Hi guys. I’ve recently started working for White Heights Media, a Melbourne-based wedding photo/video company. Not being biased, but I think they’re one of the best in the industry. Great team to work with and I’m grateful to them for taking me under their wings.
I’m still learning but do check out some of the same-day-edit videos I had the chance to be involved in. I reckon I managed to contribute at least one or two good shots.
Hieu + Vu SDE
Melissa + Trung SDE
And also, do check out their vimeo channel for more of their work.
Was curious to see what fireworks would look like if I played it backwards. Turns out, it looks pretty awesome. Playing it in reverse gives it that cool slow-mo feel which is strangely soothing and tranquil. Totally opposite of the true nature of fireworks.
Looking forward to making more videos this year. In the meantime, check out my previous videos here.
Been getting requests to shoot a dance video for various people. I’ve shot a few dance videos before but those were just single front & centered shots. This time I was asked to shoot an MV style, dance video. Thought it would be a good idea to blog about what I’ve learnt and what I can do to improve my dance videography while it’s still fresh.
Wide Shot
TECHNIQUE. Dance routines are usually meant to be watched from the front. So it’s important to have a good selection of strong close-up, middle, and wide shots from the front. In one shoot, I made the mistake of having too many close-up shots but not enough mid-shots. Take for example the video above, most of the shots are primarily taken from the front with most shots being mid and wide shots.
Middle Shot
Close up shots are suitable when the dancers are relatively stationary or when you’re trying to capture their emotions. But when the dancers are moving around (a lot), it’s better to use a mid or wide shot to capture their movements. After all, a dance video is meant to show off the dance routine. Not just their pretty faces.
Close-up shot
All other shots from different angles should be used as cutaways. Or at times when the focus (main dancer) is out of frame or off-centered from the front shots.
PREPARATION. Discuss with the main choreographer what he/she wants the video to look like beforehand. This would give you an idea of the shots you’ll need and hopefully enable you to visualize them better. Getting good shots during the day, would make the editing process much simpler. Also, always remember to do your homework. Watch the original music video, listen to the music, and get an idea of what the dance routine would look like.
GEAR. Using a 70-200mm lens wasn’t such a good idea. Yes, we are able to get awesome close-up shots but it’s not appropriate for a dance video. I reckon a wide angle lens would work better for a dance video. Most of the wide angled shots were taken using my 18-55mm lens but most of the time it just wasn’t wide enough. Especially when you’re in a tight studio and pushed all the way back against the wall.
TIPS. It is crucial that the dancers know their routine well. I had the opportunity to work together with some really amazing dancers and this helped to safe time and reduce the number of takes required. Thought this is out of your control as a videographer, it should be something to keep in mind.
Can’t say I’ve been completely happy with the shots I’ve taken but the video shoots have been great practice for me. Will write up another post of the editing process once I’m done.
If you were to ask me five years ago, “Julian, would you consider a career in film-making?” I would have probably laughed awkwardly and after a slight pause, replied, “I’m not sure.”
During the past five years, I’ve been running around, camera in hand, filming music videos, weddings, and short films because it’s fun. But what happens when you begin working for real clients? Creating TV commercials or Hollywood films? Is fun really enough?
Lets be real here. With the skills I have now, I’m a long way from producing anything of (good) standard. The art of film-making, like most things, requires hard work. And I mean A LOT of hard work. Christopher Nolan took eight years to write Inception. Roger Federer plays an average of five sets a day, on top of conditioning and drill exercises.
This is where this blog comes into play. I will be using this blog as a place where I will critic and comment on most of my work. Make note of what works and what doesn’t. Explain why I did things a certain way and what could have been done to improve the video. Of course, your feedback and constructive criticisms are gladly welcomed.
Besides slamming my own work, I’ll be sharing cool videos, rave about the latest movies, talk gadgets, and maybe share a few tips and tricks with all you aspiring film-makers. Sound good? Good.
Hi guys. I’ve recently started working for White Heights Media, a Melbourne-based wedding photo/video company. Not being biased, but I think they’re one of the best in the industry. Great team to work with and I’m grateful to them for taking me under their wings.
