A few months ago I was contacted by a Danish company out of the blue cknown as Wedio, asking if I would be interested in a collaboration. A meeting of minds or more like a meeting of resources. As always I am a little reserved or sceptical about these online contacts and believe me I receive many. However, there was just something a little different in the way they were asking and what they were asking.
Normally collaborations like these can mean a cash sum of some description to me and some times they can be interesting amounts but here we were not talking cash but really they were asking if I would like to create a video all about me, my photography and the process I use, backed up by a second video all about some of my go-to kit for location fashion. I would normally not respond but really felt this was an opportunity to extend my reach to other photographers and another audience who could be interested in video and photography.

Wedio is based in Denmark and rents out, hire or share gear with professional filmmakers and photographers, they are beginning to create a new market share for hiring and sharing in London which is a great way to access kit rather than buy. Many creatives have their own kit which unless being used for their own shoots would simply sit in the corner of a room gathering dust in between shoots. They, therefore, connect free kit with a potential hire. My agreement with Wedio was initially to cover two videos for them to share on across their social media.

So whats in it for me you may ask?
The upside of the agreement was to gain access to their own platform and interested creatives but at the same time, I was in the process of working out how to update and become better and contributing to my own YouTube video production. It was one of those things which always gets left on the shelf based on other requirements taking precedent. I needed a new look to my own video content but I also needed to work within the confines of a smaller space at home which I had never used before and by them setting the task and deadline id pushed me to think and create a very nice looking youtube studio set up with Shure mic and some cool amazon LED light panels and the obligatory Edison warm glow lightbulbs which have to be on a dimmer so you can control their output and brightness for the video.

It pushed me!
I am very much a perfectionist in many ways but do let things slide around the edges, we can’t all be perfect, can we? I step up in a confined space the look I needed and recorded the video which had a very cinematic feel to it which was perfect for them. I had to work in a confined space, work out my sound inputs and outputs and of course create the perfect script to work from as I am not that brilliant on spec voiceovers and the camera captures.

The perfect pitch and how I perfected my YouTube video script.
I used the time to really get creative in my approach set me up for another video for my YouTube channel, so I set about bullet pointing my script, I then reviewed these bullet points and proceeded to grow these with content until I had a rounded script. It made much more sense working from a prepared script rather than trying to wing it which I have tried. With the final script, I set up for my big day with all going to plan. The final video was edited and sent and featured across social media for Wedio but out of this came another opportunity for a few more collaborations.
Some simple techniques for YouTube videos.
- Identify and refine your topic. Writing a killer YouTube script starts with identifying a topic that will resonate with your audience. …
- Grab attention immediately. …
- Address a problem and give it context. …
- Deliver the goods. …
- Be conversational. …
- Introduce “pattern interrupts” …
- Conclusion.
The offering of a FUJI GFX50S
After the delivery of the video to Wedio we then developed our opportunity to keep this content going by offering content for each other’s platforms and in return, we agreed in principle that they would provide me with a lovely new Fuji camera which was my choice of the GFX50S and all based on how it worked for me whilst on my Icelandic campaign a few years back. I now have the camera and just done my first collaborative shoot last week. The results will be shared here on this platform firstly without followers.

Why you should speculate?
There is a feeling within the industry that you should not do anything for free! I would completely disagree with this and there is a caveat for doing this correctly. Of course, you shouldn’t do things for free unless there is some way of making it work for you. Speculation enhances your opportunities for new business and clients but also you can get taken for a ride. It can sometimes offer a new way of working which can bring in potential opportunities. I have at times done this and been taken for a ride but if you are careful and do your diligence then there are substantial benefits to this. I would not work for a brand on a campaign or shoot for free unless it was my collaboration and you can control the outcome. However working with Wedio has enabled me to get access to their platform, it has allowed me to develop my own YouTube presentations, they have promoted me on Instagram stories and TV and now I have a brand new FujiGFX50s for my own use for now.

What else can a colaboration do for you?
I thought that having all of the above covered was a great idea but collaboration allows you to become friendly with each other and speak about other vertical opportunities. I am at the moment developing my 1-2-1 Zoom consultations for photographers who are willing to engage and get learn some basics about their work, portfolio and the business of photography. This has been relatively successful so far and now looking to push it out to more creatives.

Wedio and I are now talking about an international Zoom 1-2-1 with James Nader very soon and my contact at Wedio has pushed tough my proposal of mine to do this with their platform of creatives which should be a benefit o both sides. Wedio gets a free Zoom group session for their followers with me and for me, it allows other creatives to see my work and maybe engage with me thus growing my numbers and awareness about my brand and what I am and will be offering over the next 12 months.
Pictures are of Model Ryan Davies Hall @ryan_davieshall
Never say never
I would say on reflection that collaboration or affiliation to another brand or business is a great thing. if you can agree on what the ground rules are for both right at the beginning. I am not sure how it will all move on over time, however, right now it’s a great fit for both as we both mutually benefit in our own way.

Book Your Zoom now by emailing jamesnader@me.com
Send us an email and some sample images. If your work is suitable get a free 1-2-1 with james Nader and then get a feature interview on this Blog in our featured Photographers section and get widespread social media coverage