Are you looking to learn what clients want in today’s digital publishing market? Kendall Jenner’s Estee Lauder ad campaign is a great example of the perfect balance between still imagery and video.
The reason why I am writing about this for Shoot The Centerfold is because of the re-occurring email questions from photographers wondering if they should learn video in addition to still photography.
Honestly, I cannot think any reason why you should not and I think that we passed the video checked flag already about 8 years ago. So, if you are still wondering if you should learn video, you have some catching up to do. It does not matter if you photograph glamour or fashion, the same applies to both styles. And to answer your email questions “If you should learn video,” absolutely yes. Take a bite of the multi-million dollar multimedia industry, start bringing home checks and stop saying that one day you’ll start learning videography. If you’re not yet convinced, just take a look on the internet today and you’ll see how many pictorials that matter have video as well.
Where do I start?
You most likely already own a DSLR camera that shoots prestige HD video quality in addition to the stills. Everything you do with still camera, applies exactly the same way to the video as well. While you photograph your model in that perfect pose, set your camera for the video mode and record few minutes of video per each scene in addition to the still photography.
Getting started shooting video with your DSLR camera is easy. Like still photography, DSLR cameras offer a range of setting options from automated through full manual. Once you’ve been shooting video with your DSLR and feel confident enough to experiment with various settings, you’ll find your creative, inner cinematographer breaking free.
FRAMES PER SECOND / FPS
Frame rate is the number of frames being recorded each second. Most videos in the USA are shot at either 24 FPS or 30 FPS. At 24 FPS, you are recording a more cinematic or filmic look. At 30 FPS, its more of a video look that you’re used to seeing when watching TV shows.
Some DSLR cameras, like the Nikon D4S, D810, D5300 or D3300 allow for 60 FPS (1080/60p)—this means that 60 frames are recorded in one second. This comes in handy when you need to slow down your footage for 24 FPS playback (60 FPS played back at 24 FPS is 2.5x times slower). The 60 FPS option can also be used for ultra smooth playback, which is especially helpful when shooting fast paced scenes.
RESOLUTION
The resolution of “Full HD” is 1920×1080. With some cameras you can choose to record Full HD at 60 FPS, 30 FPS or 24 FPS. The resolution of regular HD is 1280×720 and you can choose to record HD at 60 FPS or 30 FPS. Because HD is lower resolution, you also have the choice of recording HD 1280×720 at 60 FPS which when the footage is conformed back to 30 FPS in post-production or editing software, can give you a really “heroic” looking slow-motion effect.
SHUTTER SPEED
It is suggested that you double the FPS to get your working shutter speed, so when shooting at 24 FPS, use at least 1/50 of a second shutter speed and when shooting at 30 FPS, use at least 1/60 of a second shutter speed.
You can use a slower shutter speed, which will show more blur in moving objects—and likewise you can use a higher shutter speed, which will freeze the action on screen.
If you are going for a cinematic look, shooting at 24 FPS is recommended; the shutter speed at 24 FPS is usually 1/50th in order to allow enough blur in each frame to match the way humans perceive motion—in video, the natural blur created by the 1/50th of a second for 24 FPS playback is preferable because it yields what some may call a more “natural” and cinematic look. However, just like with still photography, it is always good to experiment with different shutter speeds for different looks—many filmmakers use higher shutter speeds to add intensity to a scene with great success, so be sure to play around with the shutter speed until you get the results you like, and know that you can always default to 1/50th of a second when shooting at 24 FPS for a classic cinematic look and feel.
APERTURE
Use a wide aperture when you want to separate the subject from the background, or show only a small portion of the action in focus and a smaller aperture when you want both the foreground and background in focus. The shallow depth of field achievable with DSLR cameras is one of the main reasons why some filmmakers are shifting to the DSLR platform. Just as with still photography, shallow depth of field can add intimacy to a scene, while isolating the subject and guiding the viewer to concentrate on the desired subject—it is a powerful way to enhance the look of your video.
When shooting video with shallow depth of field (wide aperture), be aware that it will be more challenging to keep the subject covered in the range of focus—this is because the wider the aperture the smaller the depth of field, so if your subject will be moving a lot it may be best to close the aperture down a stop or two in order to have enough depth of field in case the subject is moving in the scene.
ISO
You can increase the ISO, however remember that the higher the ISO, the more noise may be visible in your video footage. Remember to check your DSLR camera’s User’s Manual for instructions on its particular menu navigation and dial layout. In some of the new DSLR cameras, such as the Nikon D4S and D810, a new feature called ISO-Auto for manual exposure while recording video allows you to manually select your shutter speed and aperture while the camera automatically adjusts ISO for correct exposure.
This feature will change the ISO incrementally and smoothly in order to capture a consistent exposure even through varying lighting conditions and it can be limited to prevent the ISO from going too high.
Another topic that comes in daily from photographers is about getting published. Prepare and package your content for publishing by offering a full media experience in addition to the stills. Most editors know exactly what they are looking for until something comes along that they cannot refuse. Nothing is set in stone and visionaries, not the mere camera owners, are the ones who will always survive.
Model Kendall Jenner was announced as the new face of Estee Lauder earlier this year. In the advertisement Kendall suited up in a red pantsuit (sans a top) in the ‘Modern Muse Le Rouge’ fragrance campaign. The beauty giant also shared a behind the scenes video of the model spraying the mist and applying lipstick.
“Everybody wants to see how it all went down and what’s happening behind the curtain. It’s more a personal and luring experience verses a commercially produced video.”So, which one of the contents below are most important? Is it the video or the stills? Well, this depends on who you ask and who are the demographics. If we were to ask the client, they could not point their finger to a specific answer because both media formats are equally important. If you look carefully at the “Behind the Scenes” video below, you will quickly realize that it’s not a behind the scenes video after all, but rather a very professionally produced feature video that gets distributed to websites and social media. There’s the answer of the importance of offering video to your clients.
So why is it called “behind the scenes” video, if its not bts? Well, because everybody wants to see how it all went down and what’s happening behind the curtain. It’s more a personal and luring experience verses a commercially produced video.
This is just one great example of a well-balanced outcome that photographers should seriously think about it.
Now, before we get too excited, not all photography genes always require video. But anything and everything that’s related to rich media visuals from glamour, fashion and commercial photography will benefit from accompanying video. Be ready to either step forward or take a step backwards and enjoy the view from the backseat.
ShootTheCenterfold.com
Kendall Jenner for Estee Lauder ‘Modern Muse Le Rouge’ Fragrance Ad
Modern Muse Le Rouge Featuring Kendall Jenner | Estée Lauder
Have you guys checked on that model & photographer who were doing a photo shoot at a salvage yard in Ft. Lauderdale and they were both badly burned due to the presence of gasoline being in a car that probably had just arrived at the place and had yet to be inspected and purged of highly flammable liquids. As from what the Miami Herald reported. It doesn’t sound like these folks are going to be able to go home anytime soon.
Hence, you can bet the models career might be over and how much they are going to sue the photographer for and the salvage yard.
Have you guys checked on that model & photographer who were doing a photo shoot at a salvage yard in Ft. Lauderdale and they were both badly burned due to the presence of gasoline being in a car that probably had just arrived at the place and had yet to be inspected and purged of highly flammable liquids. As from what the Miami Herald reported. It doesn’t sound like these folks are going to be able to go home anytime soon.
Hence, you can bet the models career might be over and how much they are going to sue the photographer for and the salvage yard.