GH4 GH4 on On larger budget/expectation commercial shoots

[blazer003]

Maybe it's the market I'm in, but clients don't ask about my gear before hand. I show my reel, and they hire me (or don't). I have had a few raised eyebrows and questions once on set/location. I just sell them on the camera, even if I fudge the details a bit. "This camera is my secret weapon. It produces a better image that 95% of the other cameras out there. This doesn't only shoot in 4K, but the DCI Cinema standard." Client, "The Cinema Standard?" Me, "Yep." No further questions.

I've never had a client be anything but thrilled with the image quality of their final product either. Again, our market isn't exactly huge, but we blow the local TV Station competition out of the water (I know, not saying a whole lot).

 

[Vardalos]

As they say, it helps to be dressed for the occasion………………even your camera. Let’s face it a bare bones GH4 looks a lot better when it’s all dressed up.

View attachment 112688

 

[doubledark]

@ Vandals; any chance you could list the parts in your rig?


cheers

 

[Vardalos]

@ Vandals; any chance you could list the parts in your rig?


cheers

These are a few of the items I’ve used to “Dress Up My GH4”

Video Devices PIX-E5 Monitor/4K Recorder
Came TV Cage
Olympus 12-40mm f2.8 Lens
Genustech Matte Box Lite
Juiced Link Pre Amp

 

[David W. Jones]

Let's be honest, all things being equal, lighting, grip, crew. You could sub just about any modern camera into position and capture the shot.

 

[Greg_E]

Let's be honest, all things being equal, lighting, grip, crew. You could sub just about any modern camera into position and capture the shot.

But some clients don't understand this fact.

 

[David W. Jones]

But some clients don't understand this fact.

Then either you educate them, or rent the camera they want and charge the client for the rental.

 

[Drew Ott]

I'm an advocate of trying to have the coolest looking camera possible. It's not vanity, it's aesthetics. If we are commercial videographers, hired by clients to make their products look cool, then we need to be credible with our ability to make things look cool.

 

[stoneinapond]

I'm an advocate of trying to have the coolest looking camera possible. It's not vanity, it's aesthetics. If we are commercial videographers, hired by clients to make their products look cool, then we need to be credible with our ability to make things look cool.

No, it's vanity. And what is cool for one person is rubbish for another. Either you can do the job or you can't. Hanging stuff off camera just to boost your ego is one thing. Needing parts to accomplish a goal is a totally different beast. If you need the former, well whatever get's you through the night. If you need the latter, then do it for technical reasons, not vanity.

Otherwise, bill accordingly and break a leg, as the stage saying goes…...

 

[scottfs]

No, it's vanity. And what is cool for one person is rubbish for another. Either you can do the job or you can't. Hanging stuff off camera just to boost your ego is one thing. Needing parts to accomplish a goal is a totally different beast. If you need the former, well whatever get's you through the night. If you need the latter, then do it for technical reasons, not vanity.

Otherwise, bill accordingly and break a leg, as the stage saying goes…...

I can haul stuff with my F-150, with a crappy paint job and beat-up interior. Or if I have some extra change, I can get a great paint job and a killer inside. Makes no difference to the gravel I'm hauling in the back, but it's going to just make me a lot happier driving around. So be it.