# @joeypusateri_ on YouTube

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://youtube.com/watch?v=ILhO3c32lBY
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/67508864-joeypusateri-youtube
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/263d04b89c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-07-06T19:22:18.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Joey Pusateri (@Joeypusateri_) — https://gondola.cc/Joeypusateri_

## Caption

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how I got started as a freelancer. The internet loves to scream one piece of advice over and over to creators: "You need to niche down." But honestly? If you’re just starting out, trying to make ends meet with a camera, and just trying to figure out how this tough industry works—niching down right now might be the worst advice you can get.

In this video, I’m getting real about why turning down paying work for the sake of "creative integrity" is a trap when you're a beginner. We talk about the reality of hitting that $75k–$150k threshold, why you shouldn't turn your nose up at "boring" corporate gigs, and how shooting real estate videos for the first few years of my career is exactly what paid my bills, opened doors, and gave me the freedom I have today.
This is a message for the starting filmmakers who just bought a camera and are trying to make it work. Don't niche down yet. Here is what you should do instead.

Timestamps
00:00 – The weird world of freelance advice online
01:08 – The trap of "creative integrity" vs. paying your bills
01:38 – The $75k–$150k threshold (When niching actually makes sense)
02:47 – Why you can't just shoot commercial films from day one
03:36 – Taking the "boring" corporate and assistant camera jobs
04:23 – How real estate video paid my bills and opened doors
05:36 – A bit of yapping (and what people actually do vs. what they post online)
06:27 – It's completely possible to figure this out. Keep chipping away.

My Cameras:
A-Cam (Canon C80): https://amzn.to/3Xzs6Wa
B-Cam (Canon R5): https://amzn.to/3TK2cNX
Point and Shoot (Canon Powershot V1): https://amzn.to/4auYbG7
Old Digital Camera: https://amzn.to/4dnF0fo
Fuji X100VI: https://amzn.to/3zmIXmI

My Lenses: 
Favorite Lens (Canon RF 24-70 f2.8): https://amzn.to/3Y2facw
Best Wide Lens I Own (Canon EF 16-35 f2.8): https://amzn.to/4eBvdTW
Great Zoom Lens (Canon EF 70-200 f2.8): https://amzn.to/47KN8Wc
My NFL Lens (Canon RF 400mm f2.8): https://amzn.to/4eyMsVK
Canon EF 50mm f1.4: https://amzn.to/3BtpHUW
Sigma EF 35mm f1.4: https://amzn.to/3XJzopI
Everyday Lens (Canon RF 28mm f2.8): https://amzn.to/3XD3Py5

My Lighting Setup:
Main Light (Amaran 300d): https://amzn.to/4kDQijn
Second Light (Amaran 60d): https://amzn.to/44LMbg4
Favorite Diffuser (Aperture Lantern): https://amzn.to/4klJQxe
Aperture Softbox: https://amzn.to/4klJQxe
C Stand: https://amzn.to/3ZZdzEK
Light Stand With Wheels: https://amzn.to/3ZZdzEK

My Editing Setup:
Monitor: https://amzn.to/3zCrSVR
Mouse: https://amzn.to/3XXzETr
Keyboard: https://amzn.to/4gCwsnF
Editing Harddrive (Samsung T9 SSD): https://amzn.to/47K5sOR
Storage Harddrive (5TB Lacie): https://amzn.to/3XW5csS

My Audio Setup: 
Main Microphone (Rode NTG4+): https://amzn.to/44a8SKv
Rode NTG Mic: https://amzn.to/4do5blW
Lav Mic (Rode Wireless Pro): https://amzn.to/3zHqWzm
Canon C80 Shotgun Mic (Rode NTG 4+): https://amzn.to/46lVTak 

My Accessories (Drone, Memory Cards, etc):
Canon R5 Memory Card (CFExpress Type B): https://amzn.to/47IuBtq
Canon R5 Battery: https://amzn.to/3XFsD8r
DJI RS3 Pro Stabilizer: https://amzn.to/3TKAcK9
DJI Mini Pro 4 (Tiny Drone): https://amzn.to/4dD7fqF
Camera Monitor (Atimos Shinobi): https://amzn.to/4nrk0L3


Follow me on IG! https://www.instagram.com/joeypusateri_/
Follow me on TikTok! https://vm.tiktok.com/TTPdksGTyr/
Subscribe!!

## Stats

- **Views:** 257
- **Likes:** 13
- **Shares:** 0
- **Comments:** 3

## Credits

| Name | Username | Profile | Role |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Joey Pusateri | @Joeypusateri_ | https://gondola.cc/Joeypusateri_ | Creator |

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