A Year in Review: Protecting, Planning, and Collaborating

Throughout 2024, our blog posts focused on some of the key skills and strategies that creatives need to succeed. As we explored topics from intellectual property to crew dynamics on set, three major themes emerged as essential for thriving in our industry: protecting your creative work, planning for success, and building strong working relationships.

In this recap, we’ll revisit some of the standout lessons from each post and explore how they connect to one another, hopefully uncovering some new insights to guide us all as we prepare for the coming year and beyond.

Protecting Your Work

As creatives, one of the most important things we can do is protect our work. Whether it's a rough idea or a finished project, safeguarding our intellectual property is essential to ensuring our efforts are fairly recognized and compensated.

Early client interactions are critical for sharing concepts, pitching ideas, and even discussing budget outlines. However, it’s just as important to protect these assets from being used or shared without your permission—or without a fair agreement in place.

In “Protecting Your IP During Client Proposals,” we sat down with a business attorney to discuss simple steps that anyone can take to protect their creative work during these initial meetings. What really stood out was that, even if you’re unsure about legally binding contracts like NDAs, there are still “softer” protections available. Confidentiality notices, common law copyright, and labeling your IP as “proprietary” or “competition sensitive” are all subtle but effective ways to reinforce your ownership. Check out this standout post from our 2024 blog archive—which includes copy-paste language you can add right into your proposal documents!

Of course, protecting your own work is only one side of the coin. Respecting others’ IP is equally important, not just as a professional courtesy but also to safeguard your own projects. Anytime you use protected IP, whether positively or critically, you take a risk. The best advice we learned this year? When in doubt, seek permission—and start early, as obtaining clearances can take time.

In our post, “Are You In The Clear? Understanding Clearances in Media Production,” we explored how to identify and secure these permissions, finding that the best way to say “please” is with a clear and respectful request that specifies exactly how you intend to use the work or property in question. Read the full post for actionable tips on streamlining the process and getting the approvals you need.

Planning for Success

Planning for success goes beyond just building schedules and sticking to budgets; it’s about setting yourself up to stand out—and stay ahead. Whether it’s getting your work seen in the right places or managing resources efficiently on set, smart preparation helps you smoothly navigate client demands and be ready to jump on new opportunities when they arise. Two posts from this year showed how a little strategic thinking can go a long way in making the most of every project.

In “Seeing Double: Tips for Shooting Photo and Video Together,” we sat down with Nico Zurcher, a pro photographer for 25 years, who’s now navigating the world of hybrid shoots. Nico walked us through the challenges of juggling both mediums on set and why it's becoming a common request for many clients looking to maximize their production budgets. The key takeaway? Transitioning between photo and video is a nuanced process, so it’s important to plan ahead and develop a deep understanding of your gear, formats, and the workflow. Check out the post for some great first-hand advice on how to do exactly that.

Another area where preparation is key is in how you present your work to the world. Our post “Festival or Award Competition: Which is Right for Your Work?" broke down the differences between two popular avenues for exposure, helping you decide where your project might shine best. Since festivals prioritize exhibition and awards focus on recognition, we learned that early goal-setting ensures everyone is working toward the same vision and allows you to align your submissions strategically with your project’s strengths and target audience. Give it a read and start fine-tuning your own strategy for 2025!

Effective Collaboration

In any industry—but especially media production—working with the right people in the right way can make a world of difference. It's not just about good old-fashioned teamwork, but really understanding each other’s roles, managing expectations, and choosing trustworthy partners. Two of this year’s posts focused on building strong collaborative dynamics both on and off set.

We know that everyone on set plays a distinct role in production, but sometimes the lines get a little fuzzy—on some shoots, professionals follow a strict hierarchy, while on others, they wear multiple hats across different departments. This can make it difficult (and intimidating!) to figure out who to ask for what. In “Blurred Lines: Clearing Up Common Crew Overlaps,” we waded through these murky waters and pulled out a list of the most common overlaps. Check out the full post for a detailed breakdown; it’s especially handy if you’re new to the industry!

Another vital part of a successful production is ensuring you're working with the best partners from the start. In our industry, reputation really matters—and collaborating with professionals who prioritize strong partnerships can help protect yours. In our post “A Simple Guide to Vetting and Choosing Production Partners,” we rounded up some of the best practices for researching and verifying potential collaborators, from paying attention to red flags and asking the right questions, to seeking advice from your own professional network. Whether you’re still getting to know someone or ready to negotiate a contract, you’re sure to find some helpful insight.

Looking Ahead

The themes pointed out here—protection, planning, and collaboration—aren’t just individual strategies; they’re interconnected pieces of a larger puzzle that support each other to create a strong foundation for success.

With all the changes happening in our industry, from technological advancements and the ever-increasing presence of AI, to new streaming trends and shifting consumer demands, we expect these themes are only going to become more important in the days ahead. So, take a moment to revisit the lessons we’ve shared in this 2024 blog post review—they’ll be key to staying competitive and ahead of the curve.