other. Unfortunately maybe I’m a pessimist but we all have to work and it’s a blessing we can do this work. I helped my wife create “auto pilot” processes that just Work and she can focus more on creating. Thank you for your transparency and hoping we can go full time some time soon keeping all this in mind

[@stuARTvideoproductions]

Great video mate, and something nobody seems to talk about. Yes running your own business isn't for everyone. I believe that if you do anything enough, it will feel like work some of the time. I bet the Rolling Stones have plenty of days where they can't be fagged going on tour to play the same old tracks they've played for the past 50 years, but I bet they take a step back, realise how grateful they are to be doing what they do for a living and push through the negatives and focus on the positives. So embracing the independence and flexibility of working for yourself, embracing that you are able to make a living out of being a creative and embracing the potential financial freedom it can give you can be worth the sacrifices. Did I miss some moments of my child's life on the weekends? Yes, but they had their dad there 90% of the time during the week when they got home from school. Did I miss friends birthdays? Yes but when they're sitting on the freeway working their 9-5 mon-fri, I'm choosing when I decide to turn on my computer. - its the freedom of choice, and if you crave that sort of independence, then working for yourself is what you're made for.

[@stefanoborello8808]

Over the years, I’ve never felt the drive to take the step of turning my work as a videomaker into my main profession. My 9-to-5 job is my primary source of financial support, but it doesn’t bring me any satisfaction. On the other hand, when I step into the role of a videomaker, I work with passion. However, I also realize that as soon as I face all the challenges you described, and when projects pile up all at once, managing one’s mental well-being is much harder as a freelancer than as an employee. I have immense respect for those who succeed in this endeavor, especially in a country as challenging as Italy for freelancers. For now, what you’ve described feels too overwhelming for me to take on, so I’ll continue being a company employee and a hobbyist videomaker-for now, we’ll see what the future holds ;)

[@carlos.sierra]

I see that MAHA hat bro 👀 😎 👍🏼 🇺🇸

[@JimLifts]

Facts, I think recognizing this reality is key for folks who have a full time job 9-5 that want to quit so they can finally “enjoy work”

[@JimLifts]

They ain’t ever going to fully enjoy work

[@JimLifts]

Have you ever been diagnosed with adhd btw? I recently got diagnosed and since I started medicating I feel my ability to produce and maintain consistency has improved greatly

[@WaywardNorth]

@@JimLifts Self diagnosed but working on natural remedies. Im not a huge fan of Western Medicine. More of a naturopath when it comes to health and wellness.

[@JimLifts]

@ makes sense! If all else fails highly recommend starting on a low dose of vyvanse or adderall XR to see how it feels and how it impacts how you respond to the world around you :)

[@aefilmsweddings]

I work a 9-5 (at a job where I still work with video and I enjoy a lot which makes it easier for me to not want to leave) but I've certainly thought about the idea of going full time wedding filmmaker. Right now I get maybe 10-15 weddings a year and nearly all of it is word of mouth/second shooting and that saves me from a lot of the headaches of the business side of things and having to sell myself. I don't really have a social media presence because I know I don't have the time to post every day like some of my fellow videographers do. For me wedding filmmaking is more of a hobby/creative outlet and I'm fortunate enough that I can keep it that way for now.

[@WaywardNorth]

I do miss having this as my creative outlet vs my only method of survival. I think what you're doing is honestly a great scenario for sustaining that creative spark and passion towards creating. When it becomes your only method of survival it becomes the last thing you think about at the end of a work day vs all you think about in the beginning.

[@zacrodriguez538]

I definitely relate to this exact sentiment. The weekly, sometimes daily fight against burnout is real. I’ve always said that the do what you love thing is….an optimistic way to put it. It’s still a job. And it’s especially deflating when people look at your job as a hobby. Everyone thinks they can do it. Going on 13 years myself, and all I can say is, even if you truly love something it still takes WORK.

[@WaywardNorth]

1000%

[@zacrodriguez538]

Does Wayward North mean you’re in the PNW?

[@WaywardNorth]

@ I’m on East Coast

[@zacrodriguez538]

Gotcha. I just moved to PNW from SoCal. Was gonna say maybe I’ll run into you one day. Less likely now. Haha

[@martydenson_mfm]

I went full-time about 1 year ago. (Back story): Saved lots of money for many years. Now, that saved money pays me interest on a monthly basis... ($3,500 a month... to tell my business.) I did not want to stress about making enough money to survive. Much easier to enjoy being a full-time videographer and some photography. I had a direct mission and boom - it's working. Keep grinding.

[@videosbyeddie9023]

Man that’s awesome! Good for you 👏🏻Where is your money placed in to generate that much in interest? Roughly how much should you need to have that type of return?

[@martydenson_mfm]

@@videosbyeddie9023 1. $500 per month Tax sheltered Annuity for 15 yrs + additional savings of nearly $700 - $1000 per month for about 15 years. Flipped a real estate deal for $175,000. All rolled into an IRA at 3.75%. Was able to accumulate over time about $800,000. Patience and grind to get there. oh, and I was a college professor for many years and paid into a 401k plan from age 22.

[@thepl4yer235]

Would it help if you took on less clients? Or got more employees to help? Thank you for this video!

[@WaywardNorth]

Totally, I think having a system, taking time away, building routines, and delegating tasks that don't bring you joy, it takes time to do this however but once you do it certainly helps.

[@angelxmoses]

Thank you for sharing your heart. This helps me a lot as a 'restarting' wedding filmmaker. Also, your creator shirt where can I buy one?

[@edwink0]

Who actually edits for Uncut Gems? Is it a US-based team? Is it someone in-house or do they outsource? If the latter, where do they outsource to?

[@WaywardNorth]

They are a team of in-house editors. Not sure how many people they have on the team.

[@ValenciaVisions]

Let’s ignore our projects together and link up for some video games 👀😂

[@WaywardNorth]

Where we droppin' 👀

[@ValenciaVisions]

@waywardnorth if you’re serious, I’m an APEX player lol Warzone gives me a headache and I can’t remember the last time I loaded up into Fortnite

[@cezar_visual_artist]

Too late:)))

[@underdogproductions1588]

I want to say first, I love your channel and your content 9 times out of 10. but this is bad advice! Man I cannot stress this enough.... hire a business coach! There is a much less painful path to the freedom you seek my friend! Sounds like you have found some answers to ideal balance but man there are some great coaches that can implement some great systems for you and others in your shoes!

[@WaywardNorth]

@@underdogproductions1588 I appreciate it! You’re spot on and I’ve done the business coach route and you’re right it worked great for a few years. My goal for this video wasn’t to offer advice, merely share my experience with turning a passion into a hobby and the downsides that can come from it. Not every video resonates with everyone and that’s okay! We all go through seasons regardless of whether we have a great system or not. My financials are good, my business is healthy, my mindset and future goals is where there are some grey areas.

[@thepl4yer235]

I wrote this down, might need this info some day… thank you!