GH3 How Do I Avoid The Problem of People Posing for My GH3? (Still Camera Appearance)

I

Ianscreations

Well-known member
I do a lot of wedding videography.
Ever since switching over from a traditional handheld videocamera to the GH3, I have gotten a LOT more people who pose for me when I am trying to record footage. I have also had a lot more still camera requests.
You can see my setup that I use during the reception here:
http://vaweddingvideo.com/building-a-dslr-camera-rig/
This is where I have the most trouble. I also tell people it is video, and I don't really want to have a small sign on my rig, but what else can I do? I know I could go the route of have a more elaborate rig that better resembles a video camera, but I prefer this tight and small setup during crowded and active receptions.
Any ideas of what I could do or say?
 
People have done this to me when shooting on a C300... not at a wedding, but its happened. Surprised me. I just said "its video". Not sure what else you could do without a sign. Maybe a shirt with your company logo on front and something like "video shooter" or something similar that labels what you're doing on the back?
 
Haha yeah funny isn't it. People stop doing what they're doing, turn around and smile. Keep rolling, tell them it's video and capture the reaction - I always get a laugh....and a moment.
 
I have found a nice rig, video light, external stereo mic and other video related accessories do help a bit. Still doesn't stop everything but the more you can make it look like not just a photo camera the more people will not think of it as a photo camera.
 
when im using a glidecam rig, or my shoulder follow focus rig, I don't run into those kinda problems usually.
But when your going bare minimum, people automatically think your doing photos. You could wear a printed badge saying video crew, or have shirts made.
Or as omnikron put it, find a large blinking red light and place it on the camera :P
 
So funny. This happens to me too. I remember filming once with my GH1 at a horse show event and an elderly guy could not grasp that I was shooting video. He wanted me to take his photo and no matter how much I tried to explain "No, I'm shooting video and currently rolling..." he wouldn't go away until I gave in and, sadly, pretended to take his photo...
 
The up side is that I've had a lot more people come up and talk to me about my rig, which means more business cards handed out than ever before.
 
See if you can find one of those rectangle sun hoods that'll fit - I think it originated from Leica. It might give a more video camera look being rectangle.

Or, buy my new to be designed and manufactured mini screwmount matte box from my nonexistent camera accessory company, specifically to be designed to make a DSLR look like a video camera :Drogar-BigGrin(DBG)

Suppose it is a weird psychological conundrum: A video camera does change a persons' reaction (I'm on TV!!!), and yet a stills camera as well.
 
I get this regularly, if they look at the camera like they think I'm taking a picture, I swing away, if they actually pose I just give thumbs up and move on - occasionally I'll hold the shot way too long and then tell them it's video - usually gets a laugh

what's really funny is the women who think that they're being photographed and pose without actually looking at the camera - you can keep them going for ages...
 
This kind of thing always happens when the equipment being used is mis-identified. If you have a big camera, then people will come up to you and ask if you are BBC, or SKy or ITV, DSLRs are of course ONLY carried by photographers, and the bigger format cameras are mistaken for stills too by anyone old enough to remember the photographer's luxury professional large format cameras. Hold a boom and people are drawn to talk to you. In theatres, where I work - it's very common for people to ask the lighting man to turn the volume down, and doing sound one day behind a very big mixer, I was asked to turn down the temperature for seat F23!

Annoying, but life!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top