Many talented videographers struggle to build a sustainable business.
If you're looking to kick the freelancer curse and build a stable production company that earns predictable income, I can help. Whatever you're going through, I've been in the same boat, and I'm here to help you take the next step toward a business that doesn't control your life.
This is not a get-rich-quick course. It's an MBA for video businesses.
The focus has always been on being a specialist program for video production companies, not the hyped "get rich quick" content that proliferates on socials these days.
Many talented videographers struggle not with the creative side, but with turning their skills into a sustainable business. That realisation sparked the idea behind everything I build now: leverage decades of hands-on experience to help others build profitable, stable video businesses without enduring the hardships I had to.
Whether you're a team of one or a team of ten, in a major city or a small town, you can get serious training and support alongside some of the most ambitious video business owners in the world.
The decision to move from shooting to coaching wasn't made lightly.
Ultimately it was about choosing a lifestyle that allowed for a better balance between professional fulfilment and personal well-being. Coaching has let me impact the lives of many more people while managing my own time and priorities more effectively. And I love to teach it.
I'll show you how to get organised, generate new enquiries, close more sales, increase your profit and build a culture that attracts an A-player team.
Together we're going to rewrite your story. But first, here's mine.
1990–1994
Me at film school as a young lad
The journey begins. I learned my craft at Scottish Film School, working on 15 short films as a grip, camera assistant and sound recordist. I co-produced a documentary called The Mortuary Man that was bought by Channel 4 in the UK, before taking a year out to travel Australia in '92–'93 and falling in love with it. I promised myself then that I'd live here one day. And I've never looked back.
1994–1997
My first paid job on location sound
I secured my first paid job in TV at Reuters Television, starting as a junior sound recordist and VT editor covering the Scotland Bureau for GMTV. I worked my way through the 10,000 hours. We were the first TV crew on the scene after the tragic Dunblane massacre, something that changed my life forever.
1998–2001
Working in London for ITV news
I worked for the BBC in East Anglia, then moved to the London News Network where I shot news, current affairs, showbiz and travel. I won an RTS award for my part in the Soho nail bombing coverage and filmed an entertainment show called Good Stuff, picking up celebrities in a stretch limo and interviewing them while driving around London.
2001–2004
Shooting in South Africa
As a freelance cameraman, I filmed some of the biggest shows in British TV: Wish You Were Here (12 million viewers), Watchdog, Most Haunted Live, Holiday Showdown, A Place In The Sun, Home or Away and many more. That was my life until an accident while filming had me airlifted off a mountain and ended my shooting career in 2004.
2004–2007
Filming at home with George Michael for Oprah
I got my first taste of running a business, helping Procam Television generate $1.5M in additional rental revenue and scale from 18 to 45 employees in two years. I earned a small share in the company before getting involved with larger scale production again, working with George Michael for his appearance on Oprah in 2004.
2007–2009
Started speaking at major broadcast events
I was headhunted by Europe's largest broadcast reseller, CVP, to set up CVP TV. It generated more than 500,000 views in six months. This is where I really learned sales, marketing and business. At that time CVP was generating £20M per year.
2009–2011
Began sharing my experience with DSLR filmmakers
I re-mortgaged my house, quit my $150k a year job and set up F-Stop Academy to help video producers embrace the DSLR revolution. We helped more than 3,000 clients grow their confidence and skill set by launching one of the first DSLR training DVDs in the world and an online program called Create The Film Look.
2012
Helped design the Sony FS100, filmed Duran Duran and Ronaldo
A big year. Sony asked me to help develop a new camera in response to the DSLR revolution. We designed the SONY FS100 and shot the world's first ever music video on it. I took part in the Zacuto/Kessler Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout alongside Oscar-winner Haskell Wexler and Spielberg's cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, and filmed with Duran Duran, Andrea Corr and Cristiano Ronaldo.
2013
Made a drama for Sony directed by Bruce Logan ASC
Sony hired us to make Les Bohemes, directed by Bruce Logan ASC, and launch the FS700 camera. I gave keynotes in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, then filmed on tour with Robbie Williams at his sold-out Take The Crown tour at Wembley. Zeiss hired me to make Escape, a showcase of their cinema zoom lenses.
2014
Wrote my first business book, launched the Sony A7S
I spent six months writing Business for Filmmakers: The Quick, Dirty and Uncensored Secrets to a Six-Figure Video Business. I sold nearly 1,000 books in the first year and launched the Six-Figure Filmmakers Inner Circle, before Sony approached me to help launch their A7S camera, the most successful launch ever and a camera that changed the industry forever.
2015
Launched the 12-month coaching program, moved to Australia
I held my first live in-person bootcamp and launched the F8 Elite Business Mastermind in London, a 12-month coaching program that helped video businesses scale. I produced another camera launch film in Sydney for the FS5, and finally moved there full time.
2016–2018
Keynote speaker at YouTube events all over Asia
After setting up a corporate video business from scratch in Sydney, I travelled across Asia giving talks on affordable camera tech at YouTube events in Bangkok, Taipei, Delhi, Hyderabad, Sydney, Jakarta and Seoul. I also published my second book, Marketing for Filmmakers Volume III.
2018–2019
Launched the podcast, released book 3, moved to the beach
I launched the How to Scale a Video Business podcast (5,000 downloads in year one) and my Video Business Accelerator coaching program. I released my third book, A Filmmaker's Guide to Budgets and Quotes, spoke at YouTube in Mumbai, then realised my dream of moving to the beach in Noosa.
2024
The journey continues
Thirty years in, the journey continues. The podcast has passed 300 episodes. I work exclusively with established production companies ready to scale past $200K, and the S.C.A.L.E Method gives them a framework that outlasts every market shift.
2026
The next chapter
Published my fourth book, The S.C.A.L.E. Method, which not only breaks down the process but has been instrumental in the success of our clients. I feature four client case studies in the book. And we surpassed 400 episodes of the Scale Your Video Business podcast.
Me at film school as a young lad
1990–1994
The journey begins. I learned my craft at Scottish Film School, working on 15 short films as a grip, camera assistant and sound recordist. I co-produced a documentary called The Mortuary Man that was bought by Channel 4 in the UK, before taking a year out to travel Australia in '92–'93 and falling in love with it. I promised myself then that I'd live here one day. And I've never looked back.
My first paid job on location sound
1994–1997
I secured my first paid job in TV at Reuters Television, starting as a junior sound recordist and VT editor covering the Scotland Bureau for GMTV. I worked my way through the 10,000 hours. We were the first TV crew on the scene after the tragic Dunblane massacre, something that changed my life forever.
Working in London for ITV news
1998–2001
I worked for the BBC in East Anglia, then moved to the London News Network where I shot news, current affairs, showbiz and travel. I won an RTS award for my part in the Soho nail bombing coverage and filmed an entertainment show called Good Stuff, picking up celebrities in a stretch limo and interviewing them while driving around London.
Shooting in South Africa
2001–2004
As a freelance cameraman, I filmed some of the biggest shows in British TV: Wish You Were Here (12 million viewers), Watchdog, Most Haunted Live, Holiday Showdown, A Place In The Sun, Home or Away and many more. That was my life until an accident while filming had me airlifted off a mountain and ended my shooting career in 2004.
Filming at home with George Michael for Oprah
2004–2007
I got my first taste of running a business, helping Procam Television generate $1.5M in additional rental revenue and scale from 18 to 45 employees in two years. I earned a small share in the company before getting involved with larger scale production again, working with George Michael for his appearance on Oprah in 2004.
Started speaking at major broadcast events
2007–2009
I was headhunted by Europe's largest broadcast reseller, CVP, to set up CVP TV. It generated more than 500,000 views in six months. This is where I really learned sales, marketing and business. At that time CVP was generating £20M per year.
Began sharing my experience with DSLR filmmakers
2009–2011
I re-mortgaged my house, quit my $150k a year job and set up F-Stop Academy to help video producers embrace the DSLR revolution. We helped more than 3,000 clients grow their confidence and skill set by launching one of the first DSLR training DVDs in the world and an online program called Create The Film Look.
Helped design the Sony FS100, filmed Duran Duran and Ronaldo
2012
A big year. Sony asked me to help develop a new camera in response to the DSLR revolution. We designed the SONY FS100 and shot the world's first ever music video on it. I took part in the Zacuto/Kessler Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout alongside Oscar-winner Haskell Wexler and Spielberg's cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, and filmed with Duran Duran, Andrea Corr and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Made a drama for Sony directed by Bruce Logan ASC
2013
Sony hired us to make Les Bohemes, directed by Bruce Logan ASC, and launch the FS700 camera. I gave keynotes in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong, then filmed on tour with Robbie Williams at his sold-out Take The Crown tour at Wembley. Zeiss hired me to make Escape, a showcase of their cinema zoom lenses.
Wrote my first business book, launched the Sony A7S
2014
I spent six months writing Business for Filmmakers: The Quick, Dirty and Uncensored Secrets to a Six-Figure Video Business. I sold nearly 1,000 books in the first year and launched the Six-Figure Filmmakers Inner Circle, before Sony approached me to help launch their A7S camera, the most successful launch ever and a camera that changed the industry forever.
Launched the 12-month coaching program, moved to Australia
2015
I held my first live in-person bootcamp and launched the F8 Elite Business Mastermind in London, a 12-month coaching program that helped video businesses scale. I produced another camera launch film in Sydney for the FS5, and finally moved there full time.
Keynote speaker at YouTube events all over Asia
2016–2018
After setting up a corporate video business from scratch in Sydney, I travelled across Asia giving talks on affordable camera tech at YouTube events in Bangkok, Taipei, Delhi, Hyderabad, Sydney, Jakarta and Seoul. I also published my second book, Marketing for Filmmakers Volume III.
Launched the podcast, released book 3, moved to the beach
2018–2019
I launched the How to Scale a Video Business podcast (5,000 downloads in year one) and my Video Business Accelerator coaching program. I released my third book, A Filmmaker's Guide to Budgets and Quotes, spoke at YouTube in Mumbai, then realised my dream of moving to the beach in Noosa.
The journey continues
2024
Thirty years in, the journey continues. The podcast has passed 300 episodes. I work exclusively with established production companies ready to scale past $200K, and the S.C.A.L.E Method gives them a framework that outlasts every market shift.
The next chapter
2026
Published my fourth book, The S.C.A.L.E. Method, which not only breaks down the process but has been instrumental in the success of our clients. I feature four client case studies in the book. And we surpassed 400 episodes of the Scale Your Video Business podcast.
Ready to find professional, personal and financial freedom from a stable, profitable video business?
The Elite Boardroom is where this work happens: a weekly board of owners with Den in the chair, and a diagnostic on your own numbers in your first 48 hours.