Videography

Videography and photography share a foundation — light, composition, optics — but moving images have their own demands around motion, audio, frame rate, and narrative pacing. This section is built for photographers who shoot video or want to start, covering the transition from stills to motion: the gear decisions, the technical differences, and the storytelling skills that make video work compelling rather than just competent.

A Hundred Filmmaking Tips and Hacks in 10 Minutes

This video covers a wide range of tips and tricks to make your set runs smoothly, things occur as you planned, and small items don’t go missing. I’ve seen some of these used by YouTubers mostly, but there are a hundred of them, so use what you think is best suited to your shooting style.  

Get Better Footage with a Strap, Tripod, or String

There’s nothing better than capturing great footage in-camera, and not having to go try rescue it in post with LUTs, warp-stabilization, and compositing. In this video there are some simple tips on how to get shots without any additional gear. 

Removu K1: A 4K Gimbal/Camera Combo With an LCD Screen

While some would argue that the Removu K1 is a shameless rip-off of the DJI Osmo+, very few would complain about the fact that there is now another affordable gimbal/camera combo option on the market that doesn't carry all of the Osmo's flaws, and now with a built-in monitor.

Canon 5D Mark IV: Is It Actually Great for Video?

Many of you may reply to the title of this article with an abrupt "No," and prior to using the Canon 5D Mark IV for my own videos, I would have agreed with you. It's easy to judge this camera based on the specs because in all fairness they're not exactly groundbreaking, however, the 5D Mark IV might secretly be a great video camera.  

 

Syracuse Meets the Inspire 2: A Film by Tom Drone

Growing up in Syracuse, New York, Tom Drone was only exposed to the beauty of this city at ground level. As time went on and technology advanced, drones became a popular tool for filming things from a new perspective. After years of work in the drone business, Tom returned to his hometown to film it from the sky. 

Add an Orbiting Hyperlapse to Your Videos

You can make it look like two people are sitting with their backs to opposite sides of the same wall. It allows you to transport your audience to a different place in a fun way. This video from Mango Street shows how they did it and shares a tutorial on how you can too.  

Gnarbox 2.0 SSD: A Huge Upgrade

GNARBOX recently launched their latest Kickstarter campaign for the GNARBOX 2.0 SSD. This portable hard drive allows you to backup, store, and, even edit your photos and videos. Their version 1.0 which also launched on Kickstarter gained a huge amount of popularity and the campaign for version 2.0 is doing extremely well. 

 

See the Stunning Short Film Shot at a Focal Length of 2,520mm

When you get into truly extreme focal lengths, the visual effects you can create are both beautiful and seemingly otherworldly. This amazing short film was shot at an equivalent focal length of 2,520mm, and the scenes it captured are fascinating. 

Fstoppers Interviews Filmmaker Yuribert Capetillo Hardy

I first got in touch with Yuribert Capetillo Hardy of YoSoyVideo when I found his breathtaking short film Roller Coaster chosen as a Staff Pick over on Vimeo. Since then I have been watching in the hope that there would be another gorgeous short coming out of his editing room. With the release of Strained Lebanon, it was the perfect time to reach out for an interview.

Gear for B-Roll Shooting When You're a Team of One

In one of his latest videos, renowned YouTuber Thomas Heaton discusses the gear he utilizes for B-roll while producing videos for his large following. Heaton produces great cinematic work, but I was more taken by a profound statement during the video: the content and story you tell is far more important than the overall video quality you produce. 

 

Frame Rates Explained: When and Why You Should Shoot in Different Ones

For the past few years, I have been getting more and more into video work. When I first started, I had an idea of what frame rate was and I knew how to use it to get the looks I wanted but by no means was I doing anything correctly until probably late last year. In this video, Matt goes over frame rates and a few reasons why you should shoot in different ones.

 

How the UFC Films Its Pay-Per-View Events and Promos

I recently had the opportunity to have dinner with Alex Merriman, the Director of Photography with the UFC. I got to geek out with him about mixed martial arts, and the technical side of filming and promoting the fastest growing sport in the world.  

Casey Neistat Is Back, But With a Different Daily Vlog

What makes it different this time is that it looks like he will be collaborating with other creators in a massive three-story building he took a lease out on in New York. He's not sure what the business model is going to be, but he's excited to launch the first episode on April 6.  

Rotolight AEOS in the Field: A Photographer’s Ultimate Portable LED?

Portable LEDs are now more powerful than ever with some manufacturers claiming they can replace strobes for most outdoor flash work. We took the Rotolight AEOS into the field on a sports fashion shoot to see if these claims are valid. Off the back of the success from the NEO 2, Rotolight introduced the AEOS to their line-up of premium LED lights.

Syrp Preorder for Genie II Now Available

Syrp's original Genie was an amazing success, built from an overwhelmingly popular Kickstarter campaign and exceeding its goal multiple times over in just five days. Today, building on that success and implementing some incredible new features, filmmakers can be delighted that the Genie II is in production and preorders are open now. 

Steven Spielberg on Netflix, VR, and Escapism

Steven Spielberg is a legend. He’s directed of the most iconic blockbusters of the past few decades. In this video he talks about the threat of Netflix and how Hollywood is weathering the storm, how escapism is nothing new, and how he’s excited about VR.  

Three Tips for Achieving Smooth Handheld Cinematic Shots

Videography can be a tricky area to traverse with a constant push and pull between expensive equipment and cheap alternatives. This video gives you three tips on how you can create smooth and cinematic shots, but without using a gimbal or slider. 

Using the Fujifilm X-H1 to Film a Scene From 'Collateral'

Fujifilm's brand new X-H1 mirrorless camera is the company's first serious attempt at making a body that is capable as both a stills and video camera. It has been causing quite a stir in the photography community recently. Just who is it for? What is it capable of? Would it be a good addition to your kit? This video will show you what it can accomplish. 

It Was Practical Effects, Not CGI, Behind Apple's 'Welcome Home' Ad

Earlier this month, Apple released a new Spike Jonze-directed ad titled “Welcome Home” that featured FKA Twigs dancing through shapeshifting apartment. Today, AdWeek shared a revealing behind-the-scenes video where we learn that almost all of it was practical effects. It’s almost unbelievable. 

Is The $27 Takstar Mic Good as The Rode Pro?

Many photographers create video content to supplement their photography and they know by now that bad audio is a great way to destroy beautiful footage. They also know that's easy to break these delicate devices as we pack more and more gear into our bags. It was the constant breaking that led me to this shotgun mic which will not break your bank.

 

Peak Lens Flare: Have We Reached It?

It's the vintage lenses that first introduced the flare. Light intensifies in one section of the image and causing shapes and light diffraction that, back in the old days, were un-usable and discarded. Today it's something many filmmakers strive to add to the look they're going for. 

Ideas, Concepts, and Execution: No Idea Is a Bad Idea

Yesterday, I was watching TV, when I saw this Progressive ad play for the first time. I really like their concept with the whole "don't be your parents" commercials, and because of that, I began thinking about coming up with the ideas for work like this. 

The Ultimate Carry-On Baggage Videography Kit

The last five years has seen huge advances in the consumer videography market, and it’s all getting smaller. It's so much so that one can now carry a versatile, fully equipped, professional videography setup inside baggage small enough to carry onto a flight. Here’s how. 

SYRP Announces Pre-Orders for Magic Carpet Pro

SYRP announced the pre-order for the much anticipated Magic Carpet Pro. While building on the success of the original Magic Carpet, this pro-level slider boasts some impressive new features. 

Behind the Scenes of OK Go's Red Star Macalline Commercial

OK Go have always been famous for their crafted and extremely complex music videos. This time, they made a commercial for a big Chinese furniture store all shot as a single steadicam take and full of optical illusions and practical effects. 

2018 New York City Drone Film Festival Winners

This was my second year in a row going to the New York City Drone Film Festival and I have to say that I have yet to be disappointed. Year after year, they manage to find some of the best videos from a variety of different categories to share with the world. Without further ado, here are the winners from the NYCDFF:

 

Does Success on YouTube Mean a Life of Poverty?

Ten years ago if you posted a video of kittens playing, you may have gained a significant number of views. YouTube was still relatively new at that point and the perception towards it was very different. The perception has gradually changed and this is due in part to the kind of content now on YouTube and the success it has developed for many content creators.

Meet the Daring One-Shot Cinematographer

Most people would search for a new day job after nearly dying in a California wildfire, or after crawling to safety under a barrage of bullets during a Cleveland gang fight while on set. But Steven Holleran isn't most people.  

Five Hacks for Video With a Smartphone

The video quality a smartphone is able to produce these days is so good that you can use it for a lot more than just vacation memories. If you want to take it to the next level, here are five tricks to make your iPhone videos stand out without spending more than a couple of bucks. 

Is This the Panasonic GH5 Fix We've All Been Waiting For?

Rumors circulated this week of a fix that significantly improves the biggest issue with Panasonic GH5 and GH5S, namely its auto-focus system when shooting video. Has YodaYeo really stumbled across a fix that GH5 owners have been longing for?