So, when I started this series of Tech Talk blog posts, I did so on the basis that there is a dearth of good information on the internet regarding my craft. What I’ve started to discover to my delight is that there’s more information than I first thought. Here’s a few of the resources I’ve discovered and why I love them.
Video Resources
The magnificent Jasin Boland talking about his favourite gear and the joys of working alongside a talented DoP. Jasin is an amazingly engaging speaker, really knows his stuff and creates sensational movie stills. Jasin works predominantly on action films so talks about how lucky he is to often shoot without a blimp on film shoots. This interview was recorded during the making of Aeon Flux.
Baz Lurhmann and his on set photographer, James Fisher talk about the importance of the role of a photographer on a film shoot, in particular about the making of Baz’s epic feature film Australia.
Blog Articles and web sites
Then here’s a series of blog articles relevant to shooting stills on and marketing of films. In particular check out Karen Ballard’s article on shooting stills for Stephen Spielberg on Munich shows a master director really understanding the value of the role of the stills photographer.
I also think its very important for any aspiring unit stills photographer to have at least a basic appreciation and understanding of the role of the unit publicist and the practices of film marketing and publicity teams. As a photographer, you’re going to be hired again and again by delivering images that will seamlessly drop into Electronic Press Kits (EPKs) and other film marketing strategies. Here’s some great links that I think reflect best practice for a movie stills photographer:
- 5 Elements to being a good stills photographer – Kevin L Powers A photographer’s overview of how to shoot stills on movie sets
- Alex Bailey – Movie Stills Blog Film set photographer and author of “Movie Photos”
- BBC Publicity Stills Guide Detailed information about how to deliver to the BBC publicity department the stills that they need to market commissioned television.
- Chris Jones' Top 14 Tips How to get the publicity stills that will help sell your film
- Hollywood Still Photography – Shutterbug Shutterbug magazine feature on production stills (US perspective)
- Independent Magazine – Don't overlook production stills! Photographers, journalists and film makers talk about the importance of unit stills to marketing film projects
- Making of a One Sheet Rodriguez’ Rico Torres talks us through how he managed to capture the image that later become an iconic movie poster for Roberto “Sin City” featuring Bruce Willis.
- Q&A – Cineformation Film Publicity & Photography Q&A with David Appleby & Susan d’Arcy
- Rico Torres Blog Seriesof articles giving insight into Rico’s highly stylised approach to gallery and unit still photography
- SETIQUETTE for Camera Crew Kim Gottlieb-Walker has edited this comprehensive IATSE600-endorsed resource for various crew on how to conduct themselves on set. There is a thorough and well written section devoted to unit stills photographers and is a must read.
- The role of the Stills Photographer – Skillset thorough article on the role of the stills photographer
- The second most important photographer on set – Photopreneur On Set Photography article
- Want to work in TV? Shu Richmond’s excellent great career advice blog
Tech Talk – The musings of me
Finally, don’t forget about my continued musings on the art of shooting publicity stills on film sets:
- TT 01 Why you need to have a stills photographer on a film shoot
- TT 02 5 crucial on set relationships for a Production Stills Photographer
- TT 03 5 Mistakes made by on set photographers
- TT 04 Copyright and the Production Stills photographer
- TT 05 Three Important Publicity Shots for a Production Stills Photographer
- TT 06 Call Sheets. Why I love them, and why you should too
- TT 07 Delivering production stills to the people who need them
- TT 08 5 tips for working with actors
- TT 09 The best movie stills resources for the on set photographer
- TT 10 Film set jargon for unit stills photographers
- TT 11 Make the crew look good!
- TT 12 Getting work as a stills photographer
- TT 13 Q&A on shooting film stills
- TT 14 Choosing your projects
- TT 15 Sound blimp round up
- TT 16 3 More crucial on set relationships for stills photographers
- TT 17 After the show is done – after care for unit stills photographers
- TT 18 5 Great ways to spend your on set down time productively
- TT 19 Making yourself useful on set.
- TT 20 Inspirational Movie Stills
- TT 21 Film marketing pitfalls and great examples of productions avoiding them
- TT 22 Film marketing and publicity links
- TT 23 Book review: “Movie Photos” by Alex Bailey
- TT 24 tips for actors to get the best working with a stills phographer
- TT 25 Innovative use of stills in movie marketing
- TT 26 Camera Sound Blimps – An update
- TT 27 Run a film and TV “Specials Shoot” – Part 1, Planning
- TT 28 Run a film and TV “Specials Shoot” – Part 2, The shoot
- TT 29 Hollywood Unit Publicist Ernie Malik interview
- TT 30 Aquatech Blimps Version 2 – Preliminary Thoughts
- TT 31 Tips for setting up an Aquatech Blimp with the BT145 Lens tube for Canon EF 24-70 f/2.8L II
- TT 32 Three unit stills shooters compare Aquatech “Scout” Sound blimp to the Fatboy
- TT 33 Unit Photographer’s Laptop Workstation Hack
- TT 34 Negotiate Your Rate For Unit Stills Photography
Think I’m missing topics or great resources? Then drop me a line and tell me about them! You can share this link easily by clicking on the icons below.