Filming Families: The Modern Family Video

Portrait photographers capture moments in time for families, parents, and children. But in order to tell the whole story, you need to switch your camera to video mode, and become the storyteller behind the camera. Join Courtney Holmes, family photographer, filmmaker, and founder of FilmingLife Academy as she empowers you to add video to your photography business.

In this class, Courtney takes you on location to a home in Seattle to see how she organizes a family shoot from start to finish. You will learn in a unique way how Courtney works to capture authentic family moments on video and how to stay flexible in a new home environment that you’ve never filmed in before. 

Courtney will teach you:

• How to change your mindset from photographer to videographer
• How to add videography to your brand
• Pricing and marketing tips
• What to ask in order to capture the best story for your clients
• The technical skills you’ll need for video
• Post-processing using Adobe® Premiere Pro®
• How to choose music, import, organize, create, and polish the final product

Courtney has learned how to make filmmaking into a viable business, and is going to give you the tools to move forward and tell the stories that families will treasure for a lifetime.

• Class Introduction
• The Spark That Inspired Me
• What Are Family Films?
• Gear for Family Films
• Camera Settings for Video
• Frame Rates & Slow Motion
• Picture Profiles & Color Grading
• Settings for Audio Capture
• Exposure for Video
• Stabilization, Focus Techniques & Shifting Mindset
• The Purpose of Camera Movements
• Camera Movements Demo
• Visual Storytelling: How to Film a Scene
• How to Film a Scene Demo
• B-Roll & Use in Storytelling
• Jump Cuts & How to Avoid Them
• How to Look for & Film Different Types of Light
• The Importance of Audio
• What About Photos? How to Switch Back and Forth
• Client Prep
• Troubleshooting Artificial Light Issues
• Managing Client Expectations
• Uncovering Your Client's Story
• Developing a Story on the Fly
• Think Ahead as a Storyteller
• Student Film Critique
• Ideas for Your First Film
• Create a Shot List for Your Film
• Demo: Interaction With Family at Start of Session
• Demo: Capture Authentic Moments
• Demo: Work the Scene
• Demo: Decide What to Shoot
• Demo: Move From One Location to Another
• Organize Footage & Photos From a Session
• Cull & Edit Photos First
• Sourcing Licensed Music
• Begin to Edit in Premiere Pro
• Editing to The Music
• Scrub Footage & Insert Into Film
• Breaking Down The Final Film
• Editing: Color Grading
• How Much Should You be Charging?
• Marketing Tips for Family Film Business
• Delivery Methods For Family Films