Earlier this morning, I met with Mark to get a cohesive understanding of what it takes to become an editor and videographer. He helped guide me by talking about the PC, software, and camera he utilizes for his book of business which helped me understand the start up costs of going into this industry. He also pointed out that it’s important to become well versed in one software rather than splitting my time into multiple softwares at one time. I told him I was interested in videography for weddings in which he pointed out this type of work was very seasonal and can take a lot of tedious time editing (color grading, etc.) - some things I didn’t take into consideration before. Another big takeaway for me was his advice for the actionable steps to take if I want to succeed in this industry. Mark told me to go into coffee shops or my favorite restaurants and to make a short advertisement or video of their coffee / food / ambiance to be able to send to the owners or managers in order to build that initial client relationship (to collaborate in the future) and to also do this as a form of practice! Lastly, the biggest piece of advice from Mark for me was when he talked about being coachable, reliable, and disciplined when you first start out. Though these things may seem like common sense, being open to constructive criticism (ex: when joining a community & asking for help or feedback) is crucial to your future success. Being open minded to client feedback for what they’re seeking in your future business endeavors is essential. As for discipline, Mark said I should watch my favorite editors off of Youtube and edit my morning/day routine on CapCut on my phone with a similar editing style to theirs at least 5 times a week which will be great for my progress. Overall, I’m so stoked to have met someone with industry experience like Mark and I look forward to growing with everyone else in this community!