This winter, I've learnt the hard way, that as a self-employed videographer, that you need to be fitter than the fiddle section in an orchestra. My health is normally great, but I've had two super-colds back-to-back, on top of two sprained wrists and a sprained ankle after falling down a tiny two-inch step. I've been out of action for eight weeks, and it's been horrendous. Many 'wasted' hours on the couch, looking longingly at the world outside, and watching my bank account dwindle because I can't get out to see clients. Also everyone got crap Christmas presents because I couldn't splash out on the usual matching Bugatti Veyrons for my family /s. I am certain that if it wasn't for my moderate fitness routine, things would have been worse. A lot worse. And I'm not a fitness fanatic either. I go to the gym a few times a week, and practice qigong, which is a slow motion martial art that hones breathing, flexibility and concentration. So, my lungs were big, my muscles were strong, and my mindset, well, it wasn't quite Mr Miyagi, but at least I could stay positive through some of the toughest times of my life. Here are five reasons a vlogger (and anyone else self employed) should stay fit. 1) Your body is your primary kit.Cameras break. Lenses get replaced. Your body does not. 2) Videography is physical work. Carrying gear, crouching, standing for hours, reacting fast, staying steady. If your body goes down, the whole operation goes down with it. 3) Illness and injuries happen. That’s life. But baseline fitness acts like a buffer. Strong lungs, decent muscle tone, and good circulation mean you bounce back faster. Without that, a cold becomes weeks. A knock becomes months. 4) When you’re self-employed, energy equals income.There’s no sick pay and no cover. If you don’t have the stamina to leave the house, chase work, film, edit, and deliver, the money simply stops. 5) Movement regulates anxiety. Freelance life already puts your nervous system under pressure. Exercise, especially slower practices like qigong or yin yoga, keeps stress hormones from running the show.

Welcome to new members @Sophia Gaston, @Abdullah Rizwan and @Megan Fitzpatrick. Come and say hello to the Creator crew, introduce yourselves, and say what you'd like to get out of this course. It's totally flexible, and I create content based on your needs. I'd say that one of the easiest ways to get started is food vlogging. Food videos are relatively simple to make once you've learnt the basics, and if you film the right dishes, it can be a shortcut to going viral quickly and landing local clients. Take a look in the 'Classroom' tab and you'll see the Food Fame Formula course. It's a quick start to finding a decent venue, how to use your phone camera to film mouthwatering shots, and where to post your video to get you noticed. A tasty burger is a great first assignment. https://www.skool.com/local-creator-cashflow-1416/classroom Good luck, and let me know how it goes.

Wow, I've been feeling a blue and flat lately. Like a roadkill smurf. A long term client who I make vids for (an international exploration app) has asked me to start making reaction videos to front their new TikTok campaign. This client has been QUIET lately and I honestly though they were going to jettison my services. They pay my rent each month so they mean a lot to me. I've been a bit grumpy about it, because I'm not looking or feeling great. Plus, it's more work than they originally requested when we first negotiated four years ago. I sent them my first video, full of trepidation, and THEY LOVE IT. Well, she likes my appearance at least, which is a big boost. Here's her reaction, it's cheered me right up. This client has an intriguing, almost spooky product, and user's videos do tend to go viral, so hopefully decent monetisation isn't far away. I won't ask for any more cash just yet - I need to get their TikTok flying before asking. But good times ahead. Just wanted to share a win with you - it is possible to make great money with a repeat client. I hope you land a client as cool as mine.

This bloody cable has tripped me up more times than I care remember. Let's learn about the TRRS cable, it's mysterious third ring, and why you absolutely have to get it right if you want to connect a bluetooth mic to your iPhone.

Time for a new auto signature. As my prospecting ramps up, I need to tell people who I am, what I do, link to my work, and also show off a bit. So I've added an auto signature to my emails. -- Vicky Video Presenter and Videographer 'Video is king and I make it bling' https://beacons.ai/vickyvideo According to ChatGPT, it should say all this, but I don't think it's necessary. What do you think? Keep it professional, concise, and easy to read: 1. Your Name Full name, bold if you want emphasis.Example: Vicky Duncalf 2. Your Role / Title Clearly explain what you do.Example: Local Videographer | Content Creator 3. Contact Info Email (if not obvious), phone number (optional but handy). 4. Website / Portfolio / Skool Link to your work so people can see examples.Example: www.localcreator.com 5. Social Links (Optional) Only include links that are actively maintained.TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube if relevant. 6. Short Tagline / Value Proposition (Optional) One line that explains what you do or why people should reach out.Example: “Helping local businesses tell their story through video.” Example Auto-Signature Vicky Duncalf Local Videographer | Content Creator 📧 vicky@example.com 📱 07700 900123🌐 www.localcreator.com “Helping local businesses tell their story through video.”