Timing… is everything. When I reflect on what Archer Video has done this past year, I start to think of how crazy it is that this almost didn’t happen. I left a position I wasn’t happy with creatively, but I was at least guaranteed a paycheck every 2 weeks. I ventured out into the unknown to start my own videography company. I was able to negotiate a decent amount of camera equipment in the separation, but a significant investment in gear to produce top quality films was still required. This took a huge leap of faith and the support of my very understanding (and frugal) wife (who never questioned any camera gear purchase, no matter what the cost… never ever…ever).
The first two weeks of starting Archer Video consisted of multiple sales calls with no contracts. Doubt started to set in until the third week when a couple of clients signed on to have Archer Video as their video content provider. I was able to replace my past salary in the first month. A month into starting my own videography business, my wife and I found out we were expecting our first child. She woke me up at 4:30am to tell my half zombie self the big news. The timing of this was interesting because I had a film shoot that day and she was heading out of state. We wanted to keep this a secret until 13 weeks, so I had to contain my excitement and not tell everyone on the shoot (I only told the cashier at Taco Bell and my barber…..and several moms in small rural towns where I filmed…..and the Nebraska Furniture Mart customer service guy). There is a zero percent chance I would have left a stable job knowing I would have to help support a child. The timing of leaving, having a baby, and new clients all lined up perfectly.
I absolutely love the clients whom I have had the opportunity to work with. Each company and organization had a unique story to tell. The videos I’ve produced have ranged from a multi million dollar property management company, to a fair ground, to a wedding. I’ve highlighted high-end products with models in Miami and pig mud wrestling in Iowa. (Filming pig wrestling was a nightmare for my equipment and I’m still finding mud on my gear almost 1 year later.) I fulfilled a bucket list location with Charleston, SC in my first year (my favorite movie of all time is The Notebook. I’m a former college football athlete and I’d consider myself a masculine man… but the southern love story of Noah and Allie is second to none).
My goals for this next year are to continue to grow the business side and to continue to grow creatively. My motivation for the first year of Archer Video was driven by a chip on my shoulder. Year 2’s motivation is to surprise myself. I am tremendously grateful to the companies who trusted us to create video content, and look forward to meeting new clients when the time is right. Consider following Archer Video on all our social media platforms, and stay tuned for all the new video content to come.
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