A Phone Call That Turned Into A Master Class For Creative Business

I recently had a call with some filmmaker friends. What started as a casual catch-up and asking their advice about one thing, turned into one of the most helpful business conversations I’ve had in a long time.

We talked about pricing, client relationships, value, and how to build a sustainable creative career. I left the call feeling more confident, more grounded, and honestly a little fired up. So I wanted to capture what I learned, both as a reminder to myself and maybe as encouragement to someone else in a similar place.

Price For The Results

One of the first things they said was that clients aren’t hiring me for my hours, they’re hiring me for the outcome.

It’s not about the number of days or the amount of hours I spend editing. It’s about what I’m helping them achieve. That mindset shift changes everything about how I price my work and how I talk about it.

Instead of billing by the hour or offering flat day rates across the board, I’m learning to think in terms of what the deliverables are worth to the client, not just how long they take me to make.

Clarity Beats Kindness

They talked about the importance of being crystal clear with clients, especially when it comes to deliverables and revision policies.

That means:

• Defining how many versions or edits are included

• Setting limits on revisions (and clearly explaining what counts as a revision)

• Separating things like travel, additional shoot days, or bonus content into clear add-ons

The goal isn’t to be rigid, it’s to set healthy boundaries up front so everyone knows what to expect. That creates a better experience for everyone and protects the relationship long-term.

Add Value

When I’m negotiating a project, especially with clients I care about or want to impress, I sometimes feel tempted to lower my price just to make it work. But they shared something simple and powerful:

“Instead of dropping your price, just add value.”

Offer an extra short clip. Shoot a little behind-the-scenes content. Give them something thoughtful that’s easy for you to provide, but doesn’t cost you your worth.

This one hit home.

Adding value communicates generosity. Cutting price communicates doubt.

You Don’t Have to Be a Veteran to Be Valuable

I admitted to them that I sometimes feel hesitant charging premium rates because even though I’ve been working videography jobs for 8 years now, I still feel early in my full-time filmmaking journey. But they reminded me: clients don’t care how long you’ve been doing this, they care that your work is good and that you’re easy to work with.

Confidence doesn’t come from years in the industry, it comes from showing up, delivering, and solving real problems for people.

That was a huge encouragement to hear. 

Retainers Are Ideal For Everyone

We talked a bit about long-term client relationships, especially with churches, ministries, and orgs that need content all year long.

Instead of chasing one-off projects, the idea is to structure creative retainers: a few shoots spaced throughout the year, with enough deliverables to keep their channels active and meaningful.

It’s a more sustainable model for me and a consistent, valuable solution for them. Win-win.

No One Has It All Figured Out

Maybe the most freeing thing they said?

Even on high-level commercial sets, everyone is figuring it out as they go. Nobody’s fully arrived. Everyone’s adapting, learning, and troubleshooting in real time.

That reminder took so much pressure off. I don’t need to have it all dialed. I just need to keep showing up, being easy to work with, and getting better with every project.

Final Thoughts

I came into this call with a pricing question, and left with a fresh mindset on business, boundaries, and how to build something meaningful.

This isn’t just about video work. It’s about valuing what I bring to the table, leading clients well, and building a business that reflects what I actually care about.

Grateful for these friends who are willing to pour into others. I’ll definitely be revisiting this conversation anytime I need to reset.