Richard Lam

filmmaker & photographer

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

New cinematography showreel 🎥💥

This is my first update to my reel since I started this new career as a full-time freelance filmmaker and photographer nearly three years ago.

Excited for all the dreams and stories I'll capture this year!

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

I'm learning that I have to consistently create new opportunities for myself — whether it's finding clients or finding new means for creative expression.

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

Seeing other freelance creatives sharing their Q1 numbers and thought it'd be interesting to analyze mine, as a former marketer 🤓

33 inquiries
23 Google
4 Referrals
2 Instagram
2 LinkedIn
2 Direct

3 bookings
21 not a fit
5 ghosted
2 still in discussion
2 didn’t move forward

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

All this to say — for me — numbers can measure the overall health of the business, but after a certain point it becomes more about working on projects that spark joy and are fulfilling.

I think that's where passion projects, YouTube, and outreach come into play.

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

I caved and joined Threads yesterday.

Because of the way it’s set up (imports followers from IG), I already have almost as many followers there as I do on here.

Gonna post the same stuff for the next little while on both platforms and see what happens 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

How long does it take to make a client video from start to finish?

I just wrapped a client project that was shot last October. 160 days.

I also just wrapped another client project that was shot last Monday. 10 days.

TLDR: It depends.

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

The upside to being your own boss is that you can stop working whenever you want.

The downside to being your own boss is that you often don't know when to stop working.

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

I sell prints through an online shop that I don't actively promote. (It made up less than 1% of my business last year)

With the rise in material & shipping costs over the last year, my already high prices now have even smaller margins.

Do people still value high-quality prints?

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

I'm not sure where I was going with this. Just some honest thoughts about running a creative business.

At the end of the day, I want to tell more STORIES.

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

It's been a weird start to the year.

It's felt slow, but steady.

So far, no new projects of my own (where I directly work with the client to plan, shoot, and edit).

However, somehow I've already surpassed half of the revenue I generated in the entirety of last year.

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

Financially, sure, it's good -- but creatively, it's been lacking.

I've mostly been brought on to shoot or edit a handful of projects for big corporate clients. Healthy budgets but not work I'm passionate about.

Constant push/pull of my creative vs. business mind.

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

I like that in the first couple weeks of January I can start my emails with “Happy New Year!” instead of the same old “Hope you’re doing well!”

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

Near the end of my second year as a full-time filmmaker/photographer & my business revenue has surpassed my previous 9-5.

It's been a roller coaster — fear, self-doubt, imposter syndrome, isolation, depressive spirals.

This moment once seemed impossible. Turns out it wasn't. 🥲

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

@iamsheabutta This is satire… right? Right? 😭

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

Japan in Moving Postcards 🇯🇵

#cinematography #filmmaking #travel
https://t.co/kSiOdxO7kw

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

If this year’s Spotify Wrapped doesn’t come with the AI DJ doing a personalized countdown show of your top tracks of the year, then it’ll be a *colossal* missed opportunity.

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

Barcelona in Moving Postcards.

https://t.co/c4Ky1p4ifA

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

@encephalitisava The honour was all mine! 🥹 glad we had the day trip to get to know one another on a more personal level, only wish that we could’ve gotten you a whale sighting! It was inspiring seeing you do what you do and I hope our paths cross again 🙏

[Richard Lam @richshoots]

When @encephalitis first reached out to me earlier this year, I had honestly never heard of the condition before. So, the last couple days filming with @encephalitisava were both eye-opening and moving.

Excited to dive into the edit and share these stories!