Dan McVey
WHAT DO YOU DO?
“I capture moments and tell stories through the use of visual appeal...come on, that stuff’s BS, right?”
Everyone is capturing moments and telling stories visually. That’s what video is all ABOUT.
While these are things that I do, I don’t want people to feel like I’m another instagram videographer, that makes travel videos and slomo-promo videos. Now, these are cool things to have in a video, but they’re not what it’s all about. It’s about the message, who’s telling it, and how it’s presented. I do a wonderful job of capturing all of these things tastefully, and not in an over-done, trendy way.
Projects I have recently worked on include promotional videos, instructional or how-to videos, short videos for social media, and corporate training videos.
WHAT STEPS DID YOU TAKE TO GET TO WHERE YOU ARE NOW?
Things I did to get where I am now...I made cold calls. Cold calls thru social media, business networking websites, and word-of-mouth connections. After a year of doing small gigs and networking, I ended up landing a full-time job with a corporate contracting company producing training videos and marketing content, where I currently preside.
How do you stand out in your field?
The way I approach videography is conventional and unconventional all at the same time. I draw inspiration from many other videographers on the internet, while also trying to stay away from the trendy, over-done edits of Instagram and YouTube. A solid edit includes a good pace, minimally produced transitions, sick soundtrack, and good-looking visuals. That is the basis of my approach on video producing.
WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON RIGHT NOW?
Currently working full-time for the company I mentioned previously, but also taking any kind of freelance editing gig possible just so I can turn my business into a full-time thing, as opposed to working in a field I’m not interested in.
WHAT'S YOUR STYLE/PERSPECTIVE/TASTE? DO YOU HAVE A PROJECT THAT REPRESENTS THIS?
I think my taste in production can be summed up in this video. Very basic, edited to music, and artsy shots. Nothing crazy, simple and it looks nice.
If you want to see something incorporating text, here is a training video I made at the company I work for (also, starring ME).
WE ARE ALL SLASHIES WITH MULTIPLE SKILLS, WHICH ONE DO YOU WISH YOU COULD DO MORE OFTEN?
I would love to be able to focus more on music production in addition to my video producing career. I love music and would also love for that to become a source of additional income (mixing/mastering, studio musician, recording engineer, etc). Here are some samples of my productions.
WHAT IS FRUSTRATING YOU RIGHT NOW?
What’s frustrating me is where I currently am; at a job that doesn’t pay quite enough, that doesn’t allow me for complete creative freedom, and that isn’t in a field that I remotely enjoy. I am living paycheck to paycheck so I can’t just leave this job, and that has taken my focus away from pursuing freelancing full-time and leaving said job.
IF YOU COULD HIRE SOMEONE FOR $20/HR, WHAT WOULD YOU HAVE THEM DO TO MAKE YOUR DAY EASIER?
Work my current job so I can start branding myself and creating a full-time freelancing career.
LET'S BRING OUT THE TIME MACHINE. WHAT DO YOU WISH YOU COULD HAVE TOLD YOURSELF, WHEN, AND WHY?
I wish I would have known what I was worth at the time of me accepting the full-time position. The company obviously saw something in me that I fully didn’t, and since then I have also gained even more experience to solidify the fact that I should be doing less work for so much more money. So, I would’ve said know your worth and use that to your advantage and that I should continue to invest in my business because ultimately that will benefit me in the long run and even the short one.
IF YOU COULD TALK TO AN EXPERT TO GAIN MORE INSIGHT ON SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD IT BE ABOUT?
How to get clients and how to do less work for more pay; I know I have the skills, but where do I find the people that want to work with me and how do I pitch it to them?
WHAT KIND OF OPPORTUNITIES/PROJECTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
I’m looking for a wide variety of projects; I would love to work with smaller companies building their brands on social media (YouTube, Instagram, Facebook) and influencers. It feels more personal when you’re working with people that are in the same position as you.
DESCRIBE YOUR IDEAL JOB/CLIENT/COLLABORATION.
My ideal client is someone that is as passionate about their product, their service, their brand as I am about my craft and helping them showcase what their thing is all about. While I would prefer to work with brands that are involved in things I am also interested in, I just want to work with passionate individuals who value my craft as much as I value their passion.
WHAT IS YOUR HOURLY RATE, RETAINER, OR SALARY RANGE?
Every package is different and customized to the individual. However, my base rate for shooting is $50/hr and my base rate for editing is $100/hr. I usually include any pre-production services like storyboarding and scripting in my packages.
HOW SHOULD SOMEONE APPROACH YOU ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER?
People can contact me via email or thru Instagram. I’d love if my general rate and type of client would be included; these are two things essential to the ultimate decision someone would make on working with me and I want to be transparent.
HOW DO YOU STAY CREATIVE?
Keep creating.
This member profile was originally published in December 2018.