Videography.
Animation.
Motion Graphics.
2017
A Year In Review
Another year has come and gone, and what a mixed bag it's been! From a global standpoint, it was rough, and thousands are still dealing with the trials and tribulations this year brought. One of my New Years resolutions is to donate to more people in need, which is more crucial in the world than ever right now. That being said, from a professional and personal standpoint, this may very well have been the greatest year of my life yet! Here's a rundown of highlights from my busy, wonderful year...
Freelance
I started my freelance videography & motion graphics services in mid 2016. I got a gig right off the bat: three videos, roughly $600. Not bad for a first gig...but it was the only one I got that whole year, despite interviews, and reaching out to different businesses and theatres. In early 2017, I stepped up: I re-designed my website, complete with a logo and cohesive branding. I also created business cards and a professional Facebook page! I started making more connections, and re-connected with other folks that I had reached out to before, and it started paying off.
Throughout the year, I've been a contracted production assistant, a second shooter with wedding videography, and producer of promotional videos for both theatre and marching band productions. One of my videos even reached over 10,000 views on Facebook, which you can watch below:
Day Jobs
With big changes that were coming into my life in summer, I decided I'd pick up a retail job while looking out for bigger positions elsewhere, just to get some form of consistent income. I ended up working at ME3D, a small store in Mall Of America that takes people's pictures from every angle and turns them into 3D printed statues! I worked there part-time, from late March to late December. It wasn't the most exciting job, but it was low-stress and provided me with some pretty cool benefits! My wife (Leah) and I got a free 4" cake topper statue of us for our wedding cake, and I got free access to Minneapolis Comic Con in May. I ran ME3D's kiosk there, and got to meet Rocky Horror Picture Show star, Barry Bostwick.
Type & Timber photography
The most notable job I got this year, however, came on very unexpectedly. From June until the end of December (originally scheduled June-September), I got an internship position at STAR Services in St. Paul. It started as a mix of both video production and Online Training customer help. However, as the internship went along, a lot of video-based projects started to spring up, which allowed me to try new ideas I hadn't implemented much of before. As of a few weeks ago, I am happy to say that I have been offered a full-time position there as a video production coordinator! I love the people I work with there, and I look forward to my continued work with them in 2018. I also look forward to my continued work as an assistant speech coach for East Ridge High School.
Personal
Despite all the work-related success of 2017, none of that compares to what made this year truly special: I̶-g̶o̶t̶-a̶-N̶i̶n̶t̶e̶n̶d̶o̶-S̶w̶i̶t̶c̶h̶ I got married to my favorite person in the entire world, and I could not be more happy about it. It was a wonderful wedding, that both met and surpassed everybody's expectations. What made it even more special was that my two siblings (Grace and Becca), and my two honorary siblings (Diane and Cory), all went well out of their way to be at the wedding. Since that day, Leah and I have moved into a really nice apartment, and we've been to Disney World twice! I'm really enjoying married life, and look forward to spending the rest of my life with Leah!
My only regrets from this year are that, due to such a strong focus on establishing myself in my work, planning for the wedding, and adjusting to a new apartment, I have made little time for both friends and church - both of which I value greatly. I also had no time to be in any shows. I sincerely hope to fix all three of these shortcomings in the new year. 2017 was a great year for me overall, though. It would be unrealistic to hope that 2018 is equal to the year of my wedding - so, here's hoping that 2018 is almost as great :)
- Ben Habegger
Harvest Film Company
