To save you the legwork (or googling) of trying to find the perfect studio for you, we’ve compiled a list of the best dedicated studio spaces Canberra has to offer you and your crew.

What To Look For In A Canberra Studio Space

The first step to finding the perfect studio space in Canberra for you is to get a clear idea of what you need. Here’s what you need to consider:

• Natural vs controlled lighting: Natural light can be great if you’re after a more light and airy look – but it also means you’re at the mercy of the weather and have less control. Artificial studio lighting can be more reliable and can be manipulated in a studio setting to look like natural light.
• Size: Studios can vary greatly when it comes to size, from slightly bigger to the average bedroom to warehouse size. Make sure to consider the amount of space you need for lighting, audio, and videography and the number of people in your group. A cramped photography environment can be a lot harder to work in.
• Equipment: Some studios have extra equipment on hand available for us, like backdrops, lighting, and props. Other studios require you to hire it for an extra cost, while some require you to bring all your own equipment. Take stock of what you have in your personal arsenal and what you need for the shoot.
• Location: Choose a studio that’s easy to access. While there are options close to the CBD, quieter areas like Fyshwick, Beard, and Mitchell are also worth considering and generally cost less to hire.  Choose a studio with facilities to get changed, check hair and makeup, clean up or wash off if needed, cater or eat, and fulfil any other niche requirements for your project.
• Amenities: When you hire a studio, you’re often paying for the amenities available on-site as well. These might include access to kitchen appliances like a fridge or microwave, a changing room, refreshments, props, and furniture. 
• Parking: On shoot day, you want everything to go as smoothly as possible.  Showing up the morning of and finding out there’s no parking within a few hundred metres and you’ll have to haul your equipment up the road isn’t ideal. Make sure you check out the parking situation before you make a studio booking.

FT Studio in Beard

FT Studio, 15 minutes from the city centre. is definitely one of the biggest studios available for hire in Canberra. Their larger photography area, Space One, is 126 square metres in size with 6-metre high ceilings, giving you all the space to create. At that size, the studio would also be suitable for large-scale workshops, video productions, or a whole range of production needs.

The studio is fully blacked out, giving you full, adjustable control over light during your shoot, although you can open the 3.6 metre-high roller door if you still want plenty of natural light and flexibility. The exposed concrete walls make the perfect blank canvas for portrait shoots, headshots, or fashion shoots. In terms of equipment, you’ll have items including a portable green screen, a variety of furniture, lighting options and backdrops.

FT Studio also has a smaller studio for hire (15 square metres), Space 2, that’s ideal as a workspace for podcasts, webinars, small group meetings and recording sessions. This studio features access to podcast and live streaming equipment, including monitors, microphones, and a podcast recorder. It can also be used as a green room in conjunction with Space 1.

Amenities and facilities include:

• Bathroom with easy access and shower
• Common breakout and chill space with a lounge and a dining table
• Kitchenette with a refrigerator, dishwasher, and microwave
• Loading dock/area
• Optional add-on off-street parking
• Makeup station

FT Studio Pricing

Space One has a $120 hourly rate on weekdays. A half day costs $410, and a full day $640. Space Two will run you $ 50 per hour, $180 for a half day and $280 for a full day. They also accommodate weekend and public holiday bookings at an increased rate.

Lonsdale St. Studio in Braddon

Lonsdale St. Studio is 750 metres from the CBD in the Braddon neighbourhood, right next door to Civic Pub. They offer three different creative spaces available for hire, alongside a green room. All the spaces have been treated acoustically to ensure good audio quality and soundproofing – perfect for broadcasting. The sizes of the private spaces range from 19.5 square metres to 66 square metres. In terms of equipment, you get access to a range of colour backdrops, a cyclorama, lighting options, and photography and audio equipment that you can rent.

Amenities and facilities include: 

• Free NBN wifi for high-definition streaming
• Optional add-on green room with a small kitchen and makeup station
• Air conditioning 
• Accommodation and catering options

Lonsdale St. Studio Pricing 

Studio hire starts from $200 per hour or $795 for a half day for Studio A, which is their largest and most versatile space. Studio B is available from $150 per hour or $495 for a half day, while Studio C, suited for podcasting and audio recordings, starts from $95 per hour. If you need the Green Room, which provides a space to work or relax, it’s an add-on starting from $90. 

Studio Hire Options in Canberra

So there you go. These two studios are great options if you’re a photographer or videographer looking to hire a studio space in Canberra. If you know of other options, feel free to reach out to us and let us know. We’d love to include them on the list!

Light & Airy

You can give your photos a bright and softer look by lowering the contrast, increasing the exposure and using softer colour hues. This will make your pictures look a lot more dreamy, conveying a warm and romantic vibe.

Dark & Moody

Light & Airy not your thing? If you want to add a touch of drama and melancholy to your photos instead, this editing style is perfect for you. By upping shadows and contrast, you can create a strong visual impact. 

We also recommend controlling the light source, framing the subject in front of a dark background, and using props with darker shades. A studio with full natural light control is the perfect place to try this out. You can then apply this edit by boosting the subject’s brightness and bringing down the blacks and shadows in the background. 

Cinematic

Have you ever noticed that movies like Blade Runner, Fight Club, and In the Mood for Love all use specific colours and lighting to create certain emotions and draw your attention to details? For example, in Blade Runner, pink and purple hues give off the feeling of ambiguity and extravagance, while the red in In the Mood for Love creates a sensual atmosphere of love and hate.

The same method can be applied to photography as well. Just reduce the blacks and clarity and create an ‘S’ curve on the light and RGB channels. Then, you can tweak it until you get the look you want. Get inspired by your favourite movie and experiment! 

Earthy Travel

This editing style is great if you’re working with a wide range of colours. It subdues and saturates specific colours to bring out more details in your subject or landscape. You’ll often see cool colour combos like blue/orange and cyan/yellow, which can really make the blues in skies and lakes pop while complementing the orange/yellow hues found in sand, dirt, and stone. It’s super easy to achieve this look – just fiddle with the HSL (Hue, Saturation, Lightness) dials in your photo editing software until you get the look you want.

Film Look

Analog cameras are making a comeback. Their unique colour grading brings back a sense of nostalgia that many photographers are now replicating in digital photos. To achieve this look, choose a film stock you want to emulate, like the popular Kodak Gold, and apply the appropriate HSL manipulation and grain effect. Remember that most film stocks are typically overexposed, less contrasted, and have a slight green-blue tint in the shadows.

Start Experimenting

It’s always good to master the fundamentals like white balance, tone, and HSL first. Making tiny adjustments can do wonders for your photography. 

Experimenting with presets is a great place to start. Here’s a Lightroom preset that we’ve made for you to experiment with: https://ftstudio.gumroad.com/l/xehwb. Presets can help you understand the ins and outs of Lightroom and the possibilities of each panel. Learn from photographers that you like and create presets that mimic their look. 

Remember, the key is to keep experimenting and learning new things. But don’t go overboard with editing – sometimes, less is more when it comes to photo editing!

Whether you’re a seasoned film user or just starting out in the world of analog film photography, having a convenient and reliable place to get your film developed is important. Fortunately, there are still some great options in Canberra that will bring your analog shots to life.

Canberra ProFrame (CanLab)

Canberra ProFrame – CanLab, a long-established name on City Walk, has been the go-to spot for film development for over 20 years. Their enduring presence alone speaks volumes about their dedication to film photography.

They also offer a range of other services, including high-quality printing and professional framing. Canlab has a strong reputation for reliability and exceptional service, and they’ve done well to earn the trust of both professional photographers and hobbyists in Canberra. 

Ted’s Cameras

If you’re looking for a reliable and convenient option for film development in Canberra, Ted’s Cameras is a great choice, with two locations in the city centre. Aside from their wide range of photography equipment and accessories, they also offer a high-quality film development service. They cater to both colour and black-and-white film and use the latest technology to ensure excellent results. 

The staff at Ted’s Cameras are known for their expertise and are always willing to help. They’re quick and efficient and pay attention to detail, so you can trust them to develop your film with care and precision. 

Photo Access

PhotoAccess in the Manuka Arts Centre is an ACT Government-sponsored organisation that offers photography workshops and film development. Their professional approach to film processing, combined with their educational and community activities, makes PhotoAccess well worth checking out if you’re passionate about film photography and want to further educate yourself on the process as well as get your film developed.

Ikigai Film Lab 

Ikigai Film Lab is a global company that develops 35mm and 120 C-41, black and white, and E-6 film all in-house. They have a slightly different approach to film development: While they don’t have physical storefronts, they’ve set up drop collection points across Australia, including a convenient spot in Canberra. 

You can drop off your film every Wednesday at The Cupping Room, a cafe in the city centre, making it easy and accessible for anyone in the area. What’s impressive about Ikigai is its quick turnaround time despite being a worldwide operation.

Keeping Film Photography Alive In Canberra

Film photography still holds a significant place in our culture, offering tangible textures and vintage aesthetics that many people find appealing. Shooting with film also challenges photographers to be more thoughtful and deliberate, leading to rewarding results.

As we’ve explored some of the best places in Canberra to get film developed, it’s clear that Canberra still harbours a growing community passionate about film photography. If you’re looking for some local inspiration, Thea Jade and Gabrielle Short are some great examples of photographers in Canberra still making the most of film.

Each time we choose to load a film camera, develop a roll, or print a photograph, we contribute to keeping the rich tradition of film photography alive. The continued existence of these film development services in Canberra is a testament to the enduring allure of film.

If you’ve got big dreams for your film photography shoot, we have just the place – FT Studio. With 126 square metres of space to shoot, you’ll have all the room to bring your film photography dreams to life.

New Additions To Our Studio Spaces in Canberra

One of the most useful new features we’ve introduced is a sizeable makeup area in Space 1 for those all-important touch-ups between headshots or during portrait photo shoots. The makeup table features a large illuminated mirror, two handheld mirrors, two chairs and two full-body mirrors nearby, so you can make sure you’re completely camera-ready before your shoot!

We’ve added new furniture and props to our shooting spaces. This includes a selection of chairs, tables, stools and artificial plants if you’d like to add more visual interest to your photos.

We also have new gear on hand for photographers, including both wall-mounted and movable backdrops and two bright Neewer 660 PRO RGB lights. These news lights come with versatile lighting capabilities, imperfect for experimenting with different colours and brightness levels during your shoot. 

360 Virtual Tour

Want to take a tour of the studios before you book but don’t have the time? We’ve added a virtual 360 tour of our studio hire spaces to our website for just that event. The virtual tour gives you an idea of just how large Space 1 is, with 126 sqm to shoot, 6m high ceilings and a massive roller door for easy access and to let in natural light. Beyond just a photography studio, it’s a place to dance, rehearse, host workshops, or film large-scale productions for commercial use

New Meeting Room/Podcast Studio For Hire 

We also have a whole new, podcast studio available for hire – Space 2. This smaller 15 sqm space is ideal for podcasts, corporate meetings and smaller recording sessions. Space 2 includes:

• Access to Common Area
• 70-inch 4K TV (Hisense Series S5 – 70S5)
• Zoom PodTrak P8 Podcast Recorder
• 2 x RØDE PodMic (additional mics available)
• OBSBOT Tiny PTZ Camera
• M-Audio BX4 D3 4.5in Multimedia Reference Monitors
• Foam padding to reduce noise levels 

It should be noted that neither space limits what you can create – while Space 1 is ideal for larger shoots and Space 2 is aimed more at podcast recordings, Space 1 can also be used to record a podcast with a larger group, and Space 2 can be used for photography studio hire or even film studio hire.

Studio Facilities

We fully believe comfort leads to creativity – that’s why we’ve made hiring FT Studio as convenient as possible, with plenty of amenities and creature comforts so you can take a break and spring right back into action. These amenities include:

• Fully equipped kitchen facilities with a microwave, fridge and coffee machine
• Comfortable lounge and dining area in the shared break room situated between Space 1 and Space 2
• Large bathroom with a shower 
• High-speed wifi network with 250Mbps download speed
• Nearby street parking or up to 2 spots of reserved carpark spots available for hire

Additional Photography Gear For Hire in Canberra

We have also added some affordable photography equipment hire for off-site use (and of course, these can be included with bookings too). These include:

• Elgato Green Screen
• Heavy Duty Light Stand
• Heavy Duty Light Stand with Casters
• Heavy Duty Photographic C-Stand With Boom Arm
• Neewer 660 PRO RGB

Studio Hire Rates

FT Studio is available for bookings on weekdays, weekends and public holidays. The studio hire rates for Space 1 start at $120 an hour and $50 dollars an hour for Space 2 during business hours on weekdays. To see our half-day and full-day rates, check out our full studio hire rates page. Please contact us to make an enquiry if you have any questions! Our friendly team is always more than happy to help.

Looking for a photography studio or creative space in Canberra? Enquire today

Do we sound like the studio hire for you? If so, please get in touch either by phone during business hours or over email, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Alternatively, we offer the option to book online through our handy portal.

FT Studio is located at 10d Alumina Street, Beard, Canberra, Australia.

Classic Black & White Headshot

Shooting your headshot in black and white can give them a timeless and sophisticated look. This is a great way to add visual interest to your headshot without taking a big risk, as they’ll always look classic. Black and white headshots are also great if you’re unable to find a pristine background, as removing the colour takes away a lot of visual noise and draws the viewer’s attention away from any distractions and towards the subject’s face.

Here’s another example of some excellent black and white headshots, but done in a different way. These pictures are taken in a studio, and studio lighting can often be harsh and unforgiving if not done just right. By converting the headshots into black and white, any harshness is eliminated, creating a softer effect.  Removing the colour from the photos helps to maintain cohesiveness, ensuring that the headshots look great next to each other, regardless of what outfits the subjects are wearing.

These headshots would fit right in on a sleek, modern website. They convey a feeling of professionalism and an established business.

Casual Headshot

The headshots taken below are taken against a textured background with a variety of wardrobe colours and poses. This style is much more relaxed than the studio-taken black-and-white photos above and gives the headshots a more approachable, friendly feeling.

This casual style of headshot is usually shot outdoors, taking advantage of the natural light, which is often more flattering. Taking all the photos against the same background provides cohesiveness when displayed side-by-side, while the differing wardrobe colours add visual interest. The varying poses and facial expressions also allow the photographer to display the subject’s personality in a better way.

Casual headshots are an excellent option if you want to build a personal connection with your audience and convey authenticity. They allow you to break away from the formality of traditional headshots and present yourself in a way that feels approachable and relatable to others.

Another positive of this headshot style is that it requires less technical skills and equipment. It’s definitely possible to achieve using a good mobile phone camera, just make sure you get your framing just right and consistent each time.

Duotone Studio Headshot 

Using duotone lighting is a fantastic way to make your headshot more unique and can be done in Photoshop during the editing process or with coloured lighting in a studio. The effect is striking, casting shadows across the subject’s face. Using this style is ideal if you want to stand out from the crowd and convey you’re not afraid to think outside the box – making it ideal if you work in a creative industry, such as design. To up the creativity even more, you can use alternating colours for the different headshots. 

Colour psychology is a powerful tool in itself, so make sure you put some consideration into the colour you choose if you go with duo-tone headshots. For example, blue is generally associated with competence and trustworthiness, whereas red is associated with love, danger and excitement.

Avatar Headshot

Here’s an especially unique, creative way to showcase your team. It involves full-body shots, cut and pasted into a white background side by side. It creates an effective reminiscent of a video-game character selection screen, which is a fun and playful way to stand out.

This style would be ideal for a fashion brand to show off its team and products at the same time or a creative agency to show its ability to break new ground. It does require the use of a studio, photography skills and editing know-how to execute effectively, but the distinctiveness is worth it if it reflects your brand perfectly.

Dynamic Group Headshot

Here’s another fun, artistic example to add some dynamism to your website. The example given shows the different members of a team in different positions, with the ability to hover the mouse and change the direction they’re facing. You can also click on the different teams to learn more about them. 

Far from a traditional headshot, the result is a “meet our team” page that will stay in the heads of viewers long after they click off. Taking a distinctive, artistic approach like this is a fantastic way to to increase your brand’s memorability and make people want to learn more. Just like the other unconventional example above, this style would require the use of a studio, as well as editing and web development skills to implement. This is a gernal rule for headshot photography as a whole – the more you want to stand out, the more work and skills it’ll take!

Classic Portraiture Headshot

This style sticks to some of the traditional headshot conventions (certainly more than the examples given above) while still adding an artistic flair. The high-contrast images, taken in front of different backgrounds around the office, is reminiscent of traditional portrait photography. This style is more like what you’d see on the sleeve of a book than a standard LinkedIn headshot. 

To achieve this look in your headshots, mix up the backdrops you use, and let the subjects express themselves with their poses and wardrobe choices. The high contrast of the images and the blurred background still allows the subjects to stand out while still having plenty of visual interest.

While you don’t need a studio, a professional portrait photographer and a high-quality camera will provide the best outcome for this style.

The below style is another example of more ‘portrait’ style headshots, this time outdoors with soft natural light and contrasting shadows. These headshots have a down-to-earth, approachable feel while incorporating a flair of creativity.

However, one downside of using shadows and natural light to add interest to your headshot is that they move quickly! This can make it hard to have consistent lighting throughout the headshots. Just before dusk, or ‘golden hour’ as photographers call it, is the perfect time for outdoor portraits – however, this generally only lasts half an hour, making it a hard concept to achieve in one shoot if you’ve got a large team.

Clean and Bright Headshot

The below is an example of headshots in crisp, modern style. The bright, consistent light gives the headshots a professional and polished feel, and while the varying poses and backgrounds give the impression of seeing the subject in their element at work and give a glimpse of their personality.

This style is ideal if you’re looking for the perfect balance between professionalism and memorability. While this could be achieved with a phone camera, a photographer will have an easier time making the headshots cohesive and achieving that ‘bright’ effect.

How to Choose the Right Outfit for Your Headshot

Choosing the right outfit for your headshot can make a huge difference on the impression the end result gives. Here are some of the most important rules to follow to ensure your headshot turns out exactly the way you want it:

• Avoid anything that draws too much attention away from the main focus: your face! This includes ultra-bright colours and loud prints. Solid, neutral colours are always the safest choice.
• Don’t wear ‘tight’ prints, like a shirt with a small checkered pattern or a tweed skirt. While these clothing items might look great in person, they can show up as wavy on camera and strain the eyes. This is known as the ‘moire’ effect:

•  Make sure your clothing is ironed, well-fitted and isn’t see-through. Sometimes, the smallest imperfection or crease in your outfit is much more noticeable on camera than in person. To avoid anything that might interfere with your perfect headshot, wear something that doesn’t crease easily, is completely opaque, and fits like a glove!
• Dress like you’re going to meet your most important client. While some industries have a more relaxed dress code than others and have a bit more leeway, it’s best to play it on the safe side and dress as professionally as you can.

Floor size

Often, the location of a studio will give you a decent indication of its floor size. An inner city studio will likely be smaller (and more expensive) while a studio located in a more industrial area may be warehouse sized (and cheaper!).

Smaller studios are good for headshots or small, close up photography or videography. Larger studios provide far more flexibility, to shoot both small, close up things and large objects that require wider angles and more area. A larger studio rental will be more suitable for a film production.

If you’re planning to host an event, a large floor size will also be beneficial. This will ensure you have room for a sound system for some great music, room for a catering crew and even an area left over for a live photoshoot!

Look for a studio that is at least 20 square metres for most standard shoots. If your vision involves something a bit more out of the box (such as using a car or if it involves a large group of people) find a studio with at least 100 square metres. 

Ceiling height

It is pointless to have lots of floor space if your ceiling is low – it will cut into your frame and restrict the floor space you can actually use. Find a studio with a ceiling height of more than 2m high. This will allow you to use the full capacity of the studio in most instances.

Studios with high ceilings may also be equipped with suspended lights and other goodies. This will give you more freedom to use lights and other equipment from a high angle, that you wouldn’t be able to achieve with floor mounted equipment. A high ceiling also makes it easier to use a large green screen.

Your vision and the subject matter

How much room will you need to shoot your subject or film your video production? If you’re a photographer only working with a single person for a headshot (with maybe one studio assistant) you won’t have any trouble finding a photo studio to accommodate your photo shoot. However, if you’re shooting a group of people, a large object such as a car, or even a single person with lots of movement, you’ll need to consider the space more carefully. For small shoots, look for a studio rental around 20sqm but for anything more find a studio at least 30sqm.

Larger studios are also likely to have more equipment such as different tables, unique backdrops and lots of light options. If you’re shooting smaller objects but require tables and other similar equipment, look for a larger studio that has these available.

Be careful about hiring a studio with large windows – they may allow too much natural daylight in and it will be difficult to control the light for your music video, photo project or food shoots.

Accessibility

Depending on their location, some studios will be much easier to access than others. Centrally located studios may have very limited parking and the ability to get into the studio may be through a small doorway or up flights of stairs. Industrial based studios are likely to have roller doors, easy parking and quick access. This is great if you’re bringing in a variety of props and equipment – particularly for a film, video shoot or video production. A roller door will also allow you to accomplish things like drive a car in, if you’re filming or photographing with large props (or the car itself!). 

Packing up and cleaning up

If you’re planning to use ‘messy’ props such as glitter or confetti, how easy will it be to clean up at the end of the photo shoot or film shoot? Consider the flooring and walls of the studio and how simple it will be to tidy. A kitchen is also a good consideration, in case you need access to water, tea, coffee and cooking supplies.

It’s also important to consider flooring and walls for hardiness and risk of damage. Working with props, lights and other bulky equipment adds a level of risk, so consider how easily you could damage walls and other parts of the studio. A cement floor and walls is your best option. 

So, how much space do you really need? (the numbers!)

A professional photographer needs a professional space. Here’s how much space you need for your project:

Headshot or half torso portrait: 

You’ll need enough room for your subject, the backdrop, and light equipment, which all up is about 3 meters wide. 

Full length portrait:

You’ll need about the same space as you do for a single half torso portrait, but you’ll need more room for the camera to move further away from the subject, which is about 5m back.

Group portraits or large objects:

This one is a harder thing to calculate, as it depends on the size of the group and the structure of the group in the frame. Aim to add a couple of meters of backdrop on each side of the group, and leave 1-2 meters beyond that for lighting. You’ll also need plenty of room to move the camera back to fit all subjects in the frame. 

Futuretheory studio in Canberra

Our studio, located in Beard, ACT, is ideal for almost any photography or videography project. The studio is 126sqm with roller door access and cement floors and walls. We have a variety of lighting equipment available, as well as backdrops and props. The studio manager will be available during your hire time. The studio is fully blacked out allowing you to light the space as needed. For natural light, the 5m tall roller door can be opened, flooding the area. Check out more about our space here: futuretheory.co/studio

Camera movements are a versatile tool in story-telling. The right camera movement can set the pace of a scene, put the viewer in the shoes of the character as they experience different things, or even add humour to a scene.

What are camera movements and why are they important?

A camera movement is the shift in view, frame, or perspective of a scene, created by movement of the camera or it’s lens. A camera movement alters the relationship between the character and camera, shaping the viewer’s perception of space and time.

Types of camera movements:

1. Zoom

This is the most common camera movement. A zoom can include zooming in, zooming out or the famous ‘Dolly Zoom’ popularised by Alfred Hitchcock – using a dolly to move one direction as the camera lens zooms in the opposite direction (this is explored further down this list).

Zooming can be used to magnify certain objects in a frame or to move attention to the objects relative vastness. Using the quick zoom (also called ‘punch in’) adds a sense of drama to the scene, while a slow zoom allows the viewers to observe the character’s sense of focus. Be careful not to overuse zoom effects throughout a video.

Uses

A sudden zoom into a character can be used as a scare factor or as a humour effect, as used stereotypically in sitcoms.

Slow zoom into the character gives the perception that the character is being hyper-focused and is often used in emotional or intense scenes.

Zooming out on a performer can show their contextual relation to the giant stage they are performing on.

Take a look at this example to see how the energy changes with zoom effects:

2. Pan

When panning, the camera remains in the same position but it changes the direction it faces. The camera rotates on a central axis from one side to another or slides to the side. This is used to follow a character in a large space, or to simply fit a large landscape in one shot. You can execute this with a handheld shot if you don’t have much equipment by turning your body (not just your hands) in the direction you want the camera to face.

Uses

You might pan from a character to the sand dunes of a dessert to give a sense of what the character is facing. The pan can also be used to follow a character moving about in a large space without allowing the audience to lose interest in the story.

Look at this example to see how a character moves in a space with a pan movement:

3. Tilt

Similar to panning, tilting fits more in a single shot while the camera remains in mostly the same position. However, in a tilt movement, the camera rotates on a vertical axis in an upward and downward motion. This has a similar effect on the viewers as the low high camera angle. However, tilt can also be used for physical spaces. You can use your wrist motion to get a smooth tilt movement with a handheld camera. A slow upward camera movement is used to elevate the significance of a character or a space, while the downward movement has the opposite effect.

Uses

You might focus on a bloody knife and tilt up to reveal a killer, elevating the significance of the character. Or, you could tilt down from the character to the knife if you prefer the significance to be on the murder. Tilts can be used to connect an object to a character or, if panning from ground upwards, a grand city or expansive plains in a ‘reveal’.

This scene from Captain America uses a tilt:

4. Dolly Zoom

In a dolly movement, the camera is mounted on a track and is moved in one direction (forwards or backwards) while the camera lens zooms in the opposite direction. With in-device stabilisation in many modern cameras and phones, you can walk (the industry term is ninja walk) towards or away from your character while zooming to create the effect.

The dolly zoom is often used when a character has just had an earth-shattering revelation or are about to face something significant. It creates a sense of vertigo for the viewer, to help them understand what the character may be facing.

Uses

Using a dolly zoom slowly towards a character allows the viewer to understand something is about to happen with the character or their mind.

Here are some of the best dolly zoom shots:

5. Truck

Similar to a dolly movement, in the truck movement the camera is mounted on a track and moved side to side. This is used to follow a character to show the interaction and movement in the environment while keeping the viewer at a constant distance – close or far. In films, for example, you see truck shots of characters walking down a street in a neighbourhood. The nature of dolly and truck camera movements following a character is the reason why these are also known as ‘tracking shots’.

Uses

A truck movement can be used to provide contrast in the story by following a character from one space to another, indicating to the viewer there is a change in story pace or mood.

In this montage, there are some forward, vertical and backwards tracking movements from classic movies. These are variations of dolly and truck camera movements:

6. Pedestal

In the pedestal, the camera moves up and down. Unlike in tilt, in this case, the whole camera moves up and down to frame a tall character, while keeping the frame at eye level for the viewers. The industry term is boom, jib up or jib down the camera. This movement allows the viewer to observe the space or the character more intimately than the tilt movement would allow. You can recreate a similar effect with a handheld camera – tuck your elbows in and keep the camera on your hip level, moving from a squat to a standing position, then raising your hands from your hips to above your head.

Uses

A frame of a boy standing against a wall smoking and the camera booms up to show the mother looking down from a balcony above. The eye-level frame allows the viewers to feel close to both the characters without breaking the story flow.

This scene from Inglorious Basterds captures the emotions of character, both above the floor and below, with eye level pedestal camera movement:

Bonus: Rack Focus

Rack focus is debated as to whether it falls under the camera movement or camera technique category. By adjusting the camera lens you can bring the camera from out of focus, to in focus. This is a simple but effective technique to shift the viewer’s focus from one character to another, or from a foreground to a background. If you don’t want to move the camera, you can get creative with this static shot. You can see this technique used here:

Notes from the author, Suhaib Kawish:

With this new-found knowledge of camera movements, I direct your attention to this captivating funeral scene from the 1964 film Soy Cuba. This funeral scene has a combination of different camera movements. Pay attention to the dolly movement that follows the characters, the pedestal movements and how it impacts your perception of the scene, and finally the tracking movement of the flag being passed around. You can explore this scene further and understand it in more detail if you read my previous articles about camera framing and camera angles.

The next time you work on a product promotional video or even a short personal project, look at ways you can incorporate these camera movements.

Some personal notes

These camera movements allow me to capture the emotions of the places I visit during my travels. Sometimes, I include my travel companions in the frame to increase layers to the story. I use a simple camera gimbal to carry out these movements, however, I have also got a similar effect with just my phone camera thanks to the in-built stabilisation and other features of modern cameras and phones.

Different camera elements, used individually or combined, influence a viewer’s experience and emotions. While camera shots allow the viewers to perceive the character and the story, camera angles help add layers to the story.

One journal article has found that viewers are more likely to retain and recall stories when watching videos with the right camera angles than without. Camera angles help shape the mindset of the character and the meaning of the story. Remember the characters from Pulp Fiction or the plot of The Dark Knight? A lot of how you remember them and your perception of them is because of the camera angles used throughout the films. So, camera angles build a narrative to the character, and in extension to the story which viewers carry after the story ends.

Below, we’ll explore how camera angles influence your perception of a character or scene.

1. Eye level

This angle is usually shot from the eye level of a character. This angle helps viewers identify with the emotions of the character. The eye level angle often helps humanise a character, placing the viewer on ‘equal footing’. Variations of this angle include ‘hip level’ and ‘knee level’.

Uses: Eye level angles combined with a close-up shot of a subject in tears will cause the viewers to empathise with the character and share the intensity of the situation. It can also be used to establish the character as a peer to the viewer, and together they go through the journey or story together.

2. Low angle

This shot tends to isolate the subjects from the surrounding, making them powerful and dominant. The low angle makes the subject look larger which brings the viewers’ emphasis on the character’s power. This could be a good or bad thing depending on the context of the shot.

Uses: To show the character’s empowering moment over the others in the story, like when Batman puts on the suit. Every King Kong shot to shot the ‘largeness’ of the character.

3. High angle

This angle is the opposite of the one mentioned above. The high angle makes the subject small and often powerless. These shots are used to convey the vulnerability and lack of protection. In a scene, the high angle shot can be used to contract the character in the context of the environment.

Uses: To show a character that has been humiliated, feels week, or sometimes to show freedom and relief. A high angle shot used in the Hobbit establishes the size of the hobbit and also defines how other characters look and treat him.

4. Overhead angle (aerial, birds-eye, God’s eye):

This shot is mostly use to establish the narrative of the story. The overhead shot conveys the larger picture of the story and the character in relation to it. The overhead shot, when taken from a long distance, is what makes a birds-eye view or aerial angle.

Uses: When you want to communicate the city or the place the story is going to take place. To reveal the start of a war an aerial shot is used to reveal the situation of the scene. To make the character look insignificant to the story or the environment. To cover more than what a low angle shot would cover in a scene.

5. Dutch angle

The Dutch angle is an off-kilter angle, portraying the psychological uneasiness of a story and intensified tension in a scene. The viewer experiences the insanity of a character. In movies such as The Dark Knight, this angle is associated with the character (The Joker), rather than the scene overall.

Uses: Portraying a non-traditional villain and his skewed vision of the world. It can be used to build tension among viewers and raise the stakes of the situation when something bad is about to happen.

BONUS:

A term often used by cinematographers is ‘angle plus angle’. This is when you use a low or high angle with a Dutch angle in a single shot. A use can for this is using a low angle with a Dutch angle to show the dominance of a character and psychological uneasiness of the scene. These shots are also used to convey vulnerability during uneasiness in the scene.

• 72% of customers prefer video to learn about new products
• 82% of businesses report that videos are a popular tactic for content marketing
• 43% of customers want to see more video content from the brands they follow

The numbers are clear – consumers prefer video. So, let’s get creating!

To get started, you’ll need a camera (your phone camera should do the trick!) and some content ideas. Below, we’ll explore how camera angles impact emotions in a video – and how you can leverage these techniques to take your video content to the next level.

1. Close up / Extreme close up

This is one of the most common shots in videos where the significance is on the expression of the character. There are two variations to this; the close up and the extreme close up. The close up frames the face of the character and often the top of their shoulders. The extreme close up (sometimes referred to as The Choker) covers part of the face.

Emotions: Intimacy and tension. The viewers experience the character’s emotions personally.

Use cases: In classic cowboy movies close ups are often used to highlight a high tension scene – the close up gives us a clear view of the characters eyes and expression. A close up shot establishes a strong emotional connection between the character and the viewers.

2. Medium

This shot is used when you want to show the body language details of the subject from waist up in addition to the surroundings. It is also known as the “Sweet Spot” shot as it increases the watch-ability of the scene, allowing the viewers to switch focus between characters and the surrounding environment. There are three variations; the cowboy shot covers the character to around the thighs, the medium shot is until the knees and the full shot covers the character to their feet.

Emotions: Makes the viewer feel involved in the story. The viewers become a direct audience (listener) to the character and feel like they are a part of the plot.

Use cases: Characters having a conversation, a character walking around a space and interacting with props, or in an interview for non-fictional videos.

3. Long or extreme long

A long or extreme long shot is to get a complete visual of the character and the surroundings. A long shot is one or two characters in a frame with their environment. In the extreme long shot, the character is nearly lost in the frame as it covers such a large environment. Long shots and extreme long shots set the plot in the story and give context for the viewers by establishing the characters interaction with their surroundings.

Emotions: Isolation. On-lookers to the story, not involved.

Use cases: An action sequence between 2 characters would be a long shot with more characters and will be an extreme long shot.

4. Over the shoulder

An over the shoulder shot is when the character is viewed from behind a character who is not the focus of the scene. This is used to show the reaction of one character towards another in a conversation. The character is placed in medium to close shot, so the viewers can focus on the expressions. Over the shoulder shots are used to show a character overlooking a scene from a distance. These shots help establish the relation two characters share or the characters share with the story.

Emotions: Connect and empathise with the characters. Third-person in a conversation.

Use cases: Discussions, arguments and intimate conversations between characters.

5. Point of view

The point of view shot or POV shows what the character is looking at, as if you were in their shoes. This is recorded from eye level to allow the viewer to get a better perspective of the character’s state of mind. These shots create anticipation and expectation from the viewer.

Emotions: First person perspective – an ‘in their shoes’ experience.

Use cases: Character waking up or drifting into unconsciousness. Looking through binoculars. Looking in a rear-view mirror while driving. The famous ‘follow me’ shots from Instagram are an example of POV shots.

Camera shots are one of the many elements in the art of video production. Keep an eye out for future articles exploring what goes into creating great video content – whether it’s a quick video for social media or a brand video.

In this blog post, I want to cover a few of my thoughts and experiences. Living in Canberra I’ve been fortunate to shoot all around the capital, do a lot of photography while travelling, and will soon be opening my own photography studio in Canberra!

What gear to start with

The sooner you can start shooting with a camera that can give you manual controls the better – yes, even using your smartphone with manual controls is a great start. Otherwise, heading to Gumtree (this search) and buying a Canon or Nikon DSLR is good too, just make sure to check that it has the features you are after.

Personally, I’m a Canon fan, their colour science is amazing and I’ve trusted their cameras ever since I started shooting. This post here covers my personal picks if you’re shooting video and my photography pick doesn’t really change but heading to Amazon and checking out the cheapest Canon DSLR for sale is excellent as well.

How do I learn to use the camera

If you ask me, the best way to learn how to use the camera is to go out there and shoot. Watch YouTube tutorials as well, but put them to practice. Learn the limits of your camera, what it can do and what it can’t do, how high you can turn the ISO up to etc. You’re always welcome to reach out if you would like a one-on-one lesson as well!

What do all these terms mean

This section is an extension on the point above. The camera world is full of terminology – the deeper you go the more terminology you hear about. There are a few terms and phrases that I think would be extremely helpful even before you go out and buy a camera.

Megapixels

This term related to the number of pixels on the sensor. Higher is better, but past around 12 megapixels, the difference isn’t noticeable. What you are better off focusing on is the sensor itself.

Sensor

Generally speaking the term sensor is talking about the most important part of the camera – the part that captures the image. Every camera, even the one in your phone, has a sensor. While the megapixels of the sensor matter, ultimately, the overall performance of the sensor is even more important. Things like how it performs in low light settings, and its dynamic range.

There are different sensors sizes, but the most common are Four Thirds, APS-C (common is cheaper DSLRs) and Full Frame. You can read more about the sensor sizes here:

Dynamic Range

Dynamic range refers to the difference between the darkest point and the brightest point within a single image. A higher dynamic range is desirable as this means that in a sunset photo for example, the foreground doesn’t end up as a silhouette. A high dynamic range means that you can capture the foreground and the detail in the foreground, as well as capturing the sunset and the colours in the sky. If dynamic range was low you might capture the foreground but the sky might be completely bright and overexposed.

In the image above, while the sun itself is very bright, you can see the camera has captured some detail in the sky. At the same time, the model and the foreground are still well-lit.

Aperture (F-Stop)

Aperture refers to how wide open the camera gets and ultimately refers to how much light is let to the sensor. Aperture is controlled and limited by the lens and has little to do with the sensor.

ISO

The ISO setting determines how dark or bright a scene is. Better sensors can go to higher ISOs and the higher the ISO the more light the lens can collect even in a dark scene. Be mindful, however, as the higher the ISO the more ‘grain’ or ‘noise’ that can be introduced to the image!

There are of course, many more terms, feel free to reach out if I can clarify anything for you. I will continue to add to this list as well.

Canberra is too boring

I had to include this! I hear it so much, especially when it comes to photography – Canberra is so boring and there is nowhere to shoot. The logic follows that since Canberra is so boring, there is less opportunity to learn. But, I’m here to tell you that you are wrong! Get out and shoot, put yourself in interesting environments and you’ll find out new and exciting things about your camera and your capabilities!

An extra skill to have

Photography is a great skill to have (one that will never be replaced by robots, either!). In this post we covered what gear to start with (hint, Canon’s cheapest DSLR), how to learn photography and a few terms that you should know when getting into photography.

Reach out to me once you’ve put your skills into practice and show me what you’ve been able to capture!

Using video as part of your content marketing strategy, or even to just capture high-quality testimonials for social media or your website is a great approach and one that we would certainly recommend.

Camera

I started with a Canon 600D, it takes amazing photos for the price and didn’t have autofocus for video but the 750D below does. To be honest, the cheapest Canon DSLR with autofocus for video is enough for photos and content marketing. Canon cameras tend to have really good colours and produce pleasing results right out of the camera, so you won’t have to edit the videos or photos if you don’t want to.

Buy the Canon 750D

Camera Lens

Also known as the nifty fifty, this lens lets in an amazing amount of light which results in a smooth bokeh effect in the background. Since you’re using it with a cropped sensor also known as APS-C, the 50mm will result in more of an 80mm image in practice but you can compensate for that by moving further away from the camera.

Buy the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8

Tripod

This is identical to the tripod I purchased, it lasted a decent amount of time for the price. The plastic did eventually break but unless you’re looking for panning or fancy features from your tripod, you just need something that will hold the camera stable and in one spot. If you’re based in Australia you might be tempted to buy a simple JB HiFi camera tripod, but be aware that you can get a lot more value from our recommendation.

Buy the Weifeng 160cm Dual Bubble Level Camera Tripod

Microphone

Most places would recommend you go with one of Rode’s products, but for half the price you can get really good sound and you won’t even notice a difference in quality.

Buy the TAKSTAR SGC-598 from https://amzn.to/2U8wRYp

Bonus: Lighting

If you can stretch your budget, getting an additional lighting source like the LED lights below would serve you extremely well. The kit below includes the battery as well which can cost $30 when purchased separately.

Buy the Neewer T120

If you’re the fashion, photography, or modelling industries, the groups below are worth joining. Not just to see what is happening locally but to also find collaboration opportunities that can help market your business to new users and brands.

Fashion, model and photographer Facebook Groups

Below are a few Canberra-based Facebook Groups worth being a part of and engaging with. You can reach thousands of Canberra based creatives through this way and even expand your network of local friends.

Canberra photographers, models and MUAs

4,000+ members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/canberraphotographers/

Canberra Models and Creatives

1,000+ members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/333428046819775

Canberra Model Portfolios

2,000+ members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/384232491623723

Hair and Beauty Models Canberra

300+ members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/hairandbeautymodelscanberra/

Business and networking Facebook Groups

It’s important not to forget business-related groups locally as well. These groups can not only help answer any questions that might pop up, but also could help find collaborations that are a little out of the ordinary.

Canberra Small Business Network

1,000+ members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/124323580924534

The Women’s Collective

300+ members

https://www.facebook.com/groups/938578522874687

Instagram

There are a lot of Canberra models and brands on Instagram. Some come to mind with 5-figure and 6-figure fan bases. Approaching these individuals and brands with ideas for collaboration can help both parties reach new users and grow your following.

How should you ask for collaborations?

What you ask and how you ask for it are the most important parts of a successful collaboration with fellow creatives. No matter what you do whether that be photography, makeup or run your own fashion label, you want to be sure you are providing an equal exchange of value for everyone. Canberra is a relatively small place which makes it easy to get your name out but at the same time makes it easy for any negativity around your brand or yourself to spread.

When approaching people for collaborations, try to be creative. Chances are that the more popular individuals and brands get requests for collaboration all the time so a creative approach can help you stand out from the crowd.

Good luck with your collaborations, you can always email us at hello@futuretheory.co if you’d like us to help!

The fact is that there has never been a time in human existence that this many people have access to videoing devices. Not just any video device either, but smartphones that in a lot of cases are capable of creating stunning cinematic features that were not possible just 5 years ago. Two videos that really hammer home my point:

No matter what device you decide to use whether that be a dedicated camera, or your smartphone, the following tips will help you lift your game.

1. Shoot horizontally where possible

Not only does horizontal video match the eye’s natural field of view, it also allows for better viewing on laptops, desktops, TVs and most other screens. By filling up the whole screen with video, the person watching is allowed to feel like they are within what they are watching, and really connect with what is on the screen.

2. Use a tripod

Shaky video can give people headaches, or in some cases even make them feel nauseous. While nicer tripods can cost a lot of money, any tripod or stabilisation is better than nothing. They can be picked up on eBay for even a few dollars – they don’t have to be tall tripods, something to hold the device steady on a desk is a good start.

3. Balance audio levels between interviewer and interviewee

A common method to use video within a business setting is when getting testimonials or interviewing someone of interest. Depending on how much you want to edit the video, you might include both the interviewer and the interviewee. Its common to then have the interviewer (who is also often shooting the video) much closer to the phone, and the interviewee further away. This naturally gives you an imbalance in the sound levels that can make a video unwatchable. It’s best to hit record, and then use a tripod to position the video device between the interviewer and the interviewee. Try to use as quiet a location as possible, this will help too.

4. Use natural lighting where possible or use a very bright light source

No matter what device you are using to shoot your videos, more light is a sure way to increase the quality of the image. Using natural light is the most balanced and cheapest way to accomplish good lighting but that may not always be possible. It can be complex getting a pro level lighting set up, but any well lit room should also be fine. Try to use lights that are closer to perfect white rather than yellowish. Most devices also let you correct the white balance to account for yellowy light, if this is the case you should change through the options and work out what looks best for you.

If you decide to use an artificial light source, make sure it doesn’t blind anyone in the video and that it also does not cast dark, obvious shadows. This can happen when using natural light as well but the sun’s light is usually nicely softened by the time it gets to us.