- Yo, how you doing everybody?
My name is Chris Hau, and on this week's episode
we're gonna be talking about how I saved
$5,000 on camera gear last year,
and the steps that you guys can start taking
to build relationships with different camera companies,
which will lead to you getting
significant discounts on gear.
Now before we get into this, I feel like we should get
a little bit more comfortable.
Let's unleash the hair.
(makes whooshing sound)
It's like a Pantene commercial up in here now.
Alright, enough about hair.
Let's talk about how to save money on camera gear.
Whooo!
(techno music)
Now before we get into this,
full transparency, this is not a sponsored video.
I just wanted to showcase with you
how I built a relationship with GoPro cameras
and how you guys can use the same techniques,
and tricks and hacks to start building relationships
with the camera companies that you want to align with.
Now a few years back when I graduated from University,
I went to this event called NAB,
and NAB is essentially the
National Association of Broadcasters events.
It's usually held in Las Vegas,
but this is where all the top tech companies
from around the world come to unveil the latest products,
and gizmos, and all sorts of other things that they have,
and four k's, and five k's, and 56 k's and really,
all the k's that you could imagine.
I thought this would be a great opportunity
to showcase with them this viral video concept that I had
where I was going to surf and play guitar
at the exact same time.
I thought for GoPro it's got
action sports, it's got music,
it's got cameras, it's got all the things
that they would be interested in sponsoring.
So, let's go find somebody from the
marketing department at this event.
So I went up to the booth, I said,
"Hi, is anybody here from the marketing department?
"I just wanted to quickly say hello
"and propose this idea that I have
"that I think GoPro would absolutely love."
So they said, "Yeah, Dave over there,
"he's about to step out to lunch, he's from marketing,
"why don't you quickly go and say hi."
So, I ran up to Dave and said, "Hey Dave, my name's Chris.
"I'm a young, eager filmmaker from Canada.
"I have this idea where I'm gonna surf and play
"electric guitar at the exact same time."
Dave said to me, "Man, that sounds epic!
"That's right up GoPro's alley.
"Why don't you send me a proposal, here's my card."
I got my first point of contact with somebody at GoPro.
So, I sent him a proposal,
I said here's exactly how we're going to do this
surfing and playing electric guitar video.
In exchange for this video, would you be interested
in sending us a free camera and sharing it on your page.
He said, "Chris, I love your concept,
"but we can't give you a free camera,
"but what we can give you is 30% off
"anything you want from GoPro."
So I thought 30% off,
still my foot in the door with this company.
I'm gonna invest a little bit further.
So, I bought two cameras to shoot this video with.
Later that year we shot the video.
We released it online, it started to go viral,
and I send Dave a quick update email, I said,
"Hey Dave, look it's gotten featured on
"Huffington Post and has 50,000 views.
"Thank you again for the 30% off."
He said, "Chris, this is amazing.
"Thank you again for your support.
"You know what, I think somebody from the content department
would be super interested in this."
So, he forwarded it off to somebody
in the content department,
and later that week I got an email
from somebody at that department saying,
"Hey Chris, we really loved your concept.
"Would you be interested in shooting a video
"specifically for GoPro's YouTube page
"and in exchange we'll give you a free camera
"and exposure on that page."
And I thought, you know what, awesome!
Let's do this.
I'm gonna get my first free camera
and exposure to a big audience,
and really, I just get to do the things I love anyways.
So, we shot a video with them,
and they ended up sending me my first free camera.
So not only did I get a discount,
but I got free camera and I have solidified the relationship
with GoPro that extends to this day
where I can still get discounts on gear.
Now I use the same principals as I did in that story
to start building relationships
with different camera companies
and tech companies from around the world,
which has ultimately saved me around $5,000
on camera gear over the last year.
Now I encourage you to go out there and try this yourself.
You guys can easily start building
relationships with different companies.
Now, in my case I had a value add for GoPro,
and that value add was a viral video.
But for you it might be an Instagram page.
Or maybe you host events in your community
for different photographers.
Or something that a camera company
would be interested in sponsoring.
But whatever your value add is,
make sure it serves the ultimate goal
of selling cameras for that company.
Cuz that's what's ultimately gonna give you
a better chance of aligning with those companies
and creating a collaborative environment
or some sort of partnership where you're gonna
start getting discounts on cameras
or maybe even a free camera.
Do your research, find out the different events
that these marketing people are going to be at
and introduce yourself in person.
If you can't introduce yourself in person
cuz you don't live close to a city
or where these events are going to be held,
then at least write a very compelling email.
What I recommend is that you take it even a step further
and film yourself on camera explaining what your value add
is to this company so they have better insight
on your personality, and extra clarification
on whatever this concept might be
or alignment that you want to propose to them.
If you guys like this video, please press like.
It actually makes a difference.
Subscribe. I would love for you guys to join along.
We're about to hit 40,000 subscribers,
which is like mind-blowing to me guys.
I can't believe it, 40,000 people!
That's 40,000 more people
than I thought would actually subscribe.
But nonetheless, I appreciate every single one of you.
All of your support.
And I hope you guys have a great holiday.
Peace out everyone, we'll catch you next time.
Whoo!
(techno music)