Should You Be Filming Video as a Photographer

The short answer is yes. You should be filming video as a photographer.

Video sells for much higher prices than photos. Since you are out there taking photos, and almost every DSLR is capable of recording video, why not switch to film mode for a while?

I think there is a hole out there waiting to be filled on YouTube. That hole is short-form nature documentaries like Planet Earth. I would love to see someone making really cool nature documentaries about a specific species, place, or climate that are short and easy to digest. This is one gap you could fill by recording video.

However, stock video is the easiest place to start. If you already sell your photos to a stock agency like Shutterstock or Getty Images, take the videos off your camera and upload them directly to that agency. You may start making an extra $100 every couple of months.

If you know a bit about video editing, you can stabilize your footage, color grade it, or cut it to make it look more professional and increase the likelihood of sales.

Lastly, you can use the footage to make behind the scenes videos for your website or YouTube channel. Everyone loves behind the scenes footage, so give the people what they want! Photographer Monte Isom swears his BTS videos have gotten him tons of clients he may not have landed otherwise.

In the moments between shots, when you are lying in the damp grass appreciating the beauty of nature, flip that camera to video mode and do some filming! You’ll never regret capturing more media. The worst thing that can happen is you don’t use it.

Give it a shot, and let me know what you do with it!