Possible switch from graphics to video

[firewired]

The agency where I work at is soon going to need help in the production side doing TV commercials and short videos. They may be getting a large client that will require lots of travel along with shooting and editing of videos. They offered me the position along with a pretty decent raise. I'm thinking hard about this. On one hand, more money is always nice and I get along well with the guys over there, but on the other hand, graphics is what I have been studying and practicing and trying to improve on. I've been out of college for a year and half working here, so it's still early on in my career where I could make the change. I had a broadcasting concentration in college, but I really haven't done that much with video.

I'm kind of torn though....I like doing graphics and want to get better at it. Yet, in the position I'm in (still the newest member in graphics) I get all the work that nobody else really wants. I do alot of newsprint ads while everyone else gets the bigger projects - full color brochures, viewbooks, magazines etc. I feel like I can never really be that creative with what I have. Part of that is the deadlines too. Sometimes I will get three orders in for ads all due the same day. I have to design the ad, and go through changes with the client and get all the ads out in the same day. Craziness....

Not really sure what to do....I would probably still freelance if I did transition over to TV so I would still get some practice, but nothing like if I were doing it 8 hours a day like I am now.

I look forward to your thoughts.

firewired

[colonel5]

too many variables in this equation for me to give advice so i'll just list a couple things to chew on...

1. you should enjoy what you do
2. don't be afraid to take risks
3. money is an important factor, but not as important as health & happinness
4. don't be afraid to move on, at 1 1/2 years out of college you could do the video thing for a year or so and decide you would rather be doing graphics and then move on to something else and be better for the experience

not a complete list, just a few things

[rose-o]

I'm in the same boat! I am a designer out of college for about two years and I am an inhouse designer. They recently asked me to look into the video thing. The only difference is i will still be doing the graphic design as well.

I have now gotten into the video production side of things and I'm finding that if you want to you can make it just as creative as the graphic design. And, it is also impressive on a resume. There are not too many designers that know how to edit and finish video professionally. As far as the money goes, you would totally deserve a BIG raise for switching to the video side of things. Companies can spend up to and above $1000 per minute for video once it is all said and done. (at least that is what our company used to pay!)

You can always stay sharp with graphic design on the side.

[firewired]

Thanks for the input guys. Rose-o, that's cool...sounds like pretty much the same situation. Most of the time I enjoy doing graphics. Sometimes I get really sick of it though. Alot of the things I do are little print ads that the client know exactly what they want, and doesn't let me be creative with the ads at all. But I do enjoy working with the other designers in the graphics department.

As for video, I really enjoy shooting and editing. I really liked the classes in college that focused on that. So that seems like a big plus. You do make a good point colonel5, I do have time to try it out and if I don't like it I can switch.

I'm a little nervous about doing it though....I'm pretty decent at photography, but that is very editable after the fact while video isn't quite as much. You can't really crop into it as much as photography. But I suppose that goes along with the learning curve too.

What are you going to do rose-o?

[rose-o]

I have already taken the Final Cut Pro class to get me started. I'm pumped! I hope I can bring a design and flair to the videos projects I have commited to. I will also be keeping up with the design part of things.

[jimking]

Your skills in Illustrator and Photoshop will come in handy cause you'll use these skills in creating stills and graphics in FCP, Motion and DVDSP. Also you'll develop skills in sound.

[reuber1]

After Effects is probably my favorite program ever. And I haven't used it since 2004, senior year. I love motion graphics and video composition, and would like to focus on that more.