Another Gold Coast Engagement Shoot to Share at DVinfo.net

Matthew Ebenezer · October 30th, 2008, 10:56 PM

Back in August we had the opportunity to do another engagement shoot at the Gold Coast. It's one of my favourite shoots to date so I couldn't wait to share it with everyone.

As usual, comments/critique/feedback are all welcome.

Check it out on our blog - Heath and Samara - Engagement Video - or follow the links to watch it in HD on Vimeo.

Cheers,

Matthew.

Kiflom Bahta · October 31st, 2008, 03:03 AM

i liked it but too many of the shots are similar.

Patrick Moreau · October 31st, 2008, 08:09 AM

Matt,

There is some great cinematography in there but I think it is lost in the length/repetition paired with the inherent lack of content in a shoot like this. I think at about a minute in length you could have made something very powerful, and it would have conveyed more than this 3 minutes did.

P.

Andrew Waite · October 31st, 2008, 11:02 AM

I agree with Patrick, but I understand that it's very difficult in that particular situation to not be repetitive. It is what it is, an engagement shoot. So you ARE going to have a lot of poses, and it's going to start seeming repetitive, but I liked it a lot! Very beautiful setting, you got brave with the Steadicam in the water, so props to you. Shot well, edited well, great looking couple, and great location. Not a big OneRepublic fan, but you picked one of his better songs. I give it Two Thumbs Up!

Winfried Dobbe · November 2nd, 2008, 07:18 AM

Very beautiful piece, really romantic atmosphere. And indeed risky shots, but I guess at some point you have to get your feet wet to get the best shots.

The only thing that I remarked is that at least 70% of the shots of the couple show their faces "en profile". Maybe some more en face shots would make this even more impressive.

Travis Cossel · November 2nd, 2008, 04:11 PM

I have to agree that there were too many of the same types of shots, so the video began to feel long. The actual shots are good, but it's like going to an art show with 300 paintings and finding out that there are actually 30 copies each of 10 paintings. After a while, it loses it's impact.

Love the locations and some of the color grading.

Joel Peregrine · November 2nd, 2008, 07:42 PM

Absolutely amazing imagery, Matthew. I think the comments about repetitive shots could be alleviated by some sound bytes from the couple or some ambient audio mixed in.

Its amazing how critical we can be of something that just three or four years ago would have been considered far beyond what any event videographer could achieve. The available tools and the the skill to use them has been improving at an exponential rate. Thanks for sharing.

Matthew Ebenezer · November 3rd, 2008, 05:59 AM

Thanks heaps everyone for the feedback and for taking the time to watch the clip - I really appreciate it.

Seems pretty unanimous regarding the repetitive shots.

I'd love to get some voiceovers from the couple but unfortunately they're a bit too far away at opposite ends of Australia :( Something to keep in mind for next time though for sure.

I made a decision in the early stages of editing this clip that I wouldn't include Katie's photos from the shoot ... seems that maybe this was the wrong decision.

Do you think that including some of the still images from the shoot would be an improvement?

Cheers,

Matthew.

Travis Cossel · November 3rd, 2008, 12:48 PM

I think it could help break things up a bit. I would have also considered maybe shortening the song a bit to help yourself out. These types of shoots are difficult to edit because it's hard to get a wide variety of shots, so I understand the challenge.

To be clear, I'm sure the couple would really enjoy the video, but I think we are more critical since the video is not personal to us. So emotionally .. it works .. but technically .. there are too many similar shots ... if that makes sense.

Matthew Ebenezer · November 5th, 2008, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Travis Cossel

I think it could help break things up a bit. I would have also considered maybe shortening the song a bit to help yourself out. These types of shoots are difficult to edit because it's hard to get a wide variety of shots, so I understand the challenge.

To be clear, I'm sure the couple would really enjoy the video, but I think we are more critical since the video is not personal to us. So emotionally .. it works .. but technically .. there are too many similar shots ... if that makes sense.

Yep, makes total sense. Appreciate you taking the time to give me feedback.

Cheers,

Matthew.

October 30th, 2008, 10:56 PM	#1
Matthew Ebenezer Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Posts: 370	Another Gold Coast Engagement Shoot to Share Back in August we had the opportunity to do another engagement shoot at the Gold Coast. It's one of my favourite shoots to date so I couldn't wait to share it with everyone. As usual, comments/critique/feedback are all welcome. Check it out on our blog - Heath and Samara - Engagement Video - or follow the links to watch it in HD on Vimeo. Cheers, Matthew. __________________ --------------------------------------------------------- www.shadowplay.com.au --- www.shadowplay.com.au/blog

October 31st, 2008, 08:09 AM	#3
Patrick Moreau Still Motion Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,186	Matt, There is some great cinematography in there but I think it is lost in the length/repetition paired with the inherent lack of content in a shoot like this. I think at about a minute in length you could have made something very powerful, and it would have conveyed more than this 3 minutes did. P. __________________ site // www.stillmotion.ca blog // www.stillmotionblog.com edu // www.stillmotionexperience.com

October 31st, 2008, 11:02 AM	#4
Andrew Waite Major Player Join Date: May 2007 Location: Bakersfield, CA Posts: 307	I agree with Patrick, but I understand that it's very difficult in that particular situation to not be repetitive. It is what it is, an engagement shoot. So you ARE going to have a lot of poses, and it's going to start seeming repetitive, but I liked it a lot! Very beautiful setting, you got brave with the Steadicam in the water, so props to you. Shot well, edited well, great looking couple, and great location. Not a big OneRepublic fan, but you picked one of his better songs. I give it Two Thumbs Up! __________________ http://www.higherdefinitionmedia.com RED One #6135 "Spartacus"

November 2nd, 2008, 04:11 PM	#6
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	I have to agree that there were too many of the same types of shots, so the video began to feel long. The actual shots are good, but it's like going to an art show with 300 paintings and finding out that there are actually 30 copies each of 10 paintings. After a while, it loses it's impact. Love the locations and some of the color grading. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com

November 3rd, 2008, 05:59 AM	#8
Matthew Ebenezer Major Player Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Toowoomba, Australia Posts: 370	Thanks heaps everyone for the feedback and for taking the time to watch the clip - I really appreciate it. Seems pretty unanimous regarding the repetitive shots. I'd love to get some voiceovers from the couple but unfortunately they're a bit too far away at opposite ends of Australia :( Something to keep in mind for next time though for sure. I made a decision in the early stages of editing this clip that I wouldn't include Katie's photos from the shoot ... seems that maybe this was the wrong decision. Do you think that including some of the still images from the shoot would be an improvement? Cheers, Matthew. __________________ --------------------------------------------------------- www.shadowplay.com.au --- www.shadowplay.com.au/blog

October 31st, 2008, 03:03 AM	#2
Kiflom Bahta Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle Posts: 203	i liked it but too many of the shots are similar.

November 2nd, 2008, 07:18 AM	#5
Winfried Dobbe Regular Crew Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Amersfoort, Netherlands Posts: 85	Very beautiful piece, really romantic atmosphere. And indeed risky shots, but I guess at some point you have to get your feet wet to get the best shots. The only thing that I remarked is that at least 70% of the shots of the couple show their faces "en profile". Maybe some more en face shots would make this even more impressive.

November 2nd, 2008, 07:42 PM	#7
Joel Peregrine Major Player Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 689	Absolutely amazing imagery, Matthew. I think the comments about repetitive shots could be alleviated by some sound bytes from the couple or some ambient audio mixed in. Its amazing how critical we can be of something that just three or four years ago would have been considered far beyond what any event videographer could achieve. The available tools and the the skill to use them has been improving at an exponential rate. Thanks for sharing.

November 3rd, 2008, 12:48 PM	#9
Travis Cossel Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 2,933	I think it could help break things up a bit. I would have also considered maybe shortening the song a bit to help yourself out. These types of shoots are difficult to edit because it's hard to get a wide variety of shots, so I understand the challenge. To be clear, I'm sure the couple would really enjoy the video, but I think we are more critical since the video is not personal to us. So emotionally .. it works .. but technically .. there are too many similar shots ... if that makes sense. __________________ Black Label Films www.blacklabelweddingfilms.com