To counter the big gear perspective, my favorite advice I ever received is that your camera should function as an appendage. You don't have to think to get the shot you are looking for, you just automatically know the right buttons and settings.

I've been on enough shoots where inexperienced(and experienced) folks have gotten bogged down with having too much gear and too many options and as a result, have missed opportunities to capture great content, or worse, looked unprofessional as they get overwhelmed by their own gear. My strategy has been to start small and gradually build up my gear piece by piece as my comfort level grows. And now I'm constantly booked because I can offer a great variety of shots on a quick timetable even if I shoot with a GH5 instead of a RED or Arri.

Also, I always show up looking professional, with a focus on the client and their goals and exuding confidence that I will achieve what they want as well as constantly collaborating with them through the entire process and showing that I am listening to their every request. I think this makes up for having a big camera while I'm early on in my career though of course, I hope to have one someday!

4. Be a decent human being and both care about and get connected and involved with the communities around you that look different than yourself. A: it makes you a more empathetic well rounded person, and B: your films will have a much richer depth and greater impact on the world.

It’s one thing to diversity your films with the talent you choose and “check all the boxes”, it’s an entirely different thing to actually be connected and caring about communities that are different than your own.

I'm 29 as well and have taken my time and just done my best to experience life. I know a feature is coming, maybe by the time I'm 32, but I feel completely fine with the track I've been taking!

Follow the Filmmaker Freedom podcast...lots of great stuff directly dealing with this.

https://filmmakerfreedom.com/podcast/

Think about getting a Fitbit so you can track your sleep. You'll find that the average person is awake more than an hour every night in a combination of small bursts that you likely won't remember. As a result, to get your recommended 8 hours of sleep, you need to try to aim for 9 actually.

If you are like me and have anxiety either following filming or in anticipation for the day ahead, try this breathing exercise that will help you fall asleep more quickly. Without this it takes me at times an hour and a half before I'll fall asleep. https://www.popsugar.com/fitness/How-Fall-Asleep-Right-Away-36597887

Finally, keep your smartphone out of your bedroom. Buy an alarm clock. I find this tough but scrolling through social media keeps your brain firing and can slow down your ability to place your brain at rest.

And then everything else Roxanne said above is solid advice. Best of luck!

This is so incredibly helpful. Thank you!