The Impact of Visual Content on Brand Perception

First impressions are important for a business, and in today’s digital world, they are influenced by visuals like never before. Studies show that visual information is remembered significantly better than text. Professional photography and videography create a powerful impression to your work by:

• Establishing credibility and trust with potential customers
• Conveying your brand’s commitment to high quality standards and attention to detail
• Creating emotional connections through powerful visual storytelling
• Setting your brand apart from competitors who use stock photos

Professional Visual Content Drives Engagement 

The statistics speak for themselves:

• Posts with high-quality images receive 94% more views than those without
• Video content generates 1200% more shares than text and images combined
• 88% of consumers say product videos help them make purchasing decisions
• Website visitors spend 88% more time on pages with quality videos

The Power of Professional Videography

1. Enhanced Customer Experience

Videos allow potential clients to:

• Observe products in action
• Get a clear understanding of complex services
• Connect with your brand personality and voice
• Build trust through testimonials and demonstrations

2. Improved SEO Performance

Professional video content can notably boost your search engine rankings by:

• Increasing time spent on your website
• Reducing bounce rates
• Generating more backlinks
• Improving social sharing metrics

3. Versatile Marketing Asset

Professional videos can be reused for:

• Social media campaigns
• Email marketing
• Trade shows and events
• Training materials
• Product demonstrations

Key Advantages of Creating Professional Photography for Your Brand

1. Consistency in Brand Identity

Professional photographers know how to help your brand stay consistent in message and tone across platforms so that people remember you. 

2. Versatile Image Library

A professional photo session will supply you with a host of high quality images intended for use in:

• Website and landing pages
• Social media posts
• Digital marketing materials
• Print advertisements
• Product catalogs

3. Unique Visual Storytelling

Unlike stock photos, professional photography tells a story unique to your brand, showcasing:

• Your actual products and services
• Your team and workplace culture
• Behind-the-scenes moments
• Real customer interactions

Investment in Quality Pays Off

While professional photography and videography require an initial investment, the returns are substantial and bring growth to your business by:

• Higher conversion rates
• Increased customer trust
• Better brand recognition
• Improved social media engagement
• Extended content lifecycle

Making the Right Choice for Your Brand

When choosing a professional visual content company to partner with, consider:

1. Their portfolio and experience in your field
2. Technical expertise and equipment quality
3. Understanding of current visual trends
4. Ability to align with your brand vision
5. Post-production capabilities and turnaround time

Conclusion

It’s an age where visual content dominates, making professional photography and videography the key to your future success. Strong visuals will elevate your business and take you to the top of the game by making you visually unique, standing out from the competition and fostering trust with your customers to create lasting relationships that you can monetize.

FAQs Regarding Professional Photography and Videography

How should I estimate the cost for hiring photography and videography services? 

Investment in quality content can vary based on your requirements. Generally falling between $1000 to $5000 for a complete brand photography package and $2500 to $10000 for video production services. Although this initial cost may appear substantial at glance, the return on investment (ROI) in terms of conversion rates and brand image enhancement validates it as a valuable expenditure. 

How frequently should I refresh the elements of my brand? 

It’s a good idea to update your visual materials every 12 to 18 months to ensure your brand stays fresh and interesting! For social media and continuous marketing efforts, more frequent updates may be helpful depending on the industry and your marketing plans. 

What’s the difference between professional and amateur photography/videography?

Professional visual content producers provide:

• High quality camera and sound equipment and lighting
• Technical expertise and experience
• Understanding of brand storytelling
• Post-production skills
• Knowledge of marketing and advertising requirements
• Consistency in quality and style

How much time is usually required for a photo or video session to be completed? 

For a brand package a photoshoot usually lasts from 4 to 6 hours on average. For video production, work typically involves 1 to 3 days of filming, plus time for planning and editing. The schedule can change depending on the project’s size and complexity.

Do I have to invest in both photography and videography for my brand? 

Most brands find value in using both photography and video for their marketing needs as they each serve different purposes. Photography is great for showcasing products and team members for marketing materials. Videos are more effective in demonstrating processes, sharing customer testimonials and establishing connections with the audience. The ideal strategy usually involves combining both mediums to achieve good results. 

What should I prepare before a professional shoot?

To make the most of your professional shoot:

• Define clear goals and desired outcomes
• Create a shot list or storyboard
• Prepare locations 
• Plan wardrobe and production design
• Create a schedule
• Discuss usage rights and deliverables
• Share reference images or videos you like

Can I use the photos and videos across all my marketing channels?

Usage rights should be discussed with your visual content provider before the shoot. Typically, professional packages include full usage rights for marketing purposes, but it’s important to clarify specific terms, especially for commercial use or paid advertising.

Ready to upgrade your brand’s visuals? Contact Coldea Productions at contact@coldeaproductions.com or call us at 1310 975 4642 and let’s discuss how we can produce some quality content that’ll make your brand stand out from all the rest.

The post Why Professional Photography and Videography Are Essential for Your Brand  appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

A distinguished red carpet affair that was hosted at the Fine Arts Theatre on the iconic Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, this small film festival hasn’t been able to meet for the last two consecutive years.

Hosted by actress Zana Marjanovic, who was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. Now blessed to be a home resident of LA. Zana has starred in several acclaimed films such as The Land of Blood and Honey, written and directed by Angelina Jolie, Broken with Lily James and Cillian Murphy where she appeared opposite Academy Award Nominee Tim Roth, and A Rose In Winter, centered on the Women’s rights movement at the onset of National Socialism in Germany.

Featured Films

SEEfest is a pioneer for the concept of regional, cross-border programming sharing issue-driven films that capture the bigger picture about South East Europe. Each and every film promoted in this year’s festival was conceptualized, written, produced, and or directed by Eastern European talent and it was our pleasure to take part in such a platform.

Some of the feature-length films included in this event were:

• As Far As I Can Walk, 92 Minutes, Serbia, Luxembourg, 2021, Directed by Stefan Arsenijevic
• Blindfold 105 Minutes, Ukraine, 2020, Directed by Taras Dron
• Blue Moon 85 Minutes, Romania, 2021, Directed by Alina Grigore
• The Delta Of Bucharest 92 Minutes, Romania, 2020, Directed by Eva Pervolovici
• Dida 78 Minutes, Serbia, Switzerland, 2021, Directed by Nikola Ilić
• Expecting A Grain Of Sand 67 Minutes, Turkey, 2021, Directed by Asli Akdag
• Freestyle To Montenegro 72 Minutes, Albania, 2021, Directed by Ardit Sadiku
• The Image Machine Of Alfredo C. 76 Minutes, Italy, Albania, 2021, Directed by
• Klondike 100 Minutes, Ukraine, Turkey, 2022 Di, Directed by Maryna Er Gorbach
• Looking For Horses 87 Minutes, Bosnia & Herzegovina, 2021, Directed by Stefan Pavlović
• Murina 92 Minutes, Croatia, Brazil, United States, Slovenia, 2021, Directed by Antoneta Alamat Kusijanovic
• Perpetuity 77 Minutes, Hungary, 2021, Directed by György Pálfi
• Reconciliation 82 Minutes, Slovenia, Albania, 2021, Directed by Marija Zidar
• Solitary Romania, United States, 2022, Directed by Tudor Munteanu
• Sughra’s Sons 85 Minutes, Azerbaijan, France, 2021, Directed by Ilgar Najaf
• Women Minor Speculations 60 Minutes, Croatia, 2021, Directed by Nicole Hewitt

Honorees

Zana had the privilege to honor event sponsors and to shed light on other causes SEEfest supports, including the Gabrielino-Tongva Nation indigenous territory where our event took place in the greater Los Angeles Basin.

Consulates

Among the distinguished guests were a number of Easter European Consulates and dignitaries including the Consul General of Romania, Cosmin Dumitrescu, Ambassador Jaroslav Olša, Jr. consulate general of the Czech Republic, and Aneta Campbell, cultural attache.

Also in attendance were Dr. Michael Postl, Consulate General with Simone Bliss from the Austrian Consulate, and Boyko Hristov, Consulate General with Vera Ancheva from the Bulgarian Consulate.

Zana also honored attendees and supporters Laura Sittoni Miller from the Austrian Trade Commission and Okko-Pekka Salmimies, Consul General of Finland.

Sponsors

The Festival would not be possible without the support of organizations such as SEEfest’s co-presenter, ELMA, the Foundation for European Language and Movies in America, and yours truly, the video production company for this event, Coldea Productions.

Other event sponsors included:

• California Arts Council
• HFPA
• LA County Arts & Culture
• ERS UCLA – Center for European and Russian Studies
• Austiran Consulate General LA
• Voxx Studios
• Calypso Media
• Blue Heron Foundation
• S2 Components
• Villa Aurora, Thomas Mann House
• Coldea Productions
• Austrian-American Council North America West
• Cinecitta
• Creating Creators
• Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco

Red Carpet Video Interviews

Coldea Productions was in action on the red carpet to capture interviews with attendees, filmmakers, and honorees.

Tudor Munteanu – Actor

We caught an interview with the director of the drama about a former inmate marathon runner, Solitary, Tudor. He shared the inspiration for his film being the number of Romanians that are among the 600 thousand people across the globe that participate in ultra and extreme marathons.

Being an immigrant from Romania himself, he was eager to share the stories of thriving Romanian survivors. “We’re always one foot in one country and one foot in another. We lose touch with the past but we try and integrate here… You’re always juggling. It’s fascinating but you have to embrace it to love it.”

Ajay Mehta – Actor / Producer

When questioned as to why he was particularly interested in Eastern European filmmaking as opposed to any of their counterparts, here’s the insight he shared.

“Eastern Europe, in particular, was closed off for so many years, under the Soviets Union. Once the Soviet Union was disbanded, they were able to come out and start expressing and sharing their stories… You never know what comes up from different storytellers.”

Stefania Magidson – Author

Honoree and recipient of the Humanitarian Legacy Award for her work as founder of the Blue Heron Foundation, we stopped Stefania Magidson for a quick chat.

She shared that her foundation has been working in Eastern Europe for 20 years but with the development of recent events, they expanded the scope of their work to help refugees and send medical aid to Ukraine.

“The work for the Ukrainian crisis that we’ve all experienced has been a terrible tragedy and I believe the only silver lining during this time is the rekindling of our belief in humanity. I’m hoping more and more people jump in to help and tilt the balance of the world toward the light, toward the good.”

Supporting Filmmakers and Global Creative Talent

As a filmmaker, I was touched to be part of such an inspirational event in both a production role as well as a sponsor. The many artists, directors, cultures, organizations, and dignitaries that showed their support gave a much-needed platform for the South Eastern European point of view.

The post Coldea Productions Films, Sponsors, and Shares SEEfest: South East European Film Festival, Red Carpet Film Festival at Fine Arts Theatre appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

If you fail to run your accounting correctly, not only will you be unsure how profitable your business is, but you could also run into issues when it comes to declaring your income and paying your tax.

Here are some best accounting practices to keep in mind:

• Consider hiring a professional accountant. While you might be able to keep track of things yourself, there is no substitute for the expertise of an accountant. They will be able to accurately monitor your finances and prepare all the information you need to file your taxes. 

• Alternatively, use accounting software. If you don’t want to hire an accountant, you could always do it yourself with accounting software such as QuickBooks or FreshBooks. Be sure that you understand how to use the software, and don’t feel like you need to pick the most expensive option! Sometimes, the cheaper ones can give you all the information you need.

• Review your finances at least once per month. Staying on top of your cash flow, revenue and profits can prevent you from having any nasty surprises. Know which areas of your business are the most profitable, and which ones are costing you too much money.

• Create and stick to a budget. You can’t grow your business effectively without a budget. Working without a budget means you’ll be guessing when it comes to how much you can spend, and this can easily leave you exposed to overspending. Knowing how much money you have to work with can help you optimize the growth of your eCommerce business.

• Have a separate business bank account. It’s nearly impossible to keep track of your business finances when your cash is mixed with your personal funds. Having a business account means you can clearly track the incomings and outgoings over time.

• Be aware of tax deadlines. It’s easy to get lost in the fun (and stress!) of managing your business. However, you must be sure to file your tax returns in time, and make your subsequent payments too.

–

Written by Jack Vale in partnership with Marv Golden Pilot Supplies

The post Best Accounting Practices for Online Businesses appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

What are the government regulations for seating?

Find your local code requirements to know how many square feet need to be allocated to each customer, as well as the minimum aisle space between adjacent tables and chairs. The North American Association of Food Equipment Manufacturers (NAFEM) have supplied the following information:

• School cafeteria: 9-12 sq.ft.
• Banquet room: 10-11 sq.ft.
• Table service: 11-14 sq.ft.
• College/Business cafeteria: 12-15 sq. ft.
• Table service for hotel/restaurants: 15-18 sq. ft.
• Commercial cafeteria: 16-18 sq. ft.
• Counter service restaurant: 18-20 sq. ft.

Consider wheelchair space for those with disabilities, too. The Americans with Disabilities Act requires 36” wide aisles to leave plenty of space for wheelchair users.

According to restaurant design experts, the optimum distance between tables is 38-45cm. 

How should I space my tables apart?

Now that you know the general industry requirements, the rest is up to you! Think about the type of atmosphere you want to create, and how easily people and objects will need to maneuver around your restaurant. 

If you are aiming for an intimate atmosphere with plenty of space for customers to enjoy each other’s company, consider fewer tables or spacing them further apart. Customers expecting a fine-dining experience won’t appreciate being seated in very close proximity to other diners.

Is your restaurant going to use trolleys to deliver food to tables? In that case, you will want to leave plenty of room for your waiters to push trolleys between tables. 

Should I put tables in different rooms?

This depends entirely on the atmosphere you want to create. If your aim is a bustling restaurant with plenty of character, you might want to consider putting all of your tables together in one room. Bear in mind that this can create a loud space which can make it difficult for diners to hear each other speak.

If you are aiming for a more relaxed restaurant with the option to dine privately, consider using multiple rooms for your tables. With only a couple of groups of diners per room, the experience will feel more personalized and relaxed. 

–

Written by Jack Vale

The post Guide to Restaurant Table Spacing appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

• Create trustworthy environments. Many times, long-distance communication issues arise when one person is being less than responsive. If you know that you are heading into business with communicative and reliable people, you won’t need to worry so much about your business relationship.

• Schedule periodic in-person meetups, if possible. Long-distance business relationships can become strained over time. As both parties settle into the routine of daily video calls, any creative spark can be worn down by the monotony. If you can, schedule in-person meetups to keep things fresh and trust levels high!

• Lean on communication tools that work best for you. Depending on your organizational needs as a company, there may be some conferencing tools that work better than others. Video conferencing isn’t always a tool that’s frequently necessary, especially with our ability to file share, email, and even send faxes online in today’s technological world. Skype remains the most commonly used video conferencing software internationally and is a viable option. Many companies since the pandemic have however moved over to platforms like Zoom and Google Meet, while Microsoft Teams is ever increasing in popularity. 

• Hire effective communicators. The ability to communicate via video calls is something to establish during your interview process. As well as core competencies for the role, evaluate how clearly candidates communicate. Can they hold your attention with their voice and explain things clearly? Do they smile and use humor to build trust?

• Be as flexible as possible. With teammates living across different time zones, encourage everyone to be flexible when scheduling meetings. If you strongly prefer to have meetings before lunchtime, be mindful that this could be too early in the morning for someone on the other side of the world.

• Be respectful of other people’s time. When someone is just a face on your screen, it can be easy to unwillingly dismiss their daily life and demand too many things from them. Everyone is dealing with their own personal stressors every day, so be sure to check in with them and make sure they are feeling fine before discussing work. 

–

Written by Jack Vale

The post Tips for Long Distance Business Communication appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

Given its lucrative benefits for any business, video productions are a must-try for any website or corporate Facebook page.

If it’s your first time doing this, then you’ll need the help of a full-service video production company such as Dream Engine. Founded in 2002, it is the media industry leader in Melbourne, Australia.

Dream Engine can help you plan a live video stream event through this step-by-step process:

Step 1: Create a Corporate Video Production Plan with Dream Engine

At www.dreamengine.com.au, you can conceptualize a high-converting, live stream video.

During this phase, they will help you map out the following:

• The event you plan on streaming on your website
• The use or purpose of the video
• Your objectives for the presentation
• The budget for the said video
• Your expected return on investment
• The potential to monetize the event

They’ll also give much-needed tips on how to get the most out of your live streams. As a video production company with 18+ years of experience in the field, they know what works and what doesn’t.

Step 2: Choose the Right Streaming Services for Your Dream Engine Video

Depending on your business plan, Dream Engine can help you pick the right platform.

For simple videos, for example, you can opt to choose from Zoom, Webex, YouTube Live, or Facebook Live.

If you’re clueless about what to pick, the Dream Engine staff can help you decide the best platform for your needs.

Step 3: Set Up the Dream Engine Video Production Equipment

Unless you run a corporate business, your Melbourne company might not have the equipment needed for website streaming.

Should this be the case, you can rely on the Dream Engine staff to provide you with all the necessary equipment.

As a full-service video production company, they use the finest devices to help make your corporate video successful:

• Professional-grade Dream Engine video camera with an array of lenses
• Tripod and mount rings
• Camera lights and light reflectors
• Three-point lighting kit
• Shotgun microphone and wireless microphone
• Boom pole
• Shock mount
• Audio cables
• Portable audio recorders
• Headphones
• Extra batteries
• Additional storage/memory

Step 4: Practice Your Video Performance

As the old saying goes, practice makes perfect.

Live streaming on your website, after all, is a one-off event. There are no takebacks. Once it’s transmitted, it’s there for all to see.

Given their industry experience, Dream Engine Melbourne can help you practice flawless video production.

They can help you with the script and the dialogue, mainly if you’re featuring guests in your video.

They can even coach you with the blocking and the wardrobe! One tip is always to wear a plain top rather than a printed one for your live streaming event.

With this dry run assistance, Dream Engine can help you deliver the best business presentation possible.

Step 5: Check the Connections

Even if you’ve practiced like there’s no tomorrow, the effort is all for naught if all the needed connections are faulty.

As an expert video production company, Dream Engine Melbourne is a committed perfectionist. Before you go live, the staff will check for everything to see if they’re in perfect working order.

Should there be technical glitches along the way, you need not fret as they have back-ups ready to use. They have an extra microphone and batteries in the unlikely event that their audio equipment falters.

The same goes for the internet. Although Wi-Fi today is reliable, Dream Engine has a reserve ethernet cord. That way, if the connection drops, your free video will continue playing as expected.

Step 6: Prepare Your Website and Social Media Platforms

Live streaming is perfect for any business because your Melbourne clients can chime in whenever they want.

Dream Engine can help you get the most out of customer engagement by assisting you with monitoring.

As a rule, it’s best to have a dedicated person monitor the live feed comments.

Having a social media monitor will make everything easier. You can focus on the video production while another person works on all the business leads and possible sales.

Step 7: Promote Your Dream Engine Video Production in Australia

You won’t get any returns for your free video if nobody in Melbourne knows about it.

That said, you need to promote business video as aggressively as you can:

• Share the links on your website, blogs, and social media pages at least 48 hours before the streaming.
• Send your email list a reminder of the event.
• Broadcast a free trailer or teaser.
• Create a ‘Live’ section on your YouTube business page.

Step 8: Live Stream Your Dream Engine Event!

Now that everything’s ready, it’s time to live stream your event!

With Dream Engine video production company, you can sit back, relax, and enjoy the benefits. With their vast live streaming experience, you have the security that everything will go fine and dandy.

If you want a successful, profitable video without the usual fuss, call Dream Engine at their phone number 03 8678 0316. You can also visit their website www.dreamengine.com.au or email them at info@dreamengine.com.au.

The post How to Plan a Live Stream Video Production Event appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

Brand awareness goes a step beyond brand recognition where customers might recognize a logo and name the company to which it belongs. Brand awareness incorporates an ethos for a company, one that involves a concept of products and services as well as the experience of them. Take for example the Dove ad campaigns that have built a sense of understanding and well-being for all women by promoting not only looking good but feeling good about yourself whoever you are.

Not every company has the budget to turn their product into a proprietary eponym, nor to market on the large scale that a company like Dove has. There are, however, strategies even the smallest of companies can employ to create better brand awareness. After all, creating brand awareness makes it easier to build a loyal customer base, to broadcast a strong image of your business, to promote your business across multiple platforms, and to showcase products and services. Here are a few ways in which you can build stronger brand awareness:

• Social Media–Successful companies often use media platforms to create buzz by running contests that engage customers in marketing by asking them to submit brand photos, to vote for a favorite product, or to tell a story of their use of the product. 
• Quality web content–Promote not only your business but also it’s identity by creating web content that speaks to your target audience in a meaningful way. What do you want your company to be about and how can you create high-quality content to sell that image? Another powerful way to do that is to put the content in the mouths of customers. Let them tell their stories of experiences with your company.
• Build a unique personality: Humor may be one of the best ways to do this. Think, for example, of insurance companies and the way they use humor to brand a product that is quite serious. The “Don’t Become Your Parents” campaign from Progressive has been brilliant at eliding the seriousness of insurance while tapping into a younger audience.

One of the most successful strategies for building brand awareness has been the use of merchandising, that is using branded products to promote your business. Tony Hawk recently combined strategies when he used social media to promote a scavenger hunt in which customers had to monitor his Twitter account for clues as to where packages of Tony Hawk products had been hidden all over the world. Winners found skateboards, embroidered caps and shirts, food products, and more. They also were required to photograph their haul and send it out to their followers.

If you’re still not convinced, consider that a recent study showed that 66% of participants could remember the brand of a product for which they had received merchandise within the previous year. Another study revealed that companies using promotional products saw an 85% increase in positive brand image.

The trick, should you choose this strategy, is to do it well. You will want to consider: the items you choose and how they speak to the needs/desires of your target audience; the messaging you incorporate on items and how it speaks to company identity as well as inspires your audience; the quality of the item; and the ultimate aesthetic or style of the item. Take, for example, a company that projects an eco-friendly, organic ethos and that wants to offer embroidered shirts. That company may want to consider organic cotton materials or other natural fibers as a means to reinforce its overall message.

In short, merchandising is not just a means of advertising your company. Good merchandising helps tell the story of your company and its concerns; it creates avenues for partnering with other like-minded companies, and it gives you avenues to open up other channels of communication with customers. If market trends speak to you, then consider that in 2018 U. S. companies invested $24.7 billion dollars in promotional merchandise. That certainly suggests the strategy is worthwhile.

—

Ivan Young is a writer from Happy Writer, Co. in partnership with Seattle Fabrics, an outdoor and recreational fabric retailer.

The post Using Merchandise to Brand Your Business & Build Awareness appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

The days where video production meant ad spots on TV or a promotional tape that could be distributed are gone. Today’s video content is immediate and everywhere. Did you know that by 2023 North America will have 345 million internet users as well as 329 million mobile device users? And those users increasingly seek video content. But why?

The answer, in part, comes from science. Our brains receive 90% of their information through visual means. Perhaps even more important is that we retain 80% of what we see while we only hold onto about 20% of what we read. That might explain why over 70% of business to business marketers and nearly 65% of business to consumer marketers use video content.

It’s just a smart choice when current forecasts show that the 75 million consumers watch online videos each day and that average person watches 100 minutes of video per day.  If you’re still not convinced, consider some of the other advantages to using video production.

• Videos convey information quickly: a short video production is able to utilize music, visuals, faces, and actions to convey much more information in a short space of time then print can convey.
• Video builds brand personality: video allows customers to put a face with the brand and feel more of a personal connection to the product/company. You can build content that is personal, funny, heartwarming, educational, and that speaks to your target audience.
• Video provides greater visual possibilities: forget two-dimensional representations of your product! Video allows for 3D presentation and demonstrations of use. Furthermore, you can quickly and easily display specific features, color palettes, uses, and more.
• Video increases website retention: Let’s face it, the popularity of videos for online platforms means it’s what customers are looking for. Want to draw customers to your site, keep them there, and convert views to sales? Video is the answer. Almost 90% of marketers in a recent survey said that video provided a positive return on investment.
• Video translates to greater brand awareness: viewers are almost 10 times more more likely to engage with, share, and comment on video content. That means more people seeing and talking about your product.
• Video is versatile: video production is not just about ad spots anymore. You certainly can still use videos to promote products, but today’s content also allows for long or short pieces that inform consumers about who you are as a company. Demos, how-to videos, webinars, customer testimonials, and interviews only begin to scratch the surface of the video possibilities available to you.

So what are you waiting for? Video production can be as cheap and easy as using a quality phone and learning some production basics, or, or even better, budget a bit for a professional to produce your content. Research your audience, build a story that speaks to them and that is true to you, pick a platform(s) that best targets your group, and get started on creating video content that is almost sure to boost your sales and awareness of your business.

—

Ivan Young is a writer from Happy Writers, Co. in partnership with Viking Rental, an event rental supplier.

The post Why Video Production is Important for Small Businesses appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

This year’s potential nominees include a slate of never before nominated Directors of Photography, such as:

Sean Bobbitt’s recreation of 1960s Chicago in Judas and the Black Messiah:

Moment of Truth: Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield stun in Judas and the Black Messiah

When it comes to emotional scene work, LaKeith Stanfield’s method is to retreat into silence. Something about it sends his mind racing to call up every dark moment, difficult loss, and deep-seated sadness. But on Dec. 4, 2019, things got a little too quiet for the Atlanta star on the Cleveland set of Judas and the Black Messiah, the bravura first studio film from director Shaka King that rehashes the state-sanctioned killing of 21-year-old Black Panther Party chairman Fred Hampton. On the docket was a scene that called for Stanfield, who plays a college-age FBI informant named William O’Neal, to betray an unwitting Hampton during a Last Supper-type party at the chairman’s home, hours before Chicago police would storm in (on O’Neal’s intel) and pockmark the place — and Hampton — in a hail of bullets. The hush that came over the set that day was palpable. >> Source EW

 

Erik Messerschmidt’s “exquisitely retro deep-focus black-and-white cinematography” in Mank:

‘Mank’ Review: In David Fincher’s Immersive Hollywood Drama, Gary Oldman Is Delectably Droll as the Screenwriter of ‘Citizen Kane’

When you watch a biographical movie about an artist, the drama of creativity — the writing of “In Cold Blood,” the invention of funk — tends to be front and center. But in “Mank,” David Fincher’s raptly intricate and enticing movie about Herman J. Mankiewicz, the fabled screenwriter of ’30s and ’40s Hollywood, and how he wrote the script for “Citizen Kane,” the act of creation is just one of many things that flow by. That’s part of what gives the movie its uniquely atmospheric, at times tumultuous tone of you-are-there authenticity. “Mank” is a tale of Old Hollywood that’s more steeped in Old Hollywood — its glamour and sleaze, its layer-cake hierarchies, its corruption and glory — than just about any movie you’ve seen, and the effect is to lend it a dizzying time-machine splendor. >> Source Variety

Dariusz Wolski’s sweeping scapes of Texas in News of the World:

Paul Greengrass and Tom Hanks team up again for a Western that is already taking its place among the classics.

The new Western from director Paul Greengrass skillfully recreates life in the frontier towns and untamed prairie of post-Civil War Texas while avoiding the more obvious tropes of the genre.

“No-one may notice but there are two staples of the western we don’t use,” says cinematographer Dariusz Wolski ASC. “I don’t use any crane shots and Paul decided to film without a single bar scene.

“We were scouting various towns in New Mexico for the movie and, of course, they all had a bar,” he continues. “We found one which had been used in a Coen Brothers’ movie, which was perfect, but Paul was adamant. He wouldn’t include any saloons. So, myself and the production designer redesigned the whole space and then shot the scene. It’s in the movie but you can’t tell it’s a bar.”  >> Source IBC

Cinematic artists like these make breathtaking camera moments seem effortless, but to be the best takes years of working with cameras, lighting, and in study of the medium.  Whether they’re working tight-in on an actor or working an overhead shot high above on a scaffold, great cinematographers practice instilled traits that  turn the ordinary into the extraordinary.

Seasoned veterans recognize new directors of photography (DPs) because of their need to focus and light every shot as if it were a work of art.  But that’s not what makes great cinematography. Life is sometimes ugly and so film should feel equally true to that element of existence. Janusz Kaminski, who DPed Schindler’s List and Saving Private Ryan, notes a cinematographer’s job is to translate a script into images, not create visual art. As he puts it, “Regrettably, many of us often fail to resist the desire to produce beautiful shots. It’s a mistake. The cinema is like life. It’s not always beautiful.”

That doesn’t mean there isn’t art to cinematography.  Rachel Morrison, the DP of Mudbound the powerful examination of post World War II racial tension in Mississippi, grew up with a camera in her hand and sees DPs as “portraitists of emotion.” She feels that cinematographers must develop a visual language of storytelling by exploring the nuances of lenses and angles of filming and by understanding their impact on the faces and emotions of the actors they shoot.

Robert Yeoman, who worked with The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Life Aquatic, emphasizes reading photo books, spending time in art galleries, and noting visions that speak to his aesthetic.  He feels it is important to “be in the space” of the locations they’re filming and to spend time talking with their director about the space. Clearly then there is an art to cinematography, as DPs choose everything from lighting and composition to camera movement and depth of field. But as Michael Chapman, DP of Taxi Driver, emphasized, the art should always be in service to the story.

To be in service of the story, award-winning cinematographers offer some of their practices as advice. Reed Morano (The Handmaid’s Tale) says she likes to think of the camera as a character in the scene.  She adds, “You’re just acting along with the actors as well. You’re reacting off of them. Getting up in it and being part of it is so much fun.”  Conrad Hall, DP of the dark and sinister Seven, suggests that cinematographers not sweat the potential for mistakes.  He says, “there is a kind of beauty in imperfections,” and encourages young artists to embrace ways of making mistakes work.

Finally, there are habits cinematographers need to develop beyond their craft. Great DPs collaborate on the set as Dan Mindel did for The Force Awakens when he embedded a camera assistant with the design team who could then tell him decisions about palette and texture that might shape the way he filmed. As part of this collaboration, it is also important to communicate between departments. The best filming only exists when costumes, sets, and staging are at their best as well.  Communication creates alignments that make for great composition. One last habit of the greats is that they join their arts movement, becoming students of its trends so that they too can push the art forward. By doing so they build a landscape where their work might speak to future generations of cinematographers.

The post What Makes the Best Cinematographers So Good? appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.

It’s an excellent way to improve your marketing strategy. There are many benefits to using video marketing over more traditional approaches:

1. Video Boosts Sales
2. Video Shows Amazing RIO
3. Video Is More Trustworthy
4. Video Is Amazing for SEO
5. Video Is Appealing to Mobile Users
6. Videos Encourage Sharing
7. Videos are Engaging
8. Videos Are Superior to Other Marketing Forms.

Videos are made to be watched and watched they are. Over five million videos are watched daily, just on youtube. Here are some video production tips to help you create your videos in a professional and engaging manner.

Story-Driven Videos
Story-Driven videos are a great way to generate sales and make a meaningful ROI. Lots of videos focus on selling, but you need to encourage that point, not shove it in everyone’s face. Your video should have a compelling and story-driven narrative. Remember, the studies show that video content is king!

Make them Short and Interesting
Video marketing tips might sound hard to learn, but videos sure are an effective marketing tactic! You need to make them short, compelling, and catchy. One-fifth of your viewers will leave your video is nothing less than 10 seconds. Make sure you keep them hooked and tell your story quickly!

Be Funny and Up With The Trends
You need to be up with the trends in order to keep up with the competition. Users don’t love anything quite as much as up to date businesses and up to date humor. Remember, video marketing is essential!

Utilize memes, funny images, humor, and friendly, conversational approach in order to improve your SEO, ROI, and possibly get a new customer to your business.

Tag Your Video
What good is your high-quality video if it is not SEO optimized? You need to place enough tags in your videos to make sure they are seen by lots of people. Host the video on your own domain, tag it, share it, and make it easily shareable my enabling embedding. Keep sitemaps in mind as well.

Invest Into a Good Camera
One of the essential parts of good video production and quality is getting yourself a quality camera. When you are choosing a camera for your business, you need to make sure it can deliver high-quality video. If you have a good camera, you have finished half of your work already.

Inform, don’t Annoy
You need to inform your customers without annoying them. Most of your customers are visual learners, and you really need to convey your message in a friendly and informative manner. You don’t need to be overbearing, keep it simple, and tell your story!

Video marketing might be the most important marketing tool in your arsenal. Any size business can prosper by using this tactic.

The most important part of video marketing is doing it correctly. If you plan on doing video marketing yourself, quality is of the utmost importance.

Having a bad video can not only ruin your marketing tactic, but it can also harm your business. You need to make sure you’re providing only the best of the best.

If you are making the video yourself, you need to take care and make it HD, HQ, quick and simple.

If you don’t want to do this yourself, hiring a professional video editing and production company might be the better option, but it will cost you.

Do not take this cost as an expense – it’s a much-needed investment. The ROI of good video marketing is impressive. A professional video production company will produce a high-quality video that you can use to stay one step ahead of the competition.

If you opt to make the video yourself, you will need to know some tips and tricks to do it properly. Don’t worry, we’ve got your back.

Plan Ahead
You can’t just make it on the spot – the process requires some intense planning. Think about organization, sets, costumes, lighting options. Research what you are doing thoroughly, and you will be able to make the most out of these video production tips.

Effects!
The effects are amazing and can make your video that much better. They can be used to enhance or decrease any part of the video you like and can give real-life realism to the video you are shooting. Vibes and themes are everything, and adding quality effects to your videos can really give them a new life.

Sound Matters
One of the biggest mistakes that people make when producing their own material is making a great video with poor sound quality. Use a lapel or lavalier microphone to make sure that your sound is terrific, and that it is going to perform well with the video.

Quality is all about consistency! If the sound is terrible, you can try to fix it yourself in the editing process.

Lighting
Another extremely important aspect of any quality video is the lighting. You can have the quality camera, editing crew, and writers working 24/7, but if your video has bad or poor lighting, it is doomed to fail. You don’t want to overlight your video either, having a proper lighting rig or setup is essential.

Utilize Tech
A fantastic way to prove your point and improve your video production quality is by utilizing the latest tech. You don’t want stiff, monotonous and one angled video, do you? Drones are a great option you should consider investing in!

Frame Your Work
When you have shot the best video in the world, the only thing that remains is to frame it properly. Cropping is your friend, and before you get to the editing process, you should keep it in mind. Shooting your video while thinking of the editing process makes for the best product.

In conclusion, you need to know the ins and outs of videos to make the best ones. You can utilize these video production tips or hire a video editing service to make your life that much easier.

You need to be consistent with the quality and provide a quality video, to establish a quality service. If you’ve done everything right, your business should be booming, and your ROI should be incredible.

The post Successful Video Production: Why Quality Is Key and How To Get It! appeared first on COLDEA Productions, LLC.