Recent video I created for a photographer at DVinfo.net

Travis Heberling · December 19th, 2014, 02:18 PM

Hello!

I just put together this video with a photographer I frequently work with:

It was a little more "Run and gun" style shooting.

I would love some feedback on the video.(I hope to do more of these for other photographers and only want to get better.)

This was all shot on the Sony a99

Regards,

Adrian Tan · December 19th, 2014, 04:29 PM

Hi Travis,

The good -- it's a good advertisement for your own shooting skills. Some nice candid moments. Liked the colouring. And liked the way that, overall, it conveyed a mood rather than just displayed images. Does make me want to rewatch the video.

The bad -- to be honest, don't know if it'd do that much for the photographer. I guess it depends on what it's supposed to do. Didn't really demonstrate to me why I'd hire this photographer rather than any other.

Not sure how you'd product-differentiate the photographer. Maybe with showing process + result. Ie, include a few of his/her photos.

That's just my opinion, and I'm sure other people's opinions will differ. Thanks for posting!

Arthur Gannis · December 19th, 2014, 05:56 PM

Very nicely done, as far as highlighting the videographer's candid approach to a fun family outing with the photog which we never got to see any of her artistic talent save for a brief snapshot on her camera's lcd screen. I think it would have been beneficial for the photog to include the actual snapped photos, inserted, just after the video clips of her snapping away. Anyway, that's my humble opinion.

Roger Gunkel · December 19th, 2014, 06:15 PM

Great video Travis, but in my opinion it shows how a video is able to catch personality and detail in a way that a photograph can't. If I was thinking about photography and hadn't considered video, a photographer presenting me with your video may well make me think that I need a video instead :-)

Roger

Oren Arieli · December 19th, 2014, 07:09 PM

I think it's well shot, with nice golden-hour lighting and good energy...but it doesn't work for me as a photo promo. If I was the photographer, I'd expect to hear some sound bytes about my approach, style, skill, philosophy...etc. Otherwise, it's more of a promo for your shooting.
Secondly, the editing doesn't really match the mood of the music. The song kicks into gear around :36 seconds and we get a rack focus to a pumpkin instead of some of the best high-energy moments that you had earlier on. Get the pacing right and it will really shine. Consider getting a v/o from the photographer to make it into a true promo reel. If you can get some of the stills from those shoots and incorporate them, even better.

Leon Bailey · December 20th, 2014, 09:52 AM

I replied on Linkedin, but will here as well.

I like the video, but what I think you should do is add an interview aspect with a few clips discussing her business and what she can do so we know more about her other than she can take photos of people. I don't think having photos in the video is necessary as it will be on her website.

Jeff Harper · December 20th, 2014, 07:08 PM

No where near enough closeups, IMO. As a result the video lacks emotional punch. Nice images as far as they go, but it's lacking the depth that more faces/closeups would give it.

And absolutely agree with comment that you should include photographs throughout, but that's a whole other issue. Is the video nice? Yes, it really is. Would it cause me to hire the photographer or does it get me excited? Not really.

Mark Whittle · December 21st, 2014, 03:00 AM

Nice. I like the feel and the look of it. Lots of different shots. The duration and pace were just right; I didn't lose interest.

Only two things I picked on: Too many sun flare shots for my taste - one or two here and there OK but there were so many that I was thinking a lens shade or a flag would be handy. :)

The other thing was with the editing - quite a few shots were cut a tad too soon for my liking. The duration of the shots was fine but things like tilting or panning to reveal your subject only to cut before the move stops or the subject is framed/focussed or whatever. Examples: 0:32 pull focus to girl. Cut before shot gets sharp. 0:46 Tilt up to posed couple. Cut before the tilt stops so we don't get a decent look at the couple. OK maybe the tilt keeps going - trim the shot 10 frames later so we see less at the beginning of the shot and a bit more of the couple.

These are only minor niggles and being a run & gun scenario maybe you didn't nail the focus or the tilt so good job with what you had. I know how fast you have to work in these situations so I'm impressed with the variety of shots you managed to get. It suggests the shoot was fun rather than the ordeal they can sometimes be for the couple.

Travis Heberling · February 11th, 2015, 03:59 PM

Thanks for all the feedback!!!!

December 19th, 2014, 02:18 PM	#1
Travis Heberling Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Rolling Meadows IL Posts: 51	Recent video I created for a photographer Hello! I just put together this video with a photographer I frequently work with: Lemon Twist Images (Promo) on Vimeo It was a little more "Run and gun" style shooting. I would love some feedback on the video.(I hope to do more of these for other photographers and only want to get better.) This was all shot on the Sony a99 Regards,

December 19th, 2014, 04:29 PM	#2
Adrian Tan Trustee Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 1,149	Re: Recent video I created for a photographer Hi Travis, The good -- it's a good advertisement for your own shooting skills. Some nice candid moments. Liked the colouring. And liked the way that, overall, it conveyed a mood rather than just displayed images. Does make me want to rewatch the video. The bad -- to be honest, don't know if it'd do that much for the photographer. I guess it depends on what it's supposed to do. Didn't really demonstrate to me why I'd hire this photographer rather than any other. Not sure how you'd product-differentiate the photographer. Maybe with showing process + result. Ie, include a few of his/her photos. That's just my opinion, and I'm sure other people's opinions will differ. Thanks for posting!

December 19th, 2014, 05:56 PM	#3
Arthur Gannis Major Player Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: New Jersey USA Posts: 504	Re: Recent video I created for a photographer Very nicely done, as far as highlighting the videographer's candid approach to a fun family outing with the photog which we never got to see any of her artistic talent save for a brief snapshot on her camera's lcd screen. I think it would have been beneficial for the photog to include the actual snapped photos, inserted, just after the video clips of her snapping away. Anyway, that's my humble opinion.

December 19th, 2014, 06:15 PM	#4
Roger Gunkel Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: LIncolnshire, UK Posts: 2,213	Re: Recent video I created for a photographer Great video Travis, but in my opinion it shows how a video is able to catch personality and detail in a way that a photograph can't. If I was thinking about photography and hadn't considered video, a photographer presenting me with your video may well make me think that I need a video instead :-) Roger

December 19th, 2014, 07:09 PM	#5
Oren Arieli Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Jose, California Posts: 918	Re: Recent video I created for a photographer I think it's well shot, with nice golden-hour lighting and good energy...but it doesn't work for me as a photo promo. If I was the photographer, I'd expect to hear some sound bytes about my approach, style, skill, philosophy...etc. Otherwise, it's more of a promo for your shooting. Secondly, the editing doesn't really match the mood of the music. The song kicks into gear around :36 seconds and we get a rack focus to a pumpkin instead of some of the best high-energy moments that you had earlier on. Get the pacing right and it will really shine. Consider getting a v/o from the photographer to make it into a true promo reel. If you can get some of the stills from those shoots and incorporate them, even better.

December 20th, 2014, 09:52 AM	#6
Leon Bailey Regular Crew Join Date: May 2013 Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 126	Re: Recent video I created for a photographer I replied on Linkedin, but will here as well. I like the video, but what I think you should do is add an interview aspect with a few clips discussing her business and what she can do so we know more about her other than she can take photos of people. I don't think having photos in the video is necessary as it will be on her website. __________________ - L.B. LastingBlueprint.com. :)

December 20th, 2014, 07:08 PM	#7
Jeff Harper Inner Circle Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 8,425	Re: Recent video I created for a photographer No where near enough closeups, IMO. As a result the video lacks emotional punch. Nice images as far as they go, but it's lacking the depth that more faces/closeups would give it. And absolutely agree with comment that you should include photographs throughout, but that's a whole other issue. Is the video nice? Yes, it really is. Would it cause me to hire the photographer or does it get me excited? Not really. __________________ "The horror of what I saw on the timeline cannot be described."

December 21st, 2014, 03:00 AM	#8
Mark Whittle Regular Crew Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bunbury, Western Australia Posts: 153	Re: Recent video I created for a photographer Nice. I like the feel and the look of it. Lots of different shots. The duration and pace were just right; I didn't lose interest. Only two things I picked on: Too many sun flare shots for my taste - one or two here and there OK but there were so many that I was thinking a lens shade or a flag would be handy. :) The other thing was with the editing - quite a few shots were cut a tad too soon for my liking. The duration of the shots was fine but things like tilting or panning to reveal your subject only to cut before the move stops or the subject is framed/focussed or whatever. Examples: 0:32 pull focus to girl. Cut before shot gets sharp. 0:46 Tilt up to posed couple. Cut before the tilt stops so we don't get a decent look at the couple. OK maybe the tilt keeps going - trim the shot 10 frames later so we see less at the beginning of the shot and a bit more of the couple. These are only minor niggles and being a run & gun scenario maybe you didn't nail the focus or the tilt so good job with what you had. I know how fast you have to work in these situations so I'm impressed with the variety of shots you managed to get. It suggests the shoot was fun rather than the ordeal they can sometimes be for the couple. __________________ MW Last edited by Mark Whittle; December 21st, 2014 at 03:01 AM. Reason: punctuation

February 11th, 2015, 03:59 PM	#9
Travis Heberling Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Rolling Meadows IL Posts: 51	Re: Recent video I created for a photographer Thanks for all the feedback!!!!