Sometimes you can’t make it to a studio to shoot your video, that’s okay, we’ll bring the studio to you. Recently we shot a video for Sacramento Area Commerce & Trade Organization (SACTO) and found space in an adjoining office to setup a black backdrop, some lights and a camera and then proceeded to shoot nine interviews. And it doesn’t have to be with a black backdrop, we can also use your office, conference room or even a hotel lobby to shoot in. We’ve even been known to turn a hallway into an office (hey, the audience only sees what the camera sees, so if you can dress it up to look like something else, it doesn’t matter). Whether you need us to bring the backdrop or want to use your office setting, Ligon Media has the lights and camera, we just need you to provide the action. Here’s just some of the gear we may bring to turn your location into a studio. Camera and Tripod Light Kit Microphones (lapel and shotgun) Autopoles / Crossbar Background Sand Bags Clamps / Tape Reflectors...
Amateur videographers (and some professionals too) make the mistake of only shooting once when they have only one camera for a video shoot. I especially notice this in cooking demonstration videos. Here’s a secret, shoot more than once. Shoot the entire scene in long or medium shot (where you see the chef, the cooking / preparation surface) and he / she speaks and describes the dish and preparation process. Then shoot a close-up of some of the key points (you don’t need to prepare a second dish here, because all we are seeing is the chef). The chef just needs to mimic what he or she was doing (i.e. chopping). And then make sure you have several extra ingredients and go in and shoot close ups of the chef chopping the tomato, stirring the pot, the final dish, etc. By doing this simple thing, you can produce a video that looks like there are at least 3 cameras. Of course, this takes careful planning beforehand. Have extra ingredients Keep the cutting board (or area where you shoot close ups) clean while doing the wide shot for consistency. (if there’s scraps of onion on the wide shot in the corner, and then when you do the close ups the onions are gone, it will look funny). Have key talking points so you can repeat them on the close ups Here’s an example of going from wide to close, using only one...
This might be one of those personal preference things, but I like to use a flash even when I’m taking photographs outside in broad daylight. The reason is twofold: First, it fills in unflattering / harsh shadows caused by the sun; and second, it really brings out the eyes. Last March I spoke with students at DDSO (Developmental Disabilities Service Organization) and I took two real quick photographs to show them the difference in the eyes. As you can see from this example (click for larger photo), the flash nicely brings out the eyes. It fills in the shadows caused by the brow and nose, while also adding a beautiful catch light that I really think helps to make a picture pop. To see some none quick snapshot photographs of Eliza (the eyes above), see my headshot gallery and model...
A few years back, we assembled a bunch of great Sacramento area actors and produced a web commercial for Ligon Media. For those of you who have watched our reel, it is the opening sequence. I thought I’d put a standalone version of the spot here, for you to enjoy (:15). We call the spot “Thump” and it may be the most painful experience these actors have ever had to experience on the...
It’s always nice to get a call from a corporate client wanting a new (or first) headshot. While we can shoot indoors on a variety of backdrops, such as the one below of Donna for eTECH Resources. We really like to get outside and use the natural environment as a backdrop, whether it’s trees, a fence, a brickwall, an office complex or an overgrown field. That’s exactly what we were able to do on our 3 most recent photo shoots in Sacramento. We shot the Sacramento Urban Land Institute’s Mary Sater outside a brick building (pictured), in an empty field and even in an alleyway. Michael Jonsson of Sacramento Divorce Solutions we found a nice shady spot in his office complex to shoot. And eTECH Resources wanted a picture of all their employees, so we did some various shots including this fun one underneath some trees outside their office. To see more of our headshots, please check out the gallery...
It’s always fun to scout locations for possible photography and commercial shoots. On May 13, 2013, I had the chance to explore Winters, California with Christa Petrillo, owner of Christa Petrillo Total Horsemanship Training, as she showed me some beautiful ranches in the area. We also hiked up and down the Putah Creek where we found a rattlesnake relaxing under some rocks (when I say we, I mean Christa, as I just walked right by it … if it had been a snake it would’ve … oh, wait a minute). I learned a valuable lesson: when in snake country, always be on the lookout for the critters, and more importantly, bring someone along who’ll keep you from sitting on top of one — because those rocks looked mighty comfortable. Rattler in...
