New Year's Resolutions for Video Producers

Posted January 02, 2018

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A new year has begun and it is a new opportunity for you to achieve your video goals. As video producers our lives and work move so fast it can sometimes be difficult to reflect on your work and set some long-term goals for yourself and work. With the new year here lets take a look at some resolutions you can make to help your video career.

Your first resolution should be simply to produce more video. Whether you have been making videos for years, or just starting out, this is the simplest thing you can do to advance your career. Pick up the camera and find a story to tell. Many people around the world want to create stories in video, but many don't take the first step of picking up the camera. You will always be able to come with excuses to not pick it up and start producing, but the best reason to do so is that not only will you create something, but also the best way to learn is by doing.

Another good resolution for video producers is to simplify your workflow. This can be done a number of ways whether it's refining the way that you edit your material, your pre-shoot routines, or your gear kit. We think 2018 is a great time to take a look at your kit and shed a few items. In 2018 you can truly do more with less. Gone are the days of needing to drag lights and heavy tripods around with you, and time to simplify. The best way you can do this is by utilizing smartphones. Smartphones make amazing cameras and can greatly improve the way you make video. They are lightweight, shoot amazing broadcast quality video, and you can edit and share right from the phone. In addition, because the cameras are so small, and people are so used to them, you can get really great, natural footage using a smartphone. It can go where most other cameras cannot.

Another resolution for video producers is to try and grow your audience. Now this is something that you should be doing year-round anyway, but with the new year this is a good chance to reevaluate your distribution strategy and targeted audience. First, think about where you are distributing your work and how. If you are uploading to the web and various social media platforms, consider how they are different and serve different fuctions for growing your audience. Don't just put the same video up on every platform, use the platforms' strengths and weaknesses for you to maximize your growth. Another thing to consider is who the audience for your videos are. It is best to start small and grow outwards. Make videos that appeal to a specific affinity group and make videos that will make you the premiere video producer in the niche. Then, expand from there.

Another good resolution: Find new colaborators or mentors. While you may produce video alone, the community of video producers around the world is huge -- and ever expanding. With the Internet, you are able to connect with video producers and other creative people around the world and help each other with projects. Not only is this a great way to learn new skills and meet new people, but also a great way to expand your professional network, and your work's potential audience.

Lastly, develop some long-term goals for your career. Now this doesn't have to be a 5-year plan, but it can be useful to look a few months or even a year ahead and think about where you want to be in your career. Maybe you want to go from making local commercials in your hometown to doing work state-wide, or maybe you want to try and make music videos for local bands. Rather than just making video after video, think about what you want to get out of it, and what you can do to achieve that. If you want to sell a show to a TV network, start working on the pitchreel. If you want to become the world's most popular vlogger, then start that YouTube channel. If you want to be a video producers, then go producer videos!

Do you have any other resolutions or tips for video producers in the new year? Let us know in the comments.