We’re back with another deep-dive—this time unpacking the painful realities of a disastrous wedding day, the chaos of last-minute gear setups, and the business side of being a creative. From undercharging by $25/hour to using couch pillows as speaker protection, and from the debate over FX3 to the necessity of clear overtime contracts, this one’s full of practical insights (and some hilarious lessons).
We start with the most expensive mistake of the day: undercharging for a second-shooter gig. Cort breaks down his decision to charge a mere $75/hour for an independent video role, when he should have charged $100-$110/hour, teaching us the different price tiers for second-shooting based on gear usage and independence.
From there, we jump into shooting conditions and gear hacks. Luke tells the story of a torrential rainstorm forcing a last-minute indoor wedding setup and the frantic process of saving his equipment. We reveal the suitcase and couch pillow hack for transporting expensive, non-portable speakers and why the Rode Wireless Pros are the ultimate plug-and-play mic system, despite what Guitar Center (or ChatGPT) tells you.
Then it’s time to get technical with gear and business. We stress the non-negotiable importance of writing an explicit per-hour overtime fee into every contract, as weddings constantly go over schedule, and relying on goodwill is not a business strategy. We also debate the merits of Canon vs. Sony for video, arguing that the FX3 is overrated, but the Cine line (C500, C80) still dominates the high-end documentary market.
But it’s not just about the tech. We dig into the mindset side too—specifically the unspoken duties of a wedding vendor. We discuss why you often end up being the person tying bow ties for groomsmen and why, as a videographer, you must shut up and let the photographer lead the posing (unless they're so inexperienced you have to take over). We also call out the weird trend of content people and why it's valid to question who this extra person is at your wedding.
We wrap with some hot takes: why buying a premium camera like the Fuji X100VI just to shoot on Auto 24/7 is a waste, and the bizarre and awkward encounter with a lady who kept calling the wedding DJ a "gorgeous human being."
If you’re a beginner looking to avoid costly gear transport mistakes or a working creative trying to refine your contracts and handle on-the-spot chaos, this episode is packed with advice that’ll keep you sharp, motivated, and grounded in what really matters.
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Hosted by: Luke Montgomery and Cort Letcher
