Those giving the most creative notes are often the least creative.

When I sign clients, my goal is to emphasize the importance of storytelling. People are drawn to interesting stories and to the individuals behind the products and services. It’s not the video that goes viral, it’s a moment.

I wish I realized this sooner. I spent years wasting my time on dumb shit. I used to worry a lot about what people think. In reality, you don’t need to hire anyone to create content for your business. All you need is a phone.

Genuine stories make for the best video content for business. My work involves more than just creating video content. I focus on developing content that showcases your business and your team. I oversee these efforts, ensuring consistent growth and delivering value that exceeds the cost of my bill. Content should always be evolving, and it shouldn’t be easy. It should be difficult.

When creating content for your business, a lack of team participation can significantly impact you and the one creating the content.

Reflecting on past experiences, I've noticed that strong leadership is key to ensuring effective team involvement. You're likely to fail if the boss isn’t great at leading a team.

I know when a game plan needs to change. I used to beat a dead horse, trying to get people involved. I don’t do this anymore. If a team member doesn't show interest, I ignore them. I focus on the employees who want to be involved.

I take pride in ensuring every team member feels valued and engaged without anyone feeling out of place or intimidated. If I forget someone, I do my best to include them.

Instead of pressuring the client to pump out content, I take a more relaxed approach.

One negative employee who doesn’t want to contribute will eventually ruin it for everyone. It’s guaranteed. Sometimes, this is a manager, husband or wife of the owner, etc. At the end of the day, my job as a videographer is half doing the actual job and half justifying creative decisions. I started to notice that those giving the most notes are the least creative.

When you’re working with a small business, it’s different. There isn’t a human resource or a recruiting department to hammer out the details of the job. You’re winging it, so it’s important to set standards that allow you to do the job the client is paying for. I rarely plan ahead, but I’m always thinking ahead.

A brick building with an outdoor sign for TCD Studios, which is promoting a web series titled 'Every Actor Films a Web Series.' The sign is black with red and white text, and the building has an arched architectural detail at the top.
Cozy indoor lounge with a leather sofa, wooden coffee table, pink armchair, decorative wall art, potted plant, and textured purple and white walls.
Marquee sign for 5th TCL Studios Anniversary Party and Karaoke event, with details about Sunday luncheons, comedy Tuesdays, and busbysalc.com.
Interior of a rustic-style cafe with exposed brick walls, high windows letting in sunlight, a small round table with a red and white checkered tablecloth, and bar stools around it. The brick wall features artwork, an 'OPEN' sign, and a vintage stove
Living room with a black leather sofa, a wooden console table with a blue lamp, a vintage rotary phone, and decorative candles. The wall features a textured gray finish with an abstract painting and a wall art made from pallet wood.
A small corner of a retro themed restaurant with pink walls. It features a round table with attached stools, a decorative wine rack on the wall, a folding screen, a table with baskets, lemons, and a metal pitcher, and a large plant in the background.
A woman holding a black and white Chihuahua puppy, both looking at the camera.
A small kitchen or dining area with a dark table, a bench, and a sideboard. The sideboard holds a microwave, a basket of fruit, a tissue box, a jar, paper towels, and a small speaker. A kitchen water dispenser is nearby, and a candle is on the table.
A living room with three red leather sofas, a wooden coffee table with magazines and a small plant, a black TV stand with books and decor, abstract wall art, a vintage hanging lamp, and a patterned tile floor.
Living room with a gray couch on the left, a tall plant near a window on the left, a black table against a textured metal wall with books, a lamp, and decorative items, a large black and white portrait of a person with curly hair playing a guitar on
A woman being interviewed sitting on a red leather sofa with various items on the table in front of her, while a man records her with a camera.
Interior of a rustic beer studio or taproom with brick walls, large windows with curtains, and casual seating including a high table with stools, a rectangular bar with stools, and picnic tables. Decor includes beer-themed wall art and signs.
A woman being interviewed on camera in a cozy, decorated room with brick walls, framed artwork, and a neon 'Open' sign.
Top: Audience members sitting in chairs paying attention or using mobile devices. Bottom: Man sitting on a stool giving a presentation or lecture with camera equipment and a small audience in a room with yellow and blue walls.
Four images showing different areas of an interior living space. The first image displays a potted plant on a round, patterned side table with lattice design. The second image features a seating area with a red sofa, black recliner, and a coffee tabl
A small group of people participating in a script reading or discussion in an industrial-style room with exposed concrete walls and a mountain landscape painting. Three individuals are standing near the Open door at the back, while three others sit o
A man with a beard and dark hair, wearing a white t-shirt, standing on a sidewalk at an intersection with cars passing by and looking up with his arms raised and hands open. There are buildings, trees, street signs, and traffic lights in the backgrou
Tattoo on a person's forearm that reads 't.c.d.studios'.