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.

Fstoppers Reviews the Zhiyun Smooth-Q3: The Best Smartphone Gimbal To Date

The capabilities of smartphones when it comes to photography and videography have improved to a degree where they are legitimately useful tools for professionals and enthusiasts alike. I got my hands on Zhiyun's Smooth-Q3 to put it through its paces, and the results surprised me. 

Viltrox APS-C Sony E Mount T1.5 Cinema Lens Set First Look

If you are looking for an affordable set of APS-C Sony E mount Cine lenses, then this article may interest you. Viltrox has just released a new set of manual focus cine lenses for Sony E-mount APS-C cameras with a minimum aperture of T1.5. 

A Year With the Canon EOS R5: Is It One of the Best Cameras for Video?

The Sony a1 and Canon EOS R5 hold the distinction of being the only two consumer cameras currently on the market that offer 8K raw video. And while the video specs of the EOS R5 certainly are mightily impressive, you might wonder how it performs in the real world, particularly with issues like overheating.

Is Blackmagic's Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro Worth the Investment?

Blackmagic's pocket cinema cameras have been a revelation for videographers with a tight budget and high standards. But their latest iteration, the 6K Pro, while boasting some amazing features, falls well short of being the perfect budget cinema camera — according to this professional videographer, at least.

How To Practice Cinematography at Home

The beauty of cinematography is that a lot of the requisite skills are practicable in your own home. In this video, watch as a professional cinematographer creates a high-end shot in his own house, walking you through every step. 

10 Ways You Can Make $100,000 per Year With Your Camera

This industry is infamous for having a low average wage, particularly if you're a self-employed photographer or videographer. However, there are plenty of people earning a good wage, and here are 10 ways you can too, with examples of videographers who are already doing it. 

My Secret Weapon for Creative Sliding Shots

If you are looking for a compact and travel-friendly motorized camera slider to add some creative and stable shots to your videos, then you need to check out the Zeapon Micro 2 Plus motorized camera slider. 

How To Fake Rain in Filmmaking

Rain is one of the most desirable and effective weather conditions for portraying mood and a more somber aesthetic, but waiting for it to occur naturally is rarely viable. In this video, watch as a small production team creates a melancholic scene by faking rainfall and controlling the light. 

How To Plan a YouTube Video From Start To Finish

If you want to create a YouTube video for your photography, and you don't just want a talking-head on the screen for five to ten minutes, then you need to plan it out before you even turn on a camera. These YouTube creators with over 200K subscribers detail how they go about planning each of their videos.

How To Make Your Videos Pop in the Edit

Videography has become more demanding than ever before in terms of expected quality. While much of this difficulty is found behind the camera, on location, your edit makes up a large part of it too. In this video, find out how one videographer makes his videos pop in the post-production phase. 

The Panasonic Lumix G85: The Best Budget Video Camera?

I’ve been a longtime Panasonic Lumix shooter, and while even though it may seem like Micro Four Thirds may be a standard that’s in its twilight, there are still a lot of good deals to be had for filmmakers on a budget: Witness the Panasonic Lumix G85. 

How To Shoot a B-Roll Sequence From Start To Finish

There are a lot of keys that unlock great-looking video productions, and one, in particular, is your b-roll. Not only can it improve your story-telling and flow, but it can keep the viewer engaged and watching — something more important than ever in today's world of distractions. Here is how you can shoot a great b-roll sequence from start to finish. 

Is This the Only Filter System You'll Ever Need?

Accessories for cameras have improved in both quality and function over the last decade or so, but perhaps not as quickly as other areas of equipment. This new filter system, however, aims to overcome a lot of the irritants around stacking filters. 

4 Great Tips for Capturing More Cinematic Footage

Capturing great video is difficult for a number of reasons. There is a lot of work that goes into creating such work and to achieve the desirable, cinematic feel, you are required to hit a number of markers. Here are four tips to help you with just that. 

Simple Mods To Make Vintage Lenses Easier To Use for Cinematography

There are a wealth of great vintage lenses that are as cost-effective as they are full of character, but they can be tricky to use for cinematography. These little mods can be huge quality of life upgrades and make shooting with vintage lenses easier and more enjoyable. 

No Drones Allowed? No Problem. These Ideas Will Help You Fake It

There are so many places I’ve wanted to fly a drone, but it’s just not possible what with all those pesky FAA regulations, permit requirements, insurance, and all. But filmmaker Karen X proves that you don’t always need a drone to get a drone-like shot. You just need some creativity. 

The New Premiere Pro Beta: Here are the Details

The method of importing has been updated and is much easier to do now. You don’t need to create a project followed by the import of media once the app has launched. It all basically starts with the importing of media now, and the option to create a sequence with the media you’ve selected.  This eliminates several steps we've just grown accustomed to.

Five Storytelling Tools for High-Impact Videography

One of the earliest sayings I adopted was to “never work with children.” In this video, Ron Taylor of Shred Yard absolutely demolishes that advice to create a high-energy, professional-quality mountain biking video in collaboration with his son. 

How to Set Up a 10-Bit External Color Grading Monitor With an iMac or MacBook

If you are looking for a way to output a 10 \-bit video signal from an iMac or a MacBook Pro, then you are in luck. In this article, you will discover everything you need to know to bypass Apple’s color management system and send a clean video signal using the Blackmagic Decklink Mini Monitor 4K. 

How Big of an Issue Is the Canon EOS R5's Overheating in the Real World?

When the Canon EOS R5 was first announced, one of its marquee features was its 8K raw video, but videographers quickly ran into issues with the camera overheating when recording in both 8K and 4K, leading some to question just how useful the camera actually is for video work. How much is this truly an issue in real-world usage, though?

How to Get Perfect Exposure and Accurate Color in Videos

If you have ever struggled to get perfect exposure with accurate colors in your videos, then you are not alone. But with the help of the X-Rite ColorChecker Video and DaVinci Resolve 17, you will be able to create perfect-looking videos in a fraction of the time. 

How To Get the Look of the Netflix Show DARK Using DaVinci Resolve 16

The amount of high-end television and film on display in recent years is unparalleled. One show that got a lot of attention is the drama mystery, DARK after it was added to Netflix. Its acting and plot are both brilliant, but the cinematography is utterly superb. 

Sony a7S III Versus Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro

In this article, you will discover the key differences between two very popular cameras with video shooters, the Sony a7S III and the Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro. Check out the article to decide which one of these video workhorses is the right one for you. 

5 Affordable Tools That Will Make Your Filmmaking Lives Easier

If you're starting out in photography or videography, it feels as if there are unlimited items you need, which is not the case. However, there are some less expensive tools that can aid in your production and make a bigger difference than their cost implies. 

Drone Crashes Into Icelandic Volcano Capturing Its Own Incredible Demise

There are few videos I have clicked on faster than a drone filming itself crashing into a volcano in Iceland. This video shows a DJI first-person view drone as it records the rivers of lava flowing out of Fagradalsfjall before plummeting into a fiery death, all in glorious 4K. 

Domestic Cacaphony: A Frank Lee Film

Frank Lee blends mundane domestic visuals against the backdrop of equally repetitive sounds to create not mere actuality, but reality. 

Testing Vidhance's Video Stabilization

I had the opportunity to check out what a team behind stabilization technology can do with regards to shooting video on mobile devices.  

Bigger Is Better: We Review PNY’s PRO Elite MicroSD Cards

While the choice of a memory card might seem simple if you normally just grab whatever’s on sale, there are a number of reasons to reconsider that method. The latest generation of cards offer faster speeds and larger capacities at better price points. Whether you’re looking to equip your newest action cam or drone, PNY’s Pro Elite MicroSD card is a great choice. 

Secrets To Getting the Orange and Teal Look in Your Videos.

It’s no secret that the orange and teal look is popular in movies and photos but getting that look without using LUTs, can seem like a mystery. Unless of course, you know exactly what steps to take in post-production. In this article, you’ll discover the secrets to getting the orange and teal look.

Streamline Your Video Recording Setup With an 'All-in-One Studio Stand'

When the pandemic started, as a professor I had a plan to record all of my lectures in a professional-style studio setup with proper mics, lighting, background, etc. While it was mostly kids and life that got in the way of doing it that way, a huge factor was also the complexity of setting up all the necessary equipment to make it happen. 

A Hands-on Look at the SIRUI 75mm f/1.8 Anamorphic Lens

There is a cult following of anamorphic lenses, but there is also a lot of people who enjoy the aesthetic without knowing exactly what causes those wild flares and oval bokeh. Here's a look at the newest addition from SIRUI. 

Artlist Walks Us Through Their Advert

When you see an advert on YouTube, it either has to be gripping and interesting for you to continue watching, or it's clicked through. Artlist has a strong campaign, and they made a video explaining the process of shooting one of these ads.  

Fstoppers Reviews Haida’s NanoPro Mist Black Filter: Softer Can Be Better

While many reviews look at how sharp a lens can be, for this review, we’ll be looking at a filter that does the opposite. Haida's NanoPro Mist filter is actually designed to add a soft glow, while still keeping fine details. Now, before you think about the JCPenney portrait studio shots of the past decades, this filter is subtler.

How To Make Money on YouTube in 2021

Making money doing what you love is the dream of most people. For photographers and videographers, there are multiple paths to make that happen, and one of them is developing a revenue stream on YouTube. 

She Dies Tomorrow: An Interview With Cinematographer Jay Keitel

She Dies Tomorrow has been celebrated for its unsettling sensibilities and unorthodox filmmaking techniques. Independent Spirit Award-nominated cinematographer Jay Keitel's work on the film is one of the main factors in the film's moody success. I recently had the chance to ask Keitel a series of questions about his approach to filmmaking on She Dies Tomorrow.  

Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro: A Review You Need to See!

If you are looking for your first cinema camera or thinking of upgrading your current rig there are tons of options out there but if you are looking for the best bang for your buck. Then you will want to make sure you read this Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 6K Pro review.