Recent Videography Articles

So You Want to Make a Movie? How Are You Going to Pay For That?

In an industry dominated by budgets in the millions, or even hundreds of millions, how can an independent filmmaker get their vision to market? YouTube, VIMEO, luck? The festival circuit? Making a movie is expensive, so how does a rising artist find enough financial support to break into the business of film?

Doing the Vertical Video Thing

Our usual way of looking at scenes and people and all the things in the world is at 120-200° depending upon the different things that we see. We were use to seeing our horizontally. That is until we got into smartphones and further into Instagram stories.

The DJI Osmo Mobile Just Got... Foldable

There are many smartphone gimbals on the market but one of the most well known comes from the company DJI. The Osmo Mobile 3 is the most convenient version yet considering it is able to fold up for transport, and can be operated with just one hand.

Refreshingly Simple Video Editing With ACDSee Video Studio 4

The most common complaint with nearly all video editing software available on the market is the learning curve. Most programs lack a certain degree of intuitiveness, so any attempt to tinker leads to exasperation. That was certainly my number one frustration with past attempts to teach myself to use some of the heftier video editing suites. Enter ACDSee Video Studio 4, the answer to exacting and irritating video editing sessions.

Are the Quasar Science Q-LED Lights the Best Video Lights for Your Money?

Whether you are a photographer or videographer, more and more content creators are adding constant lights as their go-to lighting setups. Quasar Science recently released their 30-watt T8 bulbs with raving reviews, and today, I explore six useful lighting setups you can build with four lights under $80 each.

10 Steps to Better More Cinematic Interviews

Adding some video production offerings to your photography workload has become pretty common for a lot of photographers. Even though a lot of the technology is transferable, not all the skills are, and shooting interviews, both in the setup and getting better dialogue, can be difficult to learn.

How to Direct Like Quentin Tarantino

As still photography cameras and motion cameras continue to merge with technology, so have, to an extent, the expectations of our profession. No better way to prepare yourself for the future than to learn from the masters.

Motion Array Introduces Final Cut Pro X Templates

The demands for video production have increased exponentially as online content has boomed in recent years. The team at Motion Array understands that this puts added pressure on overworked video editors. That’s why we’re always trying to come up with tools and templates to help post-production professionals stay ahead of the curve.

Why ND Filters Are so Crucial for Videographers

For photographers, ND filters are generally useful, but rarely a necessity. However, for video shooters, ND filters are absolutely crucial pieces of equipment, especially if you want to shoot at wide apertures in daylight. This great video shows you just why ND filters are so crucial and what they allow you to do.

The Best Way to Stabilize Your GoPro Hero's Footage

The GoPro Hero 7’s most talked about feature, HyperSmooth, can give gimbal quality stabilization without the need for any external hardware. But if you already own a Hero 5 Black, Hero 5 Session, or Hero 6, a software plugin called ReelSteady GO can bring that feature to your camera.

Lighting Tutorial: Night Interior and Thunderstorm

The beauty of well-lit interior situations is when you can't guess how it was set up or it looks natural, as if the practicals in the room served as light sources. In this lighting tutorial, you will learn how to create a convincing scene of a cozy night interior and a fierce thunderstorm on the outside.

Looking for a Better Video Tripod? You May Want to Watch This

If you are into videography and you feel the tripod is not a tool to just hold your camera in place, you are not alone. Getting a tripod that is sturdy enough, smooth enough, and easy to work with enough is a worthwhile investment.

Eight Seamless Video Transitions You Probably Don't Know

In this article you will discover my top five favorite smooth and seamless video transitions, you will need to master. In order to take your videos from dull and boring, to the edge of your seat exciting.

10 Things You Are Probably Forgetting From Your Videography Quotes

Pricing your work as a small-scale filmmaker or videographer is not that straight-forward, because it has many nuances that are specific to the type of work, style of work, and type of client. Here are my 10 suggestions for items you may probably miss from your estimate.

Watch How Movies Create Mood by Avoiding Flat Lighting

Sometimes you look at a photo or scene in a T.V show and think "that looks rubbish." For me, 9 out of 10 of those cases are the result of flat lighting. Let Vanity Fair's Reverse Film School series show you exactly how much of a difference it makes.

Using Shutter Angle for Video and Why It’s Better Than Shutter Speed

Understanding what a shutter speed is has been with us since the beginning of learning photography. For shooting video, shutter speed gets a little more complicated as it now has a direct relationship with the frame rate to calculate for. Shutter angle is what will make everything simple again.

Your Guide to Sony Autofocus Settings for Video

Sony cameras have become a big hit among the indie filmmaking crowd due to their versatility, cost of entry, and video quality. If you’re new to these cameras or just need a refresher, here’s what you need to know about setting up autofocus for video on Sony cameras.

Between the Lines: A Beautiful Short Film

Once in awhile, a story teller is able to capture something of what it means to be a photographer. Between the Lines is a short film showcasing beautiful cinematography and scenery. It is artfully and masterfully crafted and is possibly the most inspirational 13 minutes you will watch this year.

Check Out This Little-Known Sony Mirrorless Hack

If you're a full-time videographer or even a photographer shooting video on the side, you're aware of the many creative uses for shutter speed. But if you're also a Sony user, you might not be aware of a lesser-utilized creative "hack" your camera offers.

The Definitive Guide to Video Frame Rates

Whether you’re shooting on a cellphone or a RED cinema camera, picking the right frame rate is essential for a good finished video. Here’s a guide to choosing the right frame rate for any purpose.

DJI Osmo Action Versus GoPro HERO7 Black: Which Should You Buy?

GoPro’s latest action cam caused a little bit of a stir when it was released last year, bringing an insane level of digital stabilization to 4K footage. DJI then shook things up by launching its mooted GoPro killer, the DJI Osmo Action. How do they compare, and which one should you buy?

10 Tips for Writing Better Film Scripts

It's not uncommon to see Hollywood directors writing the script for their own films. It's very common for us as filmmakers to write scripts for some of the films we make. Those helpful writing tips can make a great difference in the way you write scripts from now on.

Philip Bloom Delves Deep in This Action Camera Comparison

There is no shortage of gear reviews all over the internet that are full of meaningless info, opinions with zero examples, or evidence to back them up. However this video comparison of the DJI Osmos Action/Pocket, GoPro Here 7 Black and just about every other relevant action camera is by far the most comprehensive and info-packed review anyone could ever want.

Three Ways to Make Skin Look Smoother in Videos

The nice thing about still photography is that you can easily retouch a photo and fix any skin blemishes before you present it to the world. But it's not as easy with video, and it's important to take care to render your subject's skin in a flattering fashion before you even begin recording. This helpful video will show you three ways to improve the smoothness of your subjects' skin on camera.

How Does DJI's Osmo Action Cam Stack up Against the Competition?

Drone-maker DJI made a bold decision to descend from the heavens and put its cameras into the hands of action sports junkies with the recent release of the Osmo Action camera. But while we know DJI has dominated the skies, how does it stack up against the competition in the action camera market? Kai Wong puts it to the test.