Taking the plunge

Many of us dream of being our own boss, but far fewer actually take the plunge and start their our own business.

Local videographer David Smyth had his toe in the water, so to speak, for the past few years; filming weddings on weekends while maintaining a full-time job producing online video content and television commercials. But after a bit of encouragement from family, friends and clients, last week David leaped into working full-time for himself.

“The Studio Door Creative has been around for a few years, mostly doing wedding videography and a few contract jobs here and there, but I just saw a great opportunity for me to jump in,” said David.

“I've been working here in Orange doing what I do since 2001, so I have definitely built up a good network of friends family and clients, so that helped me create my own brand. People like what I do and I've been able to establish those relationships and build it into my own business.”

Not that he hasn’t experienced a little anxiety about leaving the security of a regular wage behind.

“100 per cent! I think if you spoke to people who know me, they know that I'm not a massive risk-taker, so this is certainly out of the box for me. That is what has held me back: my self-confidence. But now I've made the decision so let's make it work! You don’t want to die wondering, you don’t want to live with regret, so I’m all in!”

They say the real secret to a fulfilling working career is to do something that you love, and it is clear The Studio Door Creative is where David wants to be.

‘It’s a great industry! I love working with couples -- they are long days and they are hard as a videographer on our feet all day”, eight to ten hours or more, but you are around happiness. This is the most special day of their lives and that is fantastic to be involved in and to be invited into. So I definitely want to keep doing that, that and producing great work for wedding couples.”