Why you need to make content for you.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of becoming a full-time videographer who’s always creating for others but rarely, if ever, creating for themselves. If you’re anything like me, you probably feel a twinge of guilt whenever you start working on your own content. With client projects looming, it’s hard to justify spending time on personal video work. Or maybe, after a long day behind the camera, the last thing you want to do is set it up for yourself.
But here’s the truth: making content for yourself is unbelievably important.
Why Should You Make Time for Personal Content?
Let’s get real. These days, how do people find you? Sure, they might stumble upon your website, but the real hook? It’s your content. As a videographer trying to position yourself as a content expert, your own work becomes your calling card. Imagine someone asks, “So, where can I see your work?” and you realize you have no recent content to share because you’ve only been focusing on client projects. Not having your own work to showcase sends the wrong message.
It’s all too common to only think about personal content when there’s a lull in client work. By the time you’re ready to dive in, another project comes along, and your personal content is left on the backburner. This cycle keeps you from building momentum and ends up pushing your brand’s visibility aside.
My Struggle with Staying Consistent
I know the struggle of inconsistent content creation. At one point, I would produce random videos here and there but without any cohesive direction. I’d try one style, get busy with client work, come back, and try something else entirely. It wasn’t until I stumbled upon my niche that things really clicked.
It all started when I hired a friend to film some behind-the-scenes footage of a shoot. It was initially meant for my online course—something I envisioned as a “YouTube for Udemy” kind of deal. But as I filmed more episodes, the series started to take on a life of its own. It became this unique hybrid of a cooking and videography show, capturing both my work behind the camera and the chefs and restaurants I was shooting.
That’s when it hit me: I’d found my groove. This content brought together two things I loved—food and filmmaking. So, I decided to publish a few episodes under fresh branding, just to see what would happen.
Real Results Aren’t Always Viral
Now, let me be clear. This isn’t a story about going viral. I didn’t wake up to millions of views overnight. In fact, the numbers were modest: around 200 views on YouTube, slightly above-average engagement on Instagram. But here’s the thing: the impact went beyond views.
By creating content that aligned with my passion, I started attracting exactly the right kind of audience for my business. My goal wasn’t to reach everyone—it was to reach the clients who would resonate with my work. And that’s exactly what happened. As time passed, I began to see more engagement, more inquiries, and more opportunities. Years later, clients still mention those videos.
Pivoting My Business with Strategic Content
My ambition was to transition from wedding films to shooting food, drink, and lifestyle content. By consistently making videos in this niche, I started to get noticed by people in those industries. Not only were they seeing my skills, but they were also associating me with the kind of work I wanted to be known for. This content helped me pivot my brand and firmly establish myself in a new genre.
The Lesson: Content is a 24/7 Salesman for Your Brand
For my fellow videographers, here’s the takeaway: your content is always working for you, even when you’re not. It’s a silent salesman that never takes a day off, continuously attracting new clients and expanding your brand’s reach.
Don’t get discouraged if your personal content doesn’t go viral. That’s not the point. The point is to create a body of work that represents you, resonates with your ideal clients, and positions you where you want to be in the industry.
So, keep creating. Make time for your own projects, even when client work is demanding. Your future clients—and your future self—will thank you for it.
4o
