The Team That Won the $300K Project
Why choosing the right people can take you further than any pitch deck or portfolio ever could.
Early on, in the beginning days of my production company Momentous, I was primarily working on smaller projects - the kind that maxed out around $30,000, and more often sat under $10,000. Most were solo-shooter jobs or small crew setups. Simple, contained, manageable. I kind of liked that. I still do. But…
Then came the opportunity: a $300,000 project for a major travel and hospitality brand - multi-city shoots across the U.S., a large crew, and about fifty people between talent, photo, and video teams.
It was the kind of job that could change everything. But there was one big problem… My resume alone wasn’t going to win it.
I didn’t have the experience. I had never done a project of that scale in the travel and hospitality niche and definitely not one centered around photography. I knew that if I sent in a pitch deck showcasing only my past work, I’d be out in the first round.
So I did what I knew best from my narrative filmmaking background: I started packaging the project.
Building the Team Before Winning the Job
I went straight to Google and started looking up the best photographers I could find - people with deep portfolios and brand experience that matched the client’s world. I reached out cold, explained the project, gave a basic overview, and asked for availability and rates.
A few got back to me. One photographer in particular had exactly what I needed: work that screamed credibility and had a style that fit the brief perfectly.
I asked for permission to include them in the pitch. And I told them, “If we make it to the final round, I’ll need you on a Zoom call with the client to help seal the deal.”
They agreed.
Five days later, we delivered the deck - complete with an A-tier creative team on paper.
And…
I won the job.
That was the only reason I won the job.
The Lesson
That single decision - to build the team before the win - not only landed that project, but led to multiple jobs with the same client over the next few years.
Here’s what I learned:
You can’t fake experience, but you can borrow it until you have your own.
When you bring on people who elevate your work, you’re not just upgrading a skillset - you’re upgrading perception. To a client, that’s everything.
If you’re stuck at a certain level in your career and can’t seem to break into bigger projects, stop trying to look more experienced. Instead, borrow experience by partnering with people who’ve already been where you want to go.
It might mean paying a premium for top tier talent and tighter margins early on. But the tradeoff - experience, trust, credibility - compounds fast.
Because when you work alongside people operating at a higher level, you start learning what it actually takes to play there.
🛠 Tool Spotlight:
Notion + Clay - A powerful combo for tracking collaborators and client relationships. Notion handles project organization, while Clay acts as a relationship intelligence tool - reminding you who you’ve worked with, when to follow up, and even surfacing mutual connections when building new teams.
Most people use these tools separately. But together, they make you operate like a producer who’s always ten steps ahead.
📈 Why It Matters
Your concept might win attention.
Your deck might win curiosity.
But your team - that’s what wins trust.
And in filmmaking, trust is what unlocks the next level.
Do you have a similar story or experience? Share it in the comments. I’d love to hear about what has worked and what hasn’t in your business/career.
Stay collaborative,
Alex