I used to work in Reality Television

Before I got into video production, I spent a few years working in reality TV. It was wild, unpredictable, and honestly a great way to break into the industry. I worked on all kinds of shows: Property Brothers, Hoarders, MasterChef, American Idol, Young and Married, Double Divas, and more. It became a solid niche for me, where I stayed busy, gained experience, and learned a lot on set.

Wearing Every Hat on Set

Most reality shows run on pretty tight budgets. They’ll hire you as a Production Assistant and expect you to do five jobs. That was me. I was technically a PA, but I ended up working as an Assistant Camera, Grip, Gaffer, and even helped produce sometimes. My title might’ve been at the bottom of the call sheet, but I was involved in almost every part of production. It was a crash course in filmmaking, and I learned a ton.

Some Highlights

My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding - TLC

One of the wildest shows I worked on was My Big Fat American Gypsy Wedding. The episode followed a 14-year-old girl preparing for her wedding. It was uncomfortable to say the least, and it quickly became clear that most reality shows don’t care much about ethics if the content keeps people watching.

I spent a few weeks with the family and really got a look into their world. The community didn’t trust outsiders and even taught me their word for non-Gypsies.

One moment that stuck with me was when I was walking with their 4-year-old son while the rest of the crew was filming in a bridal shop. A police officer passed by, and the kid said, “Uh oh, monster,” then tried to hide. Turns out his family had taught him that. It was disturbing, but also fascinating to see how deep those lessons went.

Later on, we filmed a party for the teenagers. There was underage drinking, and at one point a fight broke out in the front yard. That was my sign to leave.

Double Divas - Lifetime

This show was about two women running a lingerie shop. I worked the full season and somehow ended up with the keys to the store. Every morning for eight months, I was the one opening up a women’s underwear shop. Definitely not something I thought I’d be doing when I got into this line of work.

Hoarders - A&E

I spent a week on Hoarders filming in a house so full of stuff you could barely move. Junk was piled to the ceiling with tiny paths carved through. I had to climb on the piles to rig lights. It was intense.

American Idol

I helped out during the Atlanta auditions. My job was walking contestants from the holding area to the judges. I saw every type of personality you could imagine. Some were so nervous they could barely walk, and others were full of confidence. It was surreal watching people line up for what could be their big break.

Property Brothers

I spent a full season on Property Brothers. It was fast, hectic, and full of surprises. Filming home renovations gave me a whole new appreciation for what it takes to make houses look good on camera. It was definitely one of the bigger, more professional sets I worked on in reality TV.

What I Took Away From It

Eventually, I knew I didn’t want to stay in reality TV forever. The pay was bad for how much work you had to do. I was hired as a PA but doing jobs that should have paid way more. That’s just how a lot of reality shows operate. Toward the end, I started putting my money into buying gear so I could branch out. I wanted to do work that gave me more creative freedom and better pay, and building my own kit was the first step toward that.

Final Thoughts

Reality TV taught me a lot. I learned how to troubleshoot on the fly, work in unpredictable situations, and handle pressure without freaking out. It also showed me what kind of projects I actually enjoy. I’m thankful for those years, but I’m even more thankful I moved on when I did.