Frederick Turns 1

Frederick Turns 1 - Birthday Trailer · May 17th, 2010, 08:11 PM

Hey guys, this is my second attempt at birthday trailer. I gotta admit I'm enjoying birthday film! It's fun, kids are cute, hardly any pressure and most importantly good foods lol..

This is quite a special video for me as there's a background to how this child was born (read the story in the vimeo link). Something that really reminds me what a precious gift a child is for every parents. Oh.. btw, I haven't got one yet I'm still single :P

Had a challenge during the filming as there are lots of trees shades. I had to constantly adjust my aperture because subjects goes in and out of shades. Especially during the cake scene.. the cake was fully exposed to sun while the families are under the shades.

Anyone got recommendation on how to tackle this?

Tools used:
- indiSlider mini
- Canon 7D
- Tamron 17-50mm f2.8 VC
- Canon 70-200 f4L non IS
- Monopod & Tripod

Alden Miller · July 19th, 2010, 02:19 PM

Very nice. I am attempting my first B-Day event in a few weeks. You mentioned this as a "trailer" was this the final product? Did you have a longer cut that you gave the clients? If so, how long was it?

Johannes Soetandi · July 19th, 2010, 08:53 PM

Thanks Alden.

Yeah I gave them two videos in my DVD, this trailer and an extended version. Basically the extended version is compilation of all the clips I took during the day and edit it onto a song or two. It includes all the cake cutting, speech/performances/games (if any). It runs for about 10 minutes but it depends on how variative things are happening during the day. Otherwise it's a pretty standard 'kids-playing' video running for 10 minutes. :)

It may also be a good idea taking congratulations message from few people in the party and include it in the DVD.

Keaton Clark · July 20th, 2010, 02:45 PM

Love the balloon shots at the beginning! Thanks for sharing this. How have you gotten jobs as a party videographer? I'd also like to advertise for event videography but not sure where.....

Keaton Clark
Philadelphia

Johannes Soetandi · July 20th, 2010, 08:50 PM

Thanks Keaton. To be honest, I've only done 2 birthday party video so far... both with me volunteering and only getting love gifts from the parents. With those two birthday videos, I began promoting the work to my circle of friends... But, even I'm only charging $150..... yet there seems to be no interest so far :(

Not sure how it is in US, but in Australia, birthday video is definitely not common.. they'd prefer holding their own handycam for sure

I'm not the best in advertising.. but you have several options like facebook, craiglist, local community newspaper, wedding directory etc.. but best so far is word of mouth. Make a client happy and you'd get a priceless advertising for free

Susanto Widjaja · July 29th, 2010, 09:54 AM

johannes, regarding the shade vs sun lid cake, there is no cure for it. you have to choose between properly exposed image with dark family or blown out white cake with nice family.

The best way to tackle this is to prevent it from happening. You have to analyze the situation and start "repositioning" the cake in a "ninja" kind of way.

If somehow you still end up in that situation, I would probably choose to expose the family and not taking the cake too much in the shot and then try to get a close up of the cake properly lid while they are cutting. there should be a good 5-10 seconds of them cutting and you can quickly change exposure and get the closeup. cut this together in post, voila! you're saved!

my two bucks..

Johannes Soetandi · July 29th, 2010, 10:16 PM

Thanks Santo. I didn't realize the problem until we all gathered around the cake. Lucky I did the right thing which was to shoot the family (with the camera I mean), I had enough cake footages in the beginning anyway so its not like I'm missing the cake :)

Now that I know this is an issue, I guess next time I can direct the parents to put the cake more strategically...... in my stomach.. hehehe.

July 29th, 2010, 09:54 AM	#6
Susanto Widjaja Major Player Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 622	johannes, regarding the shade vs sun lid cake, there is no cure for it. you have to choose between properly exposed image with dark family or blown out white cake with nice family. The best way to tackle this is to prevent it from happening. You have to analyze the situation and start "repositioning" the cake in a "ninja" kind of way. If somehow you still end up in that situation, I would probably choose to expose the family and not taking the cake too much in the shot and then try to get a close up of the cake properly lid while they are cutting. there should be a good 5-10 seconds of them cutting and you can quickly change exposure and get the closeup. cut this together in post, voila! you're saved! my two bucks.. __________________ If a picture is worth a thousand words, what about motion picture? website: www.papercranes.com.au \| blog: www.weddingvideosydney.net

July 19th, 2010, 02:19 PM	#2
Alden Miller Regular Crew Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 92	Very nice. I am attempting my first B-Day event in a few weeks. You mentioned this as a "trailer" was this the final product? Did you have a longer cut that you gave the clients? If so, how long was it?

July 19th, 2010, 08:53 PM	#3
Johannes Soetandi Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 387	Thanks Alden. Yeah I gave them two videos in my DVD, this trailer and an extended version. Basically the extended version is compilation of all the clips I took during the day and edit it onto a song or two. It includes all the cake cutting, speech/performances/games (if any). It runs for about 10 minutes but it depends on how variative things are happening during the day. Otherwise it's a pretty standard 'kids-playing' video running for 10 minutes. :) It may also be a good idea taking congratulations message from few people in the party and include it in the DVD.

July 20th, 2010, 02:45 PM	#4
Keaton Clark Regular Crew Join Date: May 2008 Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Posts: 29	Love the balloon shots at the beginning! Thanks for sharing this. How have you gotten jobs as a party videographer? I'd also like to advertise for event videography but not sure where..... Keaton Clark Philadelphia

July 20th, 2010, 08:50 PM	#5
Johannes Soetandi Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 387	Thanks Keaton. To be honest, I've only done 2 birthday party video so far... both with me volunteering and only getting love gifts from the parents. With those two birthday videos, I began promoting the work to my circle of friends... But, even I'm only charging $150..... yet there seems to be no interest so far :( Not sure how it is in US, but in Australia, birthday video is definitely not common.. they'd prefer holding their own handycam for sure I'm not the best in advertising.. but you have several options like facebook, craiglist, local community newspaper, wedding directory etc.. but best so far is word of mouth. Make a client happy and you'd get a priceless advertising for free

July 29th, 2010, 10:16 PM	#7
Johannes Soetandi Major Player Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 387	Thanks Santo. I didn't realize the problem until we all gathered around the cake. Lucky I did the right thing which was to shoot the family (with the camera I mean), I had enough cake footages in the beginning anyway so its not like I'm missing the cake :) Now that I know this is an issue, I guess next time I can direct the parents to put the cake more strategically...... in my stomach.. hehehe.