If you do any sort of documentary, educational or promotional video work, chances are you will need to use b-roll: video footage that plays usually during an audio voice over, e.g. an employee being interviewed for a corporate promotional film is talking about how fun it is to work there, then the video cuts to […]
Joe Buissink – An Intimate Portrait Video
Joe Buissink has had quite a life. Born in Indonesia. Abandoned by his biological mother (literally left on a doorstep). Verbally and physically abused as a child by his step mom. Moved to Holland at 7, then later to L.A. after his family had enough of the racial persecution they got in Holland (Joe didn’t […]
Whose Brand Does Your Work Project? Yours or Your Clients?
I recently put the finishing touches on the promotional film for Shawn Reeder Photography. Shawn is an amazing photographer specializing in the Yosemite and Sierra mountain region. Shawn is one of those people who exudes this amazing sense of peace and generosity. He is Zen personified. It’s an undeniable and 100% sincere aspect of his […]
The Power of Story to Sell Your Services
I’ve recently had the pleasure to create a profile video for a good friend who just happens to be a world-class concert pianist at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Her name is Heidi Hau (her married name is Tyan, but she uses her maiden name Hau for her business). I originally met Heidi and […]
Do You Have the Fortitude to Be the Best? Menuez on Manhattan – Act 2
“We all want to be the best. And if you want to be the best, it takes everything you have.” ~ Doug Menuez Last month I posted “Act 1” of my short film documentary series about commercial photographer Doug Menuez. In this episode Doug shares his thoughts and wisdom about making it in this business. […]
How to Legally Use Music in Your Films and Videos
This free ebook provides an in-depth look at what is required to legally use music in your films and videos.
Menuez on Manhattan – Adventures in Filming with an 85mm Lens
In the summer of 2009, I traveled to the Big Apple to create a short film about renown editorial, commercial and stock photographer Doug Menuez. I first “met” Doug as a guest on my podcast F-Stop Beyond. Till this day it remains as one of my favorite interviews. Once you watch this video, you’ll understand […]
Perhaps My Most Important Film to Date
Last fall I had the incredible pleasure and honor to meet Ashley—a senior in high school diagnosed with stage 4 Ewing’s Sarcoma cancer at the end of her junior year. I came to meet Ashley via a film project I was shooting for Pictage’s PartnerCon 2010. Over the past couple of months, we’ve been airing […]
Lessons Learned When A Newbie
There’s one thing we all have in common no matter how good we are at our respective jobs, how long we’ve been in business, or how successful we are. We all, at some point, were a newbie. We had to learn the ropes, make mistakes, and grow. Sometimes after we’ve been in business for a […]
A Promo Video is about You, Not Your Gear
Many photographers are under the impression that a promo video has to show them with a camera. Although that will be the case a majority of the time, it isn’t always the case. The most important job of a promo video is to get potential clients to know, trust, and want to learn more about […]