Unfortunate Stereotypes

Wow. I was looking online to see if anyone needed a freelance video editor, for weddings, etc, and I just can't believe how much, should I say, 'hatred' there is for young video editors.

Folks, we aren't all YouTube, rough-cut, blurry, shakiness-loving editors; some of us still care about quality...

Personally, I can't stand blurry or shaky footage, and even though I only use Adobe Premiere Elements 10, I feel confident taking on most Sony Vegas Pro/Final Cut Pro editors, because I genuinely care about my work, and I put the effort into trying to make it look right. I am more than halfway through my second DVD release, and I work with 7 simultaneously recording cameras, and seperately recorded audio. I can switch cameras every 15 seconds or so to keep it interesting for the viewer, and I basically do so for two hours without losing sync in any of the video. (In my last DVD I caught about 4 seconds out of sync in one place, but it would never be noticed by anyone but me).

I do shoot with DSLR's, but why not? even Hollywood has begun using 5D Mark II's and the likes in their productions.

I guess my thoughts are this:
That no matter how many 'Kids with a DSLR' there are with bad footage, can't we let the footage speak for itself? and why does being a 'kid with a DSLR who charges a little bit of nothing' have to be a bad thing? If I started right now advertising as a professional video editor, I would have to charge a little bit of nothing just to get anyone to look at me, because I've been stereotyped as a kid who has a YouTube account, and wants shaky footage.

Maybe I am just not the norm. But that really doesn't matter, because from what I've seen, I will most likely never even be replied to if I answered an ad for wedding video editing; why? Because I am 16, and I am a video editor.

It just seems that everyone scorns anyone younger than 30, and anyone who doesn't charge $500 for 30 seconds. I agree somewhat; you need to make a living at it. I understand. But this notion of 'Anyone who doesn't charge like a professional needs stomped into the dirt' and the hostile attitude I saw seemingly almost everywhere I looked leaves no room for anyone to even start in this business.

Is it just me who is slightly discouraged to see how nasty of an attitude some have?

IMAGE LINK: http://www.flickr.com/​photos/dvance/82729357​73/

Mistake No 1. Chip on Shoulder. People don't like working with people with an attitude. If you are a kid with a DSLR then people will treat you as such until you can prove you are an adult doing a professional job.

Mistake No 2. Software. While you can edit with cheap software it has its limitations.

Mistake No 3. Expectation. People expect to pay a fair price for a professional product. If you come in with a silly cheap figure because you are living at home with your parents and don't have 1001 things to pay for, they will expect an amateur product. You often don't get a second chance when recording video so Clients want the confidence it will be done well.

What's the answer? Let your work sell your services. Keep slogging away doing videos, of your own, and for friends for free, until you have a solid portfolio of projects. Certainly pursue other work but price it like a professional and people are more likely to treat you like a professional. Be patient and enjoy the freedom of being able to make videos without having to worry about having to pay the bills through it.

Adding to the above - be aware of your image. If people are thinking of employing you they are likely to do some research first. They might well look at your Razzi (which sounds daft for a start). It doesn't look good. Several pages of menacing skies suggests to me you couldn't choose one killer shot - isn't that what editing is all about?

Thanks for your input, John. I don't really have an attitude, and I hope I didn't come across as having a bad one; It just disappointed me to see such a nasty attitude toward younger editors. The feeling I got was that, whether your work is good or not, there is basically no chance of a career in this field for quite a while.
Edit: Thank you for the suggestion about Razzi. I began using it just because it would allow me to make money if my work ever got a ton of attention; I have since basically ditched it for a Flickr pro account, because there is so much compression difference between the two. I never thought much about the impression of the many skies; I just uploaded all the ones with lightning from that night. I may have to clean a few.

No worries mate, sorry if I came across as a little harsh.

Much of business is about relationships. I was thinking about your plight and wondered if there would be mileage in contacting the companies you would like to work for and offer to do some trial projects for them for free. Perhaps even projects that have been put to bed, just so you can show them what you can do.

I totally agree with John on many points. Particularly charging too less. You work hard and your work will take you where you need to be. Also dont think that many people were considered for any good positions in any field of work at 16 without significant evidence to speak for themselves. I also can suggest that volunteering can do more than charging less. You volunteer to work as an extra for free with someone who you want to work with and they are stupid to say no. After time and showing your ethic they will come to see they have stumbled on a gem. I am at a very comfortable position right now of choosing between working with three of the best people in my field from basically a 6 month, up to 10 hour a week voluntary position. Yes, Im older but they have looked after me due to my commitment rather than my age.

I agreed with Rankinia- commitment is everything, no matter how old you are. If your 16 and your commitment to do the job and act professional, then more power to you. And if your older and you act like a kid who the hell gonna want to work with you.

Always continue to build and revise a portfolio, and always pay close attention and learn from the pros of the industry and what elements make their productions amazing. Consider yourself lucky if you have all of that camera gear at a young age! I had to go through college, pay bills, move, get a good job, and I can just now afford my first 60D.

Judging by your well written post and grammar, you are far beyond any 16 year olds I know. But you are still young and stereotyped. That being said if you have work that you can show that can impress a client, you should not have a problem.
Maybe you can intern after school for a real video production company just to have it on your resume.
Good luck & stick with it, I have a feeling your going to be very successful, in time.