Every cinematographer remembers their first client shoot. For me, it was a two-camera interview outside of Memphis, Tennessee—and while the client was happy with the results, I walked away knowing I could have done better.

The truth is, my mistakes on that day taught me more than any class or YouTube tutorial ever could. If you’re a beginner cinematographer preparing for your first paid shoot, I want to share what I learned so you can avoid the same pitfalls.

I’ve never been someone who can “fake it till I make it.” I need to know my craft inside and out before I can confidently show up on set—especially when I’m being paid. That’s why I intentionally carve out opportunities to practice cinematography in real-world environments, even if it’s unpaid. It’s how I refine my skills, troubleshoot gear setups, and experiment with deliverable

When my childhood friend, who owns Renu Salon in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, told me she was adding a new esthetician to her team, I knew exactly how I could help her spread the word. The challenge? Most of her current clients had never gotten a facial—or were nervous about the idea. The common responses she’d get were:

“What’s a facial?”

“I’ve never had one before.”

“I don’t know what to expect—I’m too nervous.”

It’s been a minute since I uploaded a video to YouTube—November, to be exact. And if I’m being honest, I needed the break. Money was tight, so I let go of my studio rental last October. I had plans to shoot in PeerSpace locations or maybe the same studio once a month, but then the election hit, and mentally, I just wasn’t in a creative space because I was emotionally drained.