Key Points
- She saved $30,000 during the pandemic which helped her set-up her home studio.
- After creating videos for the government during the pandemic, she had stable income coming through which allowed her to create content about any product.
- The commitment to elevate brand perception is what Abe wants to deliver to her clients.
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Negosyo tip: Ang magandang litrato at video ay kaakibat ng maayos na brand
SBS Filipino
19/03/202410:20
This was not a surprise for Catherine Abe, who found it difficult to find employment in the creative field upon migrating in Australia in 2015 from Davao, Philippines.
She says, “Usually, the jobs that I found either didn't value my worth. Also, they didn’t really offer a full time job for it.”
As someone who is artistically drawn to production, specifically videography and photography, Abe was out on a mission to pursue her passion in Australia and get paid for it fairly.
Fortunately, an opportunity presented itself during the pandemic.
Government saves the day
“I was stuck in the house. I was lucky that I was still able to find a job that allows me to do photography and video for government. I was making commercials for the government. It's not really as exciting from a creative standpoint,” Abe shares.
To ease her boredom, she made commercials about the most random products such as toilet paper. This led to her then side hustle and now full-time business named “Collabarts.”
Work is treated as play
One of Abe’s clients was a cleaning company who had to pivot their business to e-commerce to stay afloat during the pandemic. The company had to start selling sanitation and bathroom equipment.
The toilet paper commercial she directed and produced became her first gig under the company she started. She got compensated handsomely.
That's when I actually thought - wow, I love this. I can do this at home. I don't have to go out. I can build my own studio.Catherine Abe, Owner of Collabarts
“That was the moment when I thought I found exactly what I want to do and this is what I want to pursue.
"I had so much time during COVID. I started building a website, grading commercials [out of the products that I already have at home]. I just started building the business."
With stable income coming through, she managed to set aside about $30,000. She used the money to fund high-quality gears such as camera, lights, gimbals and sliders. These would make up her home studio.
With all the products that she made commercials for, Abe found her niche in producing commercials for skin care products.
“The value I give my clients is the brand perception, particularly if you’re selling skin care products where price points start at $40.
You need to have the brand value that the business can have. So with an impeccable photo or video, you will get the expensive feeling and it elevates their brand.Catherine Abe, Owner of Collabarts
To date, Abe has expanded the services of her business from photography, commercial video and social media and user-generated content.
For those who are keen on opening up a business, Abe says, “Just start and don’t overthink all the other aspects. When you start, the doubts in your head will go away. I took the risk and I’m still here. I'm full-time in the business and I would never ever go back to how it was before.”
