Matthew’s Story: How to Become a Freelance Filmmaker

In December 2022, Matthew Dangyou took a leap of faith, leaving his full-time video production job to pursue a career as a freelance filmmaker. By July 2023, he was fully immersed in creating commercial projects, testimonials, and brand videos, all while building a sustainable income through multiple revenue streams. From freelancing to selling custom LUTs and creating content, Matthew’s persistence and growing network have helped him secure exciting opportunities.

Here are Matthew’s top tips to help you become a successful freelance filmmaker and build a sustainable career:

1. Find mentors

Finding people who are ahead of you in your career, and are places where you want to be. They have already learned the mistakes for you and can capitulate you faster with more success when you are getting started.

2. Build a portfolio

Your portfolio is your calling card. It should showcase the breadth and quality of your work, from short films to promotional videos. A diverse yet focused portfolio allows potential clients to see your skills and understand how you can contribute to their projects. “Creating spec work for a commercial, short-form narrative work, or pieces of content that you are proud of is an easy way to get work on your portfolio,” Matthew says.

3. Be proactive in finding clients

Finding work as a freelancer requires initiative. Start by leveraging your personal network, and joining filmmaking communities and groups online to discover new opportunities. Matthew emphasizes the importance of maintaining strong connections with your network, fellow filmmakers, and current clients, highlighting the value these relationships bring.

“Staying connected with your network, fellow filmmakers, and your current clientele is extremely valuable”

He recommends personalized outreach, adding, “As a filmmaker, I send a custom introduction video that shows off my work, and who I am trusted by, and an intro message to the client on content we can create for them. It’s a great way to showcase what I do, and grab their attention.”

4. Online presence

A professional online presence is critical. Build a website or use social media platforms to display your portfolio, share your services, and provide your contact details. Optimizing your website for search engines can attract clients searching for specific filmmaking services. Social media can also serve as a valuable tool for marketing your work and connecting with new audiences.

5. Diversify your income

Matthew didn’t stop with freelance projects—he expanded his income by starting to sell LUTs as digital products. By growing his YouTube channel, talking about camera gear, color grading tutorials, and a podcast with fellow creators. He was able to sell his LUTS to his audience as another stream of income. This strategy opened a new revenue stream and reduced his dependence on unpredictable freelance work. But that’s not all – find out more about all his income streams in the next section!

5 Ways Matthew Monetized His Filmmaking Talents

Matthew Dangyou has mastered the art of leveraging his filmmaking skills to create diverse income streams, making the most of his creativity across various platforms. Here’s how he brings in revenue:

1. Freelance Projects

One of Matthew’s biggest sources of income comes from freelance filmmaking projects, including commercials, brand videos, and testimonial films. These projects allow him to work closely with businesses, showcasing their products and services through high-quality marketing videos. By consistently delivering exceptional results, Matthew has built a strong network of clients who trust him for their visual storytelling needs.

2. Selling LUTs as Digital Products

Recognizing the demand for professional-grade editing tools, Matthew ventured into selling his custom LUTs (Look-Up Tables) to other filmmakers and content creators. These LUTs help creators enhance the visual quality of their videos, making them an invaluable resource for professionals and hobbyists alike. Using Payhip, Matthew established an online store that simplifies selling digital downloads—without incurring monthly costs. You can check out Matthew’s online store here.

3. Content Creation (YouTube AdSense and Brand Sponsorships)

Matthew also creates video content for his growing YouTube channel, where he shares tutorials, behind-the-scenes footage, and filmmaking tips. His channel earns him income through YouTube AdSense and sponsorship deals with brands that align with his creative niche. This not only serves as a revenue stream but also helps him expand his personal brand and reach new audiences who may also be interested in his digital products.

4. Affiliate Marketing

Leveraging his knowledge and credibility as a filmmaker, Matthew partners with brands to promote their tools and equipment through affiliate marketing. By recommending products he genuinely uses, he earns commissions for every sale made through his affiliate links.

How Much Money Did Matthew Earn in His First Year?

In his first full fiscal year as a freelancer, Matthew earned $78,796.59 through a combination of freelance filmmaking projects, selling LUTs, and content income from sponsorships and YouTube AdSense. For a detailed breakdown of his earnings and insights, check out his YouTube video here.

Marketing Strategies for Success

To market his LUTs, Matthew has so far taken a soft-launch approach. He shares updates through YouTube community posts, email announcements, and brief mentions in his content. However, he’s gearing up to ramp up his efforts. “Towards the end of 2024, I’ve been focusing and game-planning on how to significantly increase sales for my digital products,” he shares.

Looking ahead to 2025, Matthew has outlined several strategies to boost sales. First, he plans to create a demo video showcasing his LUTs, leveraging the success of his previous YouTube videos on color grading.

“A ton of success came from a similar video I created about LUTs, so I know this can drive growth.”

He’s also considering expanding his affiliate program and partnering with friends who can promote his products in exchange for a commission. Additionally, Matthew aims to implement automated email campaigns to nurture potential customers. By offering free products upfront, he hopes to guide them through a sales funnel that upsells them on premium items.

As a bonus, Matthew plans to casually mention his LUTs in his content whenever he’s using them. “It’s less about the hard sell and more about showing how they seamlessly fit into my workflow,” he explains. With these strategies, Matthew is poised to grow his digital product sales significantly in the coming year.

Why Payhip?

Matthew chose Payhip for its unbeatable combination of flexibility, affordability, and professional features, making it the ideal platform for creators like him. One of the standout benefits is that Payhip charges no monthly fees, which is perfect for freelancers and creators just starting their digital product journey. This allows Matthew to focus on growing his business without worrying about upfront costs.

Another key advantage of Payhip is its flexible pricing model. With a simple 5% fee per sale, Matthew only incurs costs when he makes a sale, ensuring his expenses align directly with his earnings—a perfect option for creators just starting out. For those ready to scale, Payhip also offers the option to remove the 5% fee entirely by opting for a flat monthly subscription. This flexibility allows Matthew to confidently grow his business, knowing he has a cost-effective solution tailored to his needs at every stage.

Payhip also allows creators to connect custom domains and remove branding, which gives Matthew’s online store a professional appearance. This level of customization ensures his website reflects his personal brand, helping to build trust and credibility with his audience.

Finally, Payhip’s all-in-one platform enables Matthew to diversify his offerings seamlessly. In addition to selling digital downloads like LUTs, he has the option to expand into physical products, online courses, coaching, or even memberships—all managed from one user-friendly dashboard. This versatility supports his current needs while offering endless opportunities for future growth.

“Payhip is the one-stop-shop that offers everything I need as I continue to grow my business and social media presence!”

Advice for Aspiring Freelancers

For aspiring filmmakers venturing into freelancing, Matthew offers two invaluable pieces of advice. First, he emphasizes the importance of constant practice:

“Shoot as MUCH as possible and whenever you can, with each video improving. This helps you get the reps in to learn how to light, shoot, and edit.”

He credits YouTube as a powerful tool for growth, explaining, “The best part about YouTube is you learn how to accomplish jobs fast when you put more and more reps into your craft.”

His second tip focuses on learning from others.

“Get on sets or get mentored. Learning from others will exponentially grow your skill set, and you’ll make way fewer mistakes because someone already learned them for you,” he advises.

By combining hands-on experience with mentorship, aspiring filmmakers can accelerate their growth and avoid common pitfalls.

Conclusion

Matthew Dangyou’s journey from a full-time employee to a thriving freelance filmmaker and digital product creator is a testament to the power of passion, persistence, and strategic planning. By diversifying his income streams and leveraging tools like Payhip, he has successfully turned his creative talents into a scalable business.

Whether you’re a filmmaker, content creator, or digital entrepreneur, Matthew’s story highlights the importance of adaptability and resourcefulness. From crafting custom videos for clients to developing and marketing his LUTs, his journey proves that with the right strategies and platforms, creative professionals can achieve sustainable success.

If you’re ready to take the next step in building your business, consider Payhip—a platform designed to help creators like Matthew grow and thrive. Your success story could be next! Explore Payhip today.

The post How Matthew Dangyou Made $78,796.59 Selling LUTs and Freelancing as a Filmmaker appeared first on Payhip.

By age 23 you were producing 7-figure sales. At 27, you achieved vice president status at a Fortune 500 financial company. Today you’re a highly sought-out Brand Therapist – a specialty you’ve trademarked and made your own. Tell us how this amazing journey began and what your biggest takeaways have been so far. 

I’ve never treated a customer like a prospect or viewed them as an opportunity. They’re real people with real needs, goals, and wants. The opportunity lies in how you help them. This answer feels like it should be longer, but really, that’s it; treat people as you’d want to be treated, listen, and then help.

Can you share a bit more about the role of a brand therapist and your signature   archetype-based approach?

I’ve always been interested in behavioral science and psychology, but I never wanted to be a traditional therapist. In my free time I read a lot about psychology principles and behavior patterns, especially in decision making. I started applying these concepts to my branding work and the result was nothing short of magical. As someone who believes in individuality, I’m big on creating ‘titles’ for your professional self. ‘Brand Therapist’ seemed perfect. 

I constructed the brand archetype course in 2010. At the time, there was nothing like it on the market. People were using archetypes in branding, but a course was not yet in existence. The idea is to take the proven scientific principles and apply them to buying behavior. You can doubt behaviors, but patterns are hard to deny. Archetypes show patterns of behavior and make it easy to cater your words, style, and your offerings to those who need them most.

Through your consultation work, you realized that most creators and business owners failed because they ignored branding and focused entirely on advertising. What are some simple steps creators can take to develop an authentic brand image?

Well, you can’t very well market something if you don’t know who you are, what you sell, who your ideal customers are, or what you’re truly selling. What I mean by that is, we’re  never really selling products or services. We’re selling solutions; We’re selling people a better version of themselves. Being able to understand and articulate the essence of your brand and carry it throughout all you do is essential to the success of any brand.

You offer a number of insightful, free tools to prospective clients, most notably your complimentary brand archetype quiz and report. What impact have these resources had on your business and how should creators incorporate freebies into their marketing efforts?

The free quiz has had a huge impact. I spent many years learning not only what to ask, but how to ask to solicit the best answers. Over a million people have taken the quiz over the years. That’s still mind-blowing to me. But it’s highly insightful and goes deep, so I understand the allure. I’m glad it’s been so helpful to so many. It’s helped me grow my mailing list and expand offerings to my ideal clients, too. 

I suggest creating freebies that align with your own style. As a Luminary (archetype) teacher, I like learning and sharing that knowledge, so for me, a quiz makes sense. For you, that freebie might look like something else. It may be a template, a white paper, an ebook, or some graphics or other downloadable content. Just make sure you get something in return, the most popular being their email address. They can always unsubscribe if the content doesn’t suit them.

As someone with several years of consulting experience, what advice would you give to creators who consider offering coaching services?

Oh I have lots of advice on this one: 

• Don’t give your time away for free. A free consultation is fine to see if you’re a fit, but make sure you don’t give away too much. It’s best to have a handful of questions you want to ask before the call. Try to stick to the allotted time. Leave them intrigued and wanting more.
• Set boundaries, and then stick to them. People will always try to get more from you. If someone wants or needs more then they will pay for your time. If they don’t, then they don’t respect your time and you should move on. It’s that simple.
• I’m all about working only with your ideal clients. Trust your instincts. If you think a client isn’t a good fit the first time you speak with them, then they probably aren’t. Don’t ever try to justify your prices or try to convince people to work with you. The right people will be happy to work with you and excited to exchange their money for your time.

When it comes to branding, what role should social media play and which types of content have been the most effective for you as a creative?

 I consider social media more a part of marketing than of branding. I personally prefer Pinterest to the other platforms. There’s less chatter and more focus. People take the time to curate and organize. It’s highly intentional. I like that. Plus, I can see what else people are saving. Those are unique features in comparison to Facebook and Instagram. I suggest going to a platform where you have the largest following, looking at your website visitor statistics to see where your traffic is coming from, and then spending your time and energy in those places. 

Which tools have been the most useful in creating and marketing your services?

One of the most helpful resources is actually a feature, not a tool. 

Reviews are very helpful when it comes to selling. Social proof carries immense value: People want to know what they’re in for when investing in something. Hearing honest feedback from someone other than you (the seller) is pretty powerful.

Also, I use coupon codes all the time for various reasons. The ability to customize codes has been fantastic. People love it when I make them a personalized code using their name or their business name. It’s fun, plus it has an air of professionalism to it.

I couldn’t love Payhip’s ‘Courses’ feature more. It’s my favorite online tool and makes it so easy to create and develop courses. I haven’t even taken advantage of all the features yet, like quizzes or video, and I can’t wait. I launched my courses within the last month and already have lots of happy students.

How has Payhip helped you promote and sell your services online?

I was selling digital downloads regularly on my website until GDPR went into effect. Being a US-based company I found it frustrating, confusing, overwhelming, and time consuming to try to work through the newly implemented tax situation, so I just paused selling downloads altogether. Then I found Payhip and saw that they handled all things VAT tax for me. I was instantly intrigued. Having Payhip has allowed me to sell tens of thousands of dollars of digital products without losing a wink of sleep over VAT issues. 

Also, the Payhip name is growing in popularity and notoriety. Because their name instills confidence, buyers know they can buy without worry.

Curious to see how personalized branding can help you sell more? Check out Melissa’s Payhip shop to access resources for creators. And if you’re ready to start selling digital products online, why not give Payhip a go for free? 

The post Selling Coaching and Courses with Melissa Bolton appeared first on Payhip.

You’ve worked in sound production as a producer, co-producer and sound designer for over 30 years. How did your journey with music begin?

I started making music as a teenager on a Commodore 64 and an Amiga computer. Due to limited resources, I constantly had to come up with new ways to make music sound good. Back then it was challenging but I learned a lot about sound design and synthesis from it. 

Payhip made it easy to get my new products out on the market. Setting up a shop was simple and when I ran into any difficulty, I always got direct help from support. 

Today, much of my musical work involves creating presets for virtual synthesizers, which help professionals as well as newcomers produce their music more easily. I also specialize in recreating sounds, as you can hear for yourself with my “Popular Sounds” expansions. These are scratch-made replicas of sounds from the 80s and 90s, with sounds from the 70s and 2000s in the works. 

Where do you take your inspiration from?

My main focus is on the music of the 80s and 90s. I was curious as to whether it was possible to reconstruct the sounds of these decades with a software synthesizer and then create presets which can be played on the keyboard. So you could say that my main inspiration comes from the past.

How has technology affected your creative process?

Software synthesizers have improved so much that hardware synths are almost no longer needed, in my opinion. Anyone who still uses hardware synths today does it out of joy and nostalgia, but in terms of sound technology I see far more potential in software synths in the future. This, of course, makes it easy to get creative on computers and greatly simplifies the process.

What changes in the sound design market have you observed? Has the customer profile or demand for related products changed significantly?

The sound design market is huge, and so are the number of players. I think I’ve found a few fans with my replications and I’m glad there are people who share my passion for older sounds. 

I don’t think much has changed in the past few years other than the technical aspect. Computers are getting stronger and software will create even more possibilities. That’s the future and it’s exactly what I predicted 25 years ago, when computers couldn’t produce sounds like they can today. Technology proved me right.

Which tools have you found the most useful in creating digital music and sounds?

I work with Ableton Live Suite 11, Serum, Sylenth1, VPS Avenger, Parawave Rapid and the entire Native Instruments Komplete 13 Collector’s Edition. I also create many sounds from scratch, mainly with Serum and VPS Avenger Plugins.

How has Payhip helped you promote and sell your products and/or services?

Payhip made it easy to get my new products out on the market. Setting up a shop was simple and when I ran into any difficulty, I always got direct help from support. 

Demuvi provides a wide range of synth presets for producers of all levels. Check out the entire collection of sounds as well as the glowing reviews his products are receiving from fans across the globe here.

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