Crystal Dynamics’ Post

"Hello, LinkedIn network! I’m curious to know what **specific skills and qualities** companies are currently looking for when hiring **photographers, videographers, and mixed-media artists**. Why are they seeking out these professionals, and what **styles or tools** are most in demand? Any insights on how to stay competitive in this evolving creative industry would be greatly appreciated!"

Great opportunity, but why is it limited to people who have already had access to high-end networks? Fairly sure there are super talented and skilled motion designers who have worked in less affluent sectors who would do a great job. This type of demand is why the #CreativeIndustries are still struggling to diversify. Irena Grugulis Orian Brook #DEI #Equalities #SkillsGaps

“If we combine the photo shoot and the video shoot it will save us time and money!” We hear this a lot from our clients. And while it sounds like a no-brainer, the reality is more complicated than it seems. Pulling off two full-scale productions at once requires some serious planning. ✅ You need the space for both teams to work ✅ Enough talent to keep things moving without sitting around ✅ Enough art directors and brand personnel to approve stills and video at the same time. ✅ And most importantly, a production company who can manage the needs and schedules of both crews. This is what Harp Visual Media does. We’ve seen firsthand how the right pre-production strategy can save time, money, and stress. Having a director who understands both photo and motion, you’ll avoid the typical roadblocks and ensure everything flows smoothly. If you’re looking to get the most out of your next shoot, let’s talk. We’ll help you plan a production that makes the most of your time—and your budget. #visualmedia #productiontips #photoandvideo #harpvisualmedia #creativestrategy #b2bmarketing #brandstorytelling

BERMUDA_ MYSERY_REEL: On December 2, 1920, a commercial schooner called Carroll A. Deering left Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, to head back to Norfolk, Virginia. Aboard was Captain Willis B. Wormell, with his first mate, and a ten-man crew.  Along the way, they stopped at Bridgetown harbor, Barbados, for rest and supplies. Then they set sail again on January 9, 1921. The rest of the journey should’ve been uneventful. But fate had other plans in store… The ship went missing. MY JOB SKILLS: EDITING & MOTION GRAPHIC DESIGNER Video Editing Motion Graphics Visual Effects Color Grading/ Correction Sound Effect VIDEO EFFECT ADOBE PREMIERE ADOBE AFTER EFFECT ADOBE AUDITION #VIDEO_EDITING

The creative industry loves to silo people into a niche or nice little box. I think that’s incredibly stupid, shortsighted, and it tends to kill a lot of careers. Using myself as an example, I’m a motion designer and creative director with a specific area of expertise, but what ultimately got me here was the fact that I have a wide array of skills built on varying interests and a need to have many creative outlets. Currently I focus primarily on motion design but I can edit better than most and did it for years. I have a strong understanding of sound design. I have strong photography, cinematography, and lighting skills—and own a lot of fun equipment. I’m a director, a writer, producer, business owner, and so much more… and I’m not just calling myself these things or doing that gross internet bragging thing, I’ve been hired and paid to do them all across 18 years now. I used to have people telling me to “pick something and stick to it”, and ignoring them was the best thing I ever did. While I think it’s good to have areas or skills you focus on, I don’t think you should limit your creative ability of expression to please someone who lacks the ability to comprehend that there are people out there who can do it all, and do it all well. I’m not saying I’m special, I just decided to ignore the noise. Point is: You don’t need to be perfect in branding yourself as one specific thing. In fact, the more people I see doing that, the more I see people struggling to stay consistently busy. When someone says “pick a lane”, you should ignore it. Stop letting other people try to mute your creativity. You should feel free to build whatever your ideal career trajectory is based on your own fulfillment and intuition. Hopefully, it even aligns with what you want out of life—which changes from time to time—and is precisely why you shouldn’t silo yourself.

📽️ Lights. Camera. Chaos. That’s what the past few days felt like. I didn’t plan for back-to-back shoots, endless client calls, and late-night edits—but I signed up for this. This is the journey I chose. And when the pressure hits, I don’t back down—I create. 🎯 Step 1: The Call It starts with a 10-minute consultation. Clients come with a problem, and I listen. Not just to what they say, but to what they truly need. 📝 Step 2: The Blueprint Once I understand their vision, the strategy begins. I research, craft a video treatment, design a storyboard, and structure a pricing package that reflects the value I bring. Every detail matters. 📞 Step 3: The Final Check-In A quick 5-minute follow-up seals the plan. No surprises, just execution. 🎬 Step 4: Assembling the Dream Team A masterpiece needs the right hands. I bring in cinematographers, editors, set designers, makeup artists—every expert necessary to make the vision a reality. 🚀 Step 5: The Magic Happens Production day is where everything comes to life. We shoot, we adapt, we create. After that, it’s straight into post-production, where the final touches turn good into great. ✅ Delivery: Mission Accomplished The moment that makes it all worth it—the client sees their vision come to life. The job is done, and another story is told. Don’t Just Watch. Create. Every brand has a story. The only question is—who’s telling yours? Let’s make your vision a reality. 📩 10-Min Creative Strategy Call with Daveshoter #VideoProduction #CreativeStrategy #VideoMarketing #BrandStrategy #Filmmaking #LinkedinVisibilityProgramwithFareedah #PathfinderPath02

Simple, elegant visual concepts often benefit from equally simple, elegant execution. How did we approach shooting this ad to achieve an effective aesthetic with a small crew and limited time? Three tips for effective, minimal cinematography: 1. Maximize What’s Already Working ↳In this case, the location was a strong asset, so we made the most of it by showcasing its features. We opted for wide, anamorphic lenses to capture its scope. Choosing the right location is critical, especially when you're constrained by time or budget. ↳The natural light was also on our side. Rather than battling the sun, we enhanced what it was already doing. Soft light streamed through the high windows, but I wanted to maintain warmth in the wood tones and didn't want an overly high contrast or a moody effect. We decided to keep some of the interior lights on, use an ND filter, and adjust our controlled lights to achieve the color balance we were after wanted. ↳Rely on your crew’s expertise. The team in Cleveland was fantastic. They understood the vision and helped optimize our time. When your crew knows what they’re doing, avoid micromanaging—listen to their ideas. In this case, they were familiar with the building from a prior shoot for a Captain America movie, which streamlined our process. 2. Prioritize Time Where It Matters Most ↳On a project like this, the audience’s connection will primarily be with the person on screen. It’s crucial to ensure that the subject looks great and is visually accessible. We focused on perfecting her lighting before moving on to the background. ↳Once on set, I created a list of visual priorities, starting with the most important. The subject's lighting took precedence, so we tackled that first. Next, we adjusted the camera movement and background lighting simultaneously. Finally, we added finer details like atmospheric haze and lens flares, making minor tweaks until it was time to shoot. 3.Stick to Core Principles, Even When Plans Change ↳There’s always a moment when the plan needs adjusting due to unexpected challenges. However, there’s no need to scrap everything. Stick to the overarching visual concept and ensure the final result still aligns with your goals. ↳If you understand the core purpose of your visual plan, you can adapt while staying on track. For instance, if the location had changed last minute to something less ideal, we could still focus on making the talent look good with proper lighting, maintain a solid camera move, and minimize any undesirable background attributes (e.g., by using a shallow depth of field or darkening it). This approach ensures that the ad would still work for its primary objectives. Director: Cayce McCabe Cinematography: Sean Webley Agency: The Adwell Group Production Company: Hammerstart

Recently I made a spec motion piece and pitched it to the company I featured in the piece… This was my first time pitching a spec piece to a brand, and I wanted to make sure I nailed it. This particular brand has only been on the market for 6-7 years, and despite having a really cool product, their visuals had left something to be desired until recently. They debuted their product at this year’s Olympics and with that was a noticeable uptick in the quality of their visuals. Seeing this I knew my spec was going to nail the timing. It took 2 months of planning to produce this shoot. I collaborated with one of my fav female cinematographers to bring it together, and she and I spoke most days sending references back-and-forth and adjusting the run of show. I called in favors from top talent that I’ve worked with previously, found locations that were willing to let us shoot pro-bono (unless the spec sells), and studied the brand to figure out any brand guidelines (I.e. are branded shoes ok? How do they normally style? What kind of customer/demographic are they targeting with their talent selection?). The cinematographer and I collaborated on the budget for the crew we would need to hire to pull this off—drone pilot, gaffer, PA, on-set producer, editor, etc. Pulling off a high production value spec motion piece is no small feat. But the final result…worth its weight in gold. I sent the piece off to the brand with an offer to sell, and I heard back that it was passed along to the CEO for a decision. A win. :) 🥇 I’ll wait to hear what their decision is before I can make the piece public, but if it doesn’t sell then the pride I feel in what we were able to accomplish is more than enough for me. I can’t wait to show you all. ✨ - Creatives, I’m curious, do you like it when directors send you spec work? What’s your hot take? - Directors and photographers, what was the last spec piece you made that sold and why do you think it worked? 🤍

When you hire a videographer for a day, you’re not just getting their day. You’re getting a decent chunk of the night before too, if they’re worth their salt. Monday night prep for a fashion shoot for the University of Salford tomorrow - they want a British Pathe style, which means high contrast black and white and minimal motion blur. It’s not something I’ve done before so tonight I’ve been playing with settings and, crucially, building a rough colour profile, similar to how the final image might look - don’t worry, it only looks blue because of my phone camera, I can assure you it’s black and white. That means I can monitor what’s actually being recorded on one screen, and something close to the final image on the other, making no room for nasty surprises and more room for creative lighting decisions on the day. I’ve also been watching fashion shows from the era to be able to mimic the sort of camera movements you’d see, and how they use hard lighting to make for a very contrasty image. Even for less creative shoots, you’ll want your videographer well prepped - who’s who, when things are happening, key shots that must be captured, what the light’s going to be like, and plenty more. All the more reason to hire a pro.

As a Cinematographer and Creative Director, I’ve had the privilege of crafting stories that don’t just look beautiful—they resonate. From concept to execution, my passion lies in creating visuals that embody your brand’s personality and speak directly to your audience. In today’s world, brand awareness starts with strong visual identity. It’s how your business stands out in the noise, builds trust, and leaves a lasting impression. Whether it’s through striking video reels, cinematic campaigns, or cohesive brand visuals, I specialize in delivering creative solutions that align with your vision and business goals. With a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of storytelling, you can trust me to handle your creative process—from ideation to delivery. Let’s build something that not only represents your brand but elevates it. 🌍 Available to travel and bring your vision to life, wherever you are! If you’re ready to take your brand’s visuals to the next level, let’s connect. Let’s tell your story. #CreativeDirector #Cinematography #VisualBranding #BrandAwareness #Storytelling #TravelReady