
Master accessible cinematography techniques to elevate video quality and sound across any camera in any situation, from essential manual settings to cutting-edge shots and social media-ready outputs.
Meet your teacher, a seasoned filmmaker with on-set work for Red Bull and Discovery Channel. Discover practical cinematography techniques such as camera setup, lighting, audio, and movement rooted in projects.
Learn hands-on lighting techniques for smartphone videography by filming a before and after with ambient and window light, then compare contrast, background, distance, angle, and high-key vs cinematic looks.
Capture extensive coverage by shooting multiple angles of the same action. Use dynamic lighting, varied backgrounds, and camera movement to create engaging, edit-ready footage for post-production.
Learn hacks for great looking DSLR and mirrorless footage using tripods and monopods to reduce shake and add controlled movement.
Explore how to maximize your video settings by mastering exposure, ISO, shutter speed, latitude, picture profile, white balance, aperture, focal length, and frame rate.
Balance exposure by adjusting ISO and shutter speed; 1/50 sec for 24 fps yields cinematic softness, while 1/200 sec yields crisper frames. Aperture shapes depth of field.
Set your frame rate to 24 fps for talking scenes and shoot at about 1/50 s, or 1/60 s. Keep ISO low and use aperture to control depth of field.
Understand aperture fundamentals and f-stops to control depth of field, choosing wide apertures for blurred backgrounds and shallow depth of field, or high f-stops for sharp landscapes and action shots.
Explore how focal length controls the angle of view and depth of field, contrasting wide 20–24 mm with telephoto 200 mm through leaf and mountain examples to show image character.
Master the differences between frame rates from 24 to 240 fps, understanding motion blur, film look, and when to use slow motion for dramatic effect.
Explore how color gels modify studio lighting, creating warmer or cooler tones, while demonstrating diffusion to soften light and adjust exposure and white balance.
Achieve soft natural light using diffused window light, with careful framing and shallow depth of field. Set 24 fps, 1/50 sec shutter, and white balance around 5000K.
Adjust framing by changing focal length and distance, moving from twenty eight to sixty or seventy millimeters to achieve different looks and a shallow depth of field with telephoto view.
Deepen your understanding of camera settings and techniques through a one-on-one discussion with a seasoned filmmaker who blends film craft with modern gear, delivering essential tools for today’s video creators.
Compare shooting on an iPhone to professional cameras, focusing on depth of field and handheld movement. Craft shareable, relatable videos with story, humor, and montage driven by sound.
Celebrate reaching the midcourse checkpoint as you dive into pro audio techniques, B-roll and cutaways, camera movement, shot lists, montage, and gear insights to elevate your videography.
Survey your recording space for noise sources like window noise, air conditioner hum, and fridge buzz, then close windows and keep the mic near the subject for clean audio.
Learn the difference between auto and manual audio settings, dial the record level around negative 12 dB to avoid distortion, and capture crisp voiceovers for sit-down interviews.
Explore practical DIY lighting and sound setup for cinematic videography, including a 36-inch diffuser and a simple C stand with a 90-degree arm to enhance footage and audio quality.
Demonstrate how to record a high quality voiceover by comparing lavalier and shotgun mics, adjusting placement, and using a tripod to improve audio for video.
Explore camera movements - push shots, pull away, tracking shots, arc shots, crane shots, tilt shots, and panning shots - to shape depth, mood, and presence through parallax.
Slow camera movements like panning, tilting, crane, and arc shots establish the foundation for storytelling, while faster movements inject action and energy and shift the viewer across angles.
Synthesize filmmaking and camera techniques by shooting a complete smartphone concept on an iPhone, using deliberate movement, 240 fps, and back-to-back shots for a punchy final edit.
Create an action shot on an iPhone using diverse angles, frame rates, and camera movement, film a standard wide shot, then edit a 5–10 second montage with 5–10 cutaways.
Do you want your videos to be better looking, sounding, creative, shareable, engaging, and impressive to watch?
Are you wanting to get the most out of shooting on your smartphone, DSLR, or mirrorless camera?
Perfect! You've made it to the right video production course!
By the end of this course, you'll have the skillset and film school level understanding of:
1. First Hand Film Set Experience
To begin, you'll join me on the set of a high end client shoot to see a behind the scenes look at how the video production process really works. These lessons are packed with key filmmaking fundamentals and concepts for the rest of the course material to build on top of.
• Set up and choose the best way to shoot your specific video
• Main steps to film a cooler looking and cinematic project
• Cinematography and composition fundamentals
• Techniques to maximize your location and time while shooting
• Creatively use your lenses, surrounding, and camera
2. Get the Most Out of Your Camera Settings
Getting great looking shots first starts with getting your camera set up properly. Here, you'll get crystal clear on how to set your camera's functions, settings, and parameters. These foundational learning lessons will give you the confidence to get out and start shooting.
• Learn how to effectively use all of the functions and settings on your camera
• Get the perfect exposure with ISO, shutter speed, and aperture
• Create a great looking image with white balance and frame rate
• Use picture profile and focal length for your specific shooting style
• Utilize your camera's latitude and dynamic range
3. Light and Shoot Your Scenes Like a Pro
Now that you have a rock solid understanding of your camera, here's where we'll use lighting and video production techniques to make your videos shine. These hands-on lessons will give you the tools to create stunning looking images using natural or artificial lighting.
• Use colored gels, practicals, exposure contrast, your outfit and location choice like a pro
• Make yourself look great on-camera with the right lens choice and proper lighting
• Learn the most essential framing, cinematography, and composition techniques
• Get that "cinematic filmmaking look" for your own personal video setup
• 2 point, 3 point, rim light, natural light, high key and low key lighting
4. Record Crystal Clear Sounding Audio
You've worked alongside me to massively upgrade and improve all things visual, now it's time to talk audio. In this section, we dive into different microphone types, recording environments, audio hacks, and getting the absolute best sounding audio quality possible.
• Set your shoot up for crystal clear sounding audio and great sound dynamics
• Learn how top filmmakers get rid of echoes, buzzing, distortions, pops, and hums
• DIY set up to get great sounding vocals for your videos or podcasts at home
• Top audio recording techniques for video creators and filmmakers
• Audio hacks and which mics to use for different filming situations
5. Create Next Level Vids with B-roll and Cutaway Shots
In this step, you're going to walk away with advanced techniques that experienced video creators use to create exciting and engaging videos. This process will allow you to utilize more advanced film techniques in a way that is fun and easy to use regardless of skill level.
• Film a more professional looking video using shot types different cinematography techniques
• Effectively use coverage to set yourself up for success in the editing process
• Get a filmmaker understanding of the purpose and use of each shot type
• Create a more dynamic final product with framing and multiple angles
• How to use the 180 degree rule, rule of thirds, and frame balancing
6. Get That Cinematic Look with Camera Movement
This is one of my favorite parts of the course, creating cinematic shots with camera movement! There's a reason why it's called "motion picture." Here we take a deep dive into how, when, and why to use different movements to create cinematic looking videos.
• Learn the ideal focal length, movement, frame rate, and composition choices for your project
• Get incredible looking and feeling shots using top video production techniques
• Use the same types of camera movement that you see in feature films
• Learn how movement direction, quality, and speed effect your audience
• Bring an overall filmmaking look and style to your videos
7. Make Your Shot List and Film Your Epic Montage
Once you learn these shot list techniques, you won't go back to shooting important projects without one (trust me)! In this hands-on section, you're going to envision, outline, and shoot the type of montage that turns an ordinary project into an extraordinary project.
• Synthesize all the video production techniques learned into your final course video project
• Step by step guide to knocking out your list of specific shots in the best way possible
• In-camera transitions, filmmaking tricks, and how to make an impactful ending shot
• Essentials to create an organized and practical shot list for all future projects
• Cinematography tips and tricks to make your videos stand out
8. Expert Guest Speakers and Video Production Keys to Success
Here you sit down with me and 3 expert guest speakers that have spent years working as successful full-time filmmakers. These lessons will give you the insights, actionable takeaways, and inspiration that will add some extra creative fuel to the skills you've gained in this course!
• Bonus tools and ways to continue getting better shots after graduating this course
• Top pro's and con's of today's most frequently used camera equipment
• Lens choice, equipment, and tips for properly choosing your video gear
• How to continue to make the most out of your skillset and equipment
• Motivation, progress, growth, and success as a video creator
9. Course Bonuses and Progressing Beyond this Course
You've made it! We worked together to build your skillset through each section and then in the last step, we combined the whole process into your very own crystal clear looking and sounding final product. Now it's time for you to go out their and continue to create videos you love!
• Synthesize, recap, and review all of the lessons learned in the course
• Integrate the tools and know how to continue to improve and grow
• Accept my course challenge to start your new series or project
• Special student bonuses for completing the course
• And much more
My biggest goal for you:
The goal of this course is to give you all the knowledge and techniques that I've gained from 10+ years in the film industry (working with clients like Red Bull, Taco Bell, and Discovery Channel) in a way that is fun to learn and easy to understand.
Shooting better videos no matter what:
Whether you're shooting Instagram videos, YouTube videos, short films, music videos, documentaries, videos for professional clients, personal projects, on a smartphone or camera... The actionable takeaways from this course will benefit you regardless of your equipment or budget.
You'll have lifetime access to:
• 85 Individual video lessons
• 6 Hours of learning content
• 8 Downloadable resources
• 6 Detailed case studies
• 4 Bonus video lectures
• 3 Course Articles
• 12 Hands-on lessons
• 10 Interactive exercises
• 3 Expert guest speakers
• 40 Gigabytes of streamable content
• Updates to all future course materials
• One on one with me in the Q&A section
If you want to learn the tools to shoot videos that you're proud of, this is the course for you.
I'll see you inside!
Julian