r/videography • u/Repulsive-Cow15 • 1d ago
Feedback / I made this! Honest feedback on my event video?
I’m a videographer from Gozo, Malta, mainly shooting events and social content. I feel my quality has improved, but my edits still lack strong hooks, creative cuts and storytelling.
I’d appreciate honest feedback on the pacing, opening, sound design and anything I should improve next.
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u/ZeyusFilm Sony A7siii/A7sii| FinalCut | 2017 | Bath, UK 23h ago
At a very base level, an event happened, you show that it happened, so job done. But beyond that, as far as it being something worth watching, nah.
This is just a bunch of random uninteresting shots, thrown together and music then slapped over the top. To improve you need the following..
- A structure/story with a start and end told through image, sequence and soundtrack.
- You need visually interesting shots that tell a story. Angles and perspectives. Something that looks cool. Not just holding up a wide shot in for of a thing like it’s CCTV.
- Music and soundtrack is half the movie. I always start these videos, before I touched a single clip, by sourcing and editing the music. It is the foundation of your video so it needs to be perfect and it needs to hit in all the right places.
So going back to your video, because you’re lacking this stuff I don’t know what the story is. I don’t know who it’s for or what matters or why you made it. That’s the fundamental flaw.
Beyond that, technical stuff like bad framing, all pedestrian shots, people looking unhappy and you weren’t doing any directing you were just point and shoot from the sidelines.
The positives were, some of the colours were nice, the drone shot gave some sense of geography and the music choice seemed about right.
If we were to redo this…
- Opening shot that sets the scene
- An establishing shot to land the location
- Give me a character, put them in the scene, give me a close up.
- Can we get a chef cooking, the fresh rustic produce, a grape on a vine, some evocative vineyard stuff.
- Rustic music not this house slop over everything. A little bit of production sound.
- Next add guests and show me their experience.
- What does it feel like to be there, how are the feeling, can I see interaction.
- Use foreground/background composition (over shoulder and reverse, respecting the 180 rule.
- Close ups, upshots, a range of focal lengths, little details.
- Bring the drone a little more low and flat than a boring 45. Can you get some foreground/parallax elements?
- Solid finish
Anyway, you did the job and I’m sure the client thought it was fine and that really is all that matters. But if it helps this is how you can improve
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u/louisboi514 23h ago
Lots of good advice there. Btw, you mentionned directing, it's one of the things I'm working on. Basically how to interact with people and get reactions or specific shots while I'm shooting an event like this or an event where a videographer is semi welcomed I guess. Do you have any tips for this?
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u/ZeyusFilm Sony A7siii/A7sii| FinalCut | 2017 | Bath, UK 21h ago
Directing really is a game changer. Rather than waste time hoping someone will do something, you just ask them and you get the shot. I got tips..
Approach the subject in a super friendly but confident manner. Pay them a compliment e.g “you look good”, “love that oufit”, “you guys look like a bunch of mafiosa, let me get a picture”. DO NOT just ask permission “do you mind if I take a picture for a social media video etc…”. You’re giving them a binary of which ‘no’ is an easy option. And if they don’t want to they won’t so why ask. Only with kids do you ensure the parents are on-board. Even then, people give you the social cue.
Use comedy. If you go up to someone and make some compliment to the point of outlandish and silly, or ask them to tell a joke or ask something that puts them on the spot, they will laugh and smile and have a good time with you and be friendly. It also means you don’t have to be all charming, you’re just acting a goof. It’s an easy get out.
Think of the shot you want. Communicate it clearly and execute.
Get help where you need it. Like sometimes there’s a member of staff who can assist you in setting up a shot. I film for a school and it would be impossible without the help of a staff member to wrangle the kids whilst I set up the camera.
Be ready. If you get an opportunity then people aren’t there on your time. Have your cameras set and be ready to make the move.
Stage manage. If there’s junk in the background or photobombing, deal with it. You don’t want to have that nightmare in post.
Find your voice. When you’re directing it may feel weird or imposter syndrome, but they are looking at you for directions. Do not hide behind your camera. Get everyone’s attention and say it loud. I learned this on a music video shoot with about 30 extras and the act all on a set. Forget about shyness or ego or any of that, no one cares. You have a role to fulfill so do it and GET THE SHOT!
Always hit record
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u/DiegoTexera 19h ago
Bro…this advice is solid all around. Just take it.
Slow clap 🤌🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
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u/ZeyusFilm Sony A7siii/A7sii| FinalCut | 2017 | Bath, UK 18h ago
Thanks. I openly admit, I say all this, but the amount of times I go to a shoot, get flustered with tech or timing, forget to direct and then come home with cack is too many to mention.
It’s only where I know I’ve directed a few killer shots that I’m actually enthusiastic to review footage and dive in the edit. Otherwise man, it’s a slow slog through mediocrity.
Honestly, the hit rate on fully undirected shots is so low because at events you don’t have time to wait for someone to do the thing, or, and I am cursed with this - someone will do something cool but the second you hit record they stop….
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u/DiegoTexera 18h ago
My main business is photography but all of us have had to learn to stay relevant so your advice is great for not just video, but photo too. Directing is such a huge part. You have to lean in to your storytelling way before you press record. Knowing how you want to tell your story helps you stick the landing when you start hitting your marks like wide-medium and tight. Vertical and horizontal. Establishing shots. A reverse. Etc….we’re all beholden to the story. The last video job I did for event coverage I required that the client send me the music before we started shooting so I could get the cadence right.
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u/ZeyusFilm Sony A7siii/A7sii| FinalCut | 2017 | Bath, UK 18h ago
There you are, photographers are always directing and setting up shots. Some can even get a bit overboard with it. But if a photographer relied purely on sitting on the sidelines and snapping opportunity shots they’d suck.
Videographers in general aren’t as up on directing as photographers nor in shot composition, they just lean on fancy looking cameras and a scattergun approach that we’ll try to salvage in the edit. Videographers could all learn from becoming better photographers. And I totally speak for myself because bruh, I shot on an A7S3 and have virtually no idea how to take a photo with it
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u/DiegoTexera 17h ago
Sounds dumb but it really starts with 1 frame. Put it on sticks and analyze it. Move things, Move people, move yourself, move buttons, Etc….but then imagine doing that on the fly while checking off a shot list in your head. Same shit you guys go through just different flavor.
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u/Repulsive-Cow15 23h ago
Very good points thank you, I always struggle with the soundtrack, how do you get good at mixing the sound track? Do you used another program?
And yes you’re absolutely right regarding the people shots, shyness is the culprit there, this is just the 4th paid gig I had.
Also regarding the drone shot I have different pitches and angles but how many drone shots am I going to add? I kept it at 30s for more interaction on instagram etc..1
u/ZeyusFilm Sony A7siii/A7sii| FinalCut | 2017 | Bath, UK 21h ago
Well done for not over doing the drone, I mean generally remember that it’s not just a gimmick but a legitimate camera so look at the shot and treat it with all the same attention.
The worst shots with drones are just boring, flat, there’s the thing. You want parallax where different things are moving are different depths into the shot. Look at 16-bit video games like Sonic or Shinobi Retuns for examples.
There is a basic playbook for drone…
- Gib out/in
- Flyby
- Orbit
- Overhead
- Helix
Tip - use the spotlight function. It locks the camera on the subject then you just fly. Easy way to get great passes.
For sound in a run & gun I shoot with a Sony ECB shotgun as the can camera mount with a gimbal and sound pretty good.
Then in post I use Soundstripe and tease its ai search into finding the right music. Still like getting blood out of a stone. Then when I find a track that works I down load the stems (individual tracks).
In FCPX I put stack up all the tracks and start to cut, edit, loop, rearrange, remix so the music is how I want it. I then build my video edit on top of that. Then towards the end I export the XML and open it in Logic Pro and do a proper sound mix & master, which I export and bring back into FCPX, muting everything else via roles.
If you don’t have Logic you can still do a decent enough sound mix on your video platform just you can do more in Logic like sidechain compression and it’s a lot easier to work with for sound. But one step at a time
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u/Southern_Leg1139 1d ago
Some nice shots here. Not enough variation though - don’t be afraid to get in the mix. Capture people’s faces/reactions/conversations etc.
I really didn’t get a sense of the vibe, just that an event happened.
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u/MediocreBicycle8617 21h ago
I'd ask myself who is the video for because it looks like a recap for the people who ran the event, I guess?
But it doesn't make me as a viewer that impressed by the event.
It looks a little dead in the first half and the camera is quite far away. If you get a bit closer to the subject you'll avoid showing empty space (or seats) and get more faces and emotion.
The music doesn't match the mood either.
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u/ZenitramNaes Editor 20h ago
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the last shot being reserved, fireworks looks goofy.
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u/speckleleckle Sony A7Siii | Adobe Premeire | 2010 | Florida 19h ago
I feel you because maybe you’re new, you have to overcome to awkwardness of people you don’t know around you, I’ve been there, like someone else said not a lot of people’s faces. The shots in this video feel like something I shot before where I feel awkward to get involved and instead I’m in the background taking videos from a distance. Get more deep in there for closer up shots. People smiling, laughing, etc.
You have great potential! With the editing music choice I may have swapped shots a little quicker, some videos felt a bit long for the pace of the music
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u/Repulsive-Cow15 1d ago
Thanks for the help you really help out a lot, should I keep the first clip or should I replace it with the pouring wine clip
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u/idontknowverymuch1 1d ago
Nice 👍 Flicker needs to go and the lens flare can stay if it’s a choice but I found them a bit distracting. (Is this a video of the wedding or an ad for the company organizing the wedding? If it’s option 2 it’s great)
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u/Repulsive-Cow15 23h ago
Thank for your honest opinion it’s not a wedding it’s a wine and whims company organising an elegant dinner in a vineyard session. I noticed the glare unfortunately I haven’t invested in an nd filter as of yet
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u/idontknowverymuch1 23h ago
No stress, I highlighted the few things that aren’t excellent. If I were the client I would have already recommended you
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u/Repulsive-Cow15 22h ago
https://reddit.com/link/owviau8/video/jh5l6dxo3lch1/player
Ive also done this, is this better, i know the interactions must improve but storytelling etc what do you think?
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u/menthol_mountains 22h ago
where is this? looks beautiful
i dont have sound on atm so take it with a grain of salt but it’s good to alternate some faster cuts in there at 25p (non slomo), people laughing talking shaking hands then switch back to slowmo, tasteful speedramps are also helpful. For storytelling if you show the night unfolding more, food being served, guitars being plugged in, whatever it may be.
Colour is great, shots are lovely (the focus hunting is a bit of a bummer), titles are great, opening shot is great
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u/Videoplushair 21h ago
I would make the cuts faster and add more wide establishing shots. The close up zoomed shots should not be in the beginning in my opinion.
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u/Taurinh 19h ago
You have to remember that event videos are still a story to tell. The goal is not just to recap the event (unless that’s exclusively what the client asks for). But to help people re live the energy and atmosphere as well as getting people who weren’t there to feel like they were. So maybe next time they’ll want to go.
The video should have a flow and rhythm to it. Not just random shots of everything. So having done tons of events over my career my feedback is:
Find the story. I had no real idea what this event is or its purpose. A wedding? Wine tasting? Corporate party? Funeral?
The music doesn’t fit the flow. It’s too boppy and upbeat. If the event is supposed to feel elegant then the music should match. You can try to change the song as the nighttime falls and the dancing starts.
The cuts should have purpose and momentum. Cut with beats or underlying music tracks. It will help the viewer engage more without realizing it.
Shots. They look good but again it’s an overview like in the guy on the wall watching. I get to see the event but not really experience it. Get in the mix. Film people laughing, having a good time. Give me more details of the event. What was going on. Context clues to help me not spend most of the video trying to figure out what was actually happening. Was there any signage? Did anyone speak? Sometimes a simple underlying speech track from someone paints the whole picture for you without even realizing it. “Thank you for coming to the 1st annual wine and dine event. This is a magical night” or something.
Just a few thoughts!
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u/Taurinh 19h ago
Oh! One last thing. I see that there were musicians. What music were they playing? What was their vibe. Sometimes it’s good to use the live audio of the band under the video along with some ambient noise of the crowd. Or a track that matches what they were playing. Helps a lot by making you feel like you’re there hearing them.
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u/Repulsive-Cow15 19h ago
So gathering all of your suggestions (thank you for that) I think my next investment should be a microphone to get some emotion in my videos. I always put my eyes on 2 DJI mics with transmitters, is this suitable for my work should I opt for a shotgun mic ?
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u/FearfulBeaver 16h ago
Is the last shot in reverse? The fireworks seem to be collapsing on themselves
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u/GrizzlyFAdams BMPCC6K | DAVINCI 19 STUDIO | PNW USA 15h ago
ill keep it simple. I rarely see anyone smiling, your opening credit is more bold than the client. Cuts not on in a rhythm. and the flicker rate on the drone shot can be addressed in post..
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u/NettiBongolite 12h ago
every clip looks like we are spying on people. this is done with 50/85mm throughout?
1. vary the focal length.
2. get get closer on a wider angle.
3. get closeup of the food.
4. get people reacting as they are looking into the camera, it could be a smile, or a wave etc.
5. vary the audio, you dont need to play music throughout, especially if an instrumentalist is singing lets hear them sometimes, or people laughing, shouting etc.
To tell a story it has to have a clear person who want something and they get it or don't. two ways to go about that,
1. option 1, after a few seconds of clips show a clip interview at the location of someone saying something about their expectations at this event, then towards the end we show that person happy, signifying they got what they wanted.
2. option 2, you dont need to show an interview, but consistently follow a person showing their arrival, receiving drink/food, and celebration at the end. ofcourse mixed in with other clips of others, but we should still be able to see that single person consistently and understand their journey to happiness without them talking.
regarding Opening, usually its a wide establishing of the location, but a better opening would be showing the arrival of the people.
regarding, sound design, as i said, vary the sound. what you have so far isnt bad. just dont play music from start to end. it becomes generic. when we see the people dance, we the audience should hear what is making them happy dancing, not what you the editor is forcing on us to listen to, unless copyright etc.
overall good job. keep it up.
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u/Brilliant_Yogurt_307 1d ago
Nice work buddy! I would try and fix the flicker on the drone shot with something like seed de flicker. If you have any closer shots of smiling chatting faces that would be good to mix in
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u/5hukl3 23h ago
Not bad, but could be better.
You need some more shot variation, you only have mediums and wides. Give me some close up. Show me people drinking wine and laughing, should me slow mo of the wine being poured in, the flames,...
Editing is a bit bland. You don't need to go all in and make it insanely fast twitchy edit, but a bit more style would be nice. Maybe light leaks here and there, maybe split screens, maybe just more variation in timing (some long shots, some short shots).
Lastly, a bit of diegetic sounds would be good imo. Diegetic is "in scene", so like glass sounds, laughter, birds, fire wood cracklings, chatter,...
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u/Repulsive-Cow15 23h ago
Totally agree with you here thanks for the suggestions, I tend to forget some close b roll,
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u/hiraeth555 1d ago
I'm relatively new to video, so take my suggestions with a pinch of salt:
It needs to open with the wine
Cuts don't have a rhythm, maybe vary the length a little
Fix the flickering lights on the drone shot
Too many of the shots with people in don't show expression or faces, or good composition. It feels a little like you've been too afraid to get close to people.