Jasmine was the winner of Canon’s Dream Squad competition and over the past few months she’s been working with a number of experts to refine her film, photography and storytelling skills.
When I was presented with this opportunity, I knew that I wanted to combine my love of wildlife and videography to produce not only something that I was proud of, but something with a purpose.
My ultimate goal is to find people and projects that are doing amazing things for animals and the environment, capture what they’re doing, and share it with the world.
Here’s the film I made for Raptor Vision
Raptor Vision is a family owned business dedicated to educating the public about the plight of Australian birds of prey. They care for a variety of raptor species, and through various events and demonstrations, get people of all ages up close and personal with their amazing birds.
I wanted to highlight what they do through a short but beautiful video and the team from Canon did an amazing job at helping me through the entire process. Alongside a production company they started off by showing me how to develop a storyboard and plan each shot that I wanted to capture for the video.
This way I could be more productive on the day, and capture everything that I needed to tell the story without missing any vital details, or wasting any time. The team arrived on Sunday morning, and we shot from about 3pm on Sunday afternoon until sunset.
Take a look behind the scenes
We captured amazing footage of Jason interacting with his wedge-tailed eagle ‘Xena’, and also shot a few different owl species getting some exercise and working through some training with Jason. My favourite part of the shoot would have to be filming the gorgeous kids that joined us for the shoot - a big part of Raptor Visions work is educating children and I think this is so important - teaching children to love and conserve wildlife is vital for the future our animals and their environments. The following morning, we interviewed Jason on camera and had him tell the story of Raptor Vision in his own words.
My vision for the piece was to have Jason’s voice narrate the lovely imagery and I think the end product turned out to be very cinematic and beautiful. The team guided me through the entire post-production process, from sorting and trimming clips, to piecing together narration, and finally adding some inspirational audio and enhancing the colours of the footage.
I can’t wait to share this video with the world and I really hope it inspires people to feel a sense of connectivity and love of the natural world. I’m very grateful for this invaluable experience, as I learned so much about what it takes to transform an idea into a beautiful story. Perhaps the most inspiring lesson I learned is that you don’t need thousands of dollars worth of equipment - the entire film was captured on the EOS 80D - at the end of the day, it’s the story that matters. I’m looking forward to using the skills I’ve learned throughout my whole journey with the Canon Dream Squad, to continue to capture more beautiful stories of inspiring people and projects.
One of the great things about being chosen as Canon’s Dream Squad winner has been the chance to meet and work with some true content experts. I did a workshop with Canon Master Abraham Joffe, who gave me some great pointers about editing film and how to make compelling content. Here's 7 key points I took away from the experience:
1. Organisation
Have all of your content in one place. This includes video clips, stills and music. Being organised in this way will help to save precious time during the editing process. It can be tempting to jump straight into a cut, especially when importing new material, but it pays dividends to be patient and get organised. Not only does this save time down the track, but the increased efficiency will mean more time spent on the edits themselves, ultimately making them better.
2. The ‘house’ analogy
Editing is like building a house. While it can be tempting to start picking out what coloured cushions you want, you really need to start with the structure and a framework. Same with editing. Story, and therefore structure, is king. So make sure you spend considerable time and attention getting the flow of the story in place first before rushing to your favourite shots. People remember great stories, not great visuals (although they always help!).
3. Timing - Longevity of clips/sequences.
Think about the contribution of each individual piece of content to the story. You want your audience to be captivated for the whole story, so it’s important to assess how long each clip or photo needs to be on the screen for. This will be different with each clip or photo; some need to set the scene or mood, whereas others need time to resonate with the audience.
4. Sound Design
The music also plays a huge role in the story. Timing beats to clips, fading the music in and out with each chapter etc. is an important influence in the storytelling process. Sound design is a huge contributor to the flow and coherence of your film. People will forgive average pictures long before they tolerate bad sound.
5. Narration and Dialogue
Do you really need to say that, or does the content say enough? You don’t want to give too much away in your narration. Some things don’t need to be spoken out loud, instead leave the interpretation up to your audience. Don't tell them something they already know. All words, either through interview, pieces-to-camera (PTC's), or narration need to contribute meaningfully to the story. If something can be said in half the time, then cut it.
6. Maintain alertness
Editing requires focus and concentration. When you find yourself fading, take a break or resume the next day with fresh eyes. Problem sequences have a funny way of solving themselves swiftly after a good rest.
7. Save-Save-Save!
Save your project regularly and keep a backup on the cloud!
Taking the plunge and delving into your own pet project isn’t as daunting as it seems when your passion drives you.
We’re still the twin sisters with the humble beginnings. Where we are now is not where we set out to be, and there is magic in the surprises of life. It’s the reminder that unexpected opportunities can cross your path, and you have the ability to grab them and shape them exactly the way you want to.
For us this unexpected opportunity was more than just appearing and winning on Network Nine’s renovation show ‘The Block’. Whilst everyone sees this as the actual success, we know that our personal win was to be given the opportunity to discover our true passion. We were both already enjoying highly satisfying careers in the South Australian police force and tracking well into our 7th year. After appearing on the show, we knew that life was taking a different trajectory and we could not deny this new direction. After the show, we returned to the force for one shift and knew at that point that it was time to hand in our badges. It was at that very moment that we decided to take the plunge.
Taking the plunge is a physical action (you resign, you start a business, etc.) and largely an emotional action. It’s like diving into a rabbit hole head first; you won’t do it unless you’re emotionally ready to leap forward, and taking this leap means you consider everything that meets you along the way, the triumphs and the challenges. These triumphs and challenges led us to build our dream squad, embrace our passions and begin to showcase our life and career through beautiful visual content and creative ideas.
Learning how to run our business meant we had to delve deep into creativity and by this we are not referring to our interior design work.
Developing quality visual content that showcases our portfolio and our life has been a key aspect in helping us tell our story and promote our business effectively. It allows us to showcase our client work, share our brand collaborations with our audience, allowing them to follow our story and engage with us in real-time. Our content is largely visual so photography is the primary tool we would recommend that any business start-up should truly embrace. Aside from fulfilling key business goals, it allows us to capture and share parts of our personal lives, which helps us build a truly real and authentic brand.
Taking the plunge and delving into your own pet project isn’t as daunting as it seems when your passion drives you forward. From there, turn your focus to these elements while building your new business empire!
Take advantage of all your social channels, there is so much you can do, in a variety of ways, across all platforms. For example, we find success in:
- Using Facebook to focus on content that represents your brand values and personal passions to allow you to welcome your followers into your life and journey – connection is everything!
- Using Instagram to demonstrate and maintain an ethos of creativity, aspiration and continuous reinvention through quality imagery and variation.
- Or amplifying your content on your personal blog and/or website to demonstrate your passions, interests and key motivations through storytelling.
- Develop your style, and don’t let anyone change it, particularly when it comes to visual content that showcases your portfolio – high quality visuals and an eye for detail are the key to success! And don’t forget to make it consistent, this is what builds your brand and signature style.
- Disregard the critics; everyone has an opinion, don’t be swayed by it
- Check the fire in the belly; some days can get tough, make sure your fire is burning – at the very least ensure you have your pilot light on as it will carry you through the bumpy times.
- Drop the regrets; they never serve you. Learn from your mistakes and see them as blessings in disguise.
Eugene Tan is the mastermind behind Aquabumps - an online photography journal, covering all that’s beautiful, beach side at 6am.
Once a disgruntled advertising creative, Eugene found his true calling when he combined his three passions; photography, surfing and the web. What started as a regular email amongst a handful of friends has grown into a thriving business reaching all corners of the globe.
Being paid for our art and creative work, it’s a challenge. When you’re starting out it’s all about valuing your time, craft and quality
Questions
Briefly describe your business?
We are photographers, we work as image makers and video producers/directors. We capture all things in Hair, Beauty, Fashion and Advertising.
What were you doing before you turned your passion into your career?
Kurt: I was a salesman, working as an Insurance Broker. It was the wrong career choice for me, it didn’t suit my personality or life but it had an attractively high salary.
Nathan: I was working as manager in retail with Bunnings and advertising with Nova Radio. It paid well but just wasn’t fulfilling.
What has been your biggest business challenge?
Making Money! Being paid for our art and creative work, it’s a challenge. When you’re starting out it’s all about valuing your time, craft and quality.
When did you know you made the right decision in turning your passion into a business?
We were driving down St Kilda road, and saw our work printed on a billboard poster - we literally crossed over 4 lanes of traffic pulled over and took a photograph of ourselves in front of our shot - that was the moment.
Describe the people in your dream squad.
Our team- makeup, hair stylist and creative team. We are all here for the same reason.
What was the first photo you took for your business?
Our first job was photographing for a swimwear campaign for an Australian swimwear label. They still use our images to this day - since we didn’t understand usage so well back then :)
Do you use social media as business tool?
Yes! Social media is a big form of marketing for businesses. We use Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. Nowadays, clients can look at our Instagram and judge whether we are the right one for the job.
What are your top tips in turning your passion into something more?
Start as soon as you can, don’t hesitate and don’t let others deter you from your passion if you truly have the drive to become a photographer. Assist photographers in the area you would like to work in and learn from them. Learn not only their techniques but watch how they deal with customers and the little details they do.
Focus on what you’re interested in. What keeps you excited about photographing? If that’s photographing hair & beauty then do that and keep doing it until you’re the person who does it so well everyone else looks to you - it’s your identity
Build your team and get the best creative team around you can muster
Learn about usage, costs of doing business, working with professional team etc.
Always be willing to learn. In a constantly evolving industry it is vital to remain current.
Starting out with no business experience and earning virtually nothing for the first 2 years! One of the things you learn pretty quickly in business is that your biggest challenge is the mental one... you'll want to throw in the towel so many times but the ones who succeed are usually the ones who are the most persistent.
Describe your business.
BUF Girls (originally called "Bottoms Up! Fitness") is both a live and online health and fitness program, driven by trainers with a mission to help girls fall in love with an active lifestyle – it’s all about having fun while you get fit.
What convinced you to take the plunge and focus completely on your passion?
I've always been into health and fitness and wanted to start a business that helped other women understand what a gift their bodies were and how special it is to be able to move athletically and take control of your health. For me, fitness means freedom, fun and connection, and those are such important gifts to share with other women.
What has been your biggest business challenge?
Starting out with no business experience and earning virtually nothing for the first 2 years! One of the things that you learn pretty quickly in business is that your biggest challenge is the mental one... you'll want to throw in the towel so many times but the ones who succeed are usually the ones who are the most persistent.
How important is content in telling your story?
We use photos and videos everywhere! On our websites, social media, our email marketing, advertising, flyers, on the side of the gym... photography is such a crucial part of getting our message across. It helps convey the fun and emotion that tell our story.
What are your top tips in turning your passion into something more?
Know your niche. It's so much better to be the best in your niche than to go after the biggest market, at least when you're starting out.
Keep learning through books, networking and podcasts. I listen to a podcast or audio book every time I'm in the car and take every opportunity to learn from other people, across many industries.
If you're a local business, become part of the local community. Get to know people, make friends, refer them business and you won't have to ask for anything.
Outsource what you can as soon as you can. Hiring my amazing admin support saved me from burnout.
Surround yourself with the the right people who are as passionate about your vision as you are, and don’t be afraid to say goodbye if your business isn’t the right path for them anymore.
What advice would you give your 18 year old self?
Learn how to manage money and use technology now and you'll make things so much easier later in life!
What advice would you give to someone considering turning their passion into something more?
Go for it! It's the most rewarding thing you can ever do! Just remember, building a business is a marathon not a sprint. It'll take you so much longer than you think to create a great brand, so just keep putting one foot in front of the other, keep moving, keep learning, keep evolving and you will eventually make it.
You have to spend money to make money but spend it wisely! Keep analysing to make sure that you are seeing the results.
Briefly describe your business?
Flora Folk is a floral design studio that specialises in unique floral design.
What convinced you to take the plunge and focus completely on your passion?
Flora Folk began with a long standing urge to create a business of my own, I always loved being around nature and once I knew I wanted to work with flowers and plants that urge just grew stronger and stronger.
I would sit on Pinterest in my lunch break pinning flowers like crazy until one day I quit and started Flora Folk.
What has been your biggest business challenge?
The big decisions, sacrifices and commitments you have to make in order to take your business to the next level can been challenging. I’ve learnt from my mistakes, I source opinions and most importantly trust my own decisions.
Tell us about the moment you knew you’d made the right decision to turn your passion into something more?
After my first big event, seeing the result of the hard work and hearing the positive feedback.
Describe the people in your ‘Dream Squad?
Flora Folk has a bunch of incredibly talented floral freelancers that work on different events. One thing I’ve learned in business, it is absolutely crucial to treat people well who work for you.
How important is content in telling your story?
The quality of images are very important to best represent my brand and the work that we create. I mostly focus on imagery across my website and social media platforms. Instagram generates the most enquiries for Flora Folk – it’s far more cost effective than advertising.
What are your top tips in turning your passion into something more?
Do something you are passionate about and be prepared for a roller coaster ride.
Make sure you have enough income or savings to pay the bills.
You have to spend money to make money but spend it wisely! Keep analysing to make sure that you are seeing the results.
Branding and your brand image is everything - if it doesn’t fit your brand vision then don’t do it.
The quality of images you use to represent your brand are very important. If you are on a limited budget look at alternatives like collaborations with others to help create great content.
What advice would you give to someone considering turning their passion into their career?
If you think you’ve got the drive, then give it a go! Just look into the market that you are going into.
It’s a really special moment when someone is prepared to pay for something you’ve spent so much time, energy, investment and love getting to market.
Briefly describe business?
Working with my sister-in-law, we are combining planting with objects (both found and made) and offering creative and inspiring ways to integrate plants into your home. Leafsmith & Kin is a love for all things green combined with the idea of a craft, artisan or maker.
What convinced you to take the plunge to bring your passion to life?
Bek and I have always loved growing and propagating, it was her suggestion that we should ‘do something’ with this spare-time passion. The deadline was set once we were encouraged to launch at Finders Keepers for Spring Summer 2015; one of the most respected makers’ markets in Australia.
What has been your biggest business challenge?
When it’s a hand crafted product it’s very labour intensive, so we’ve approached those challenges through trusty methods like ‘learning by doing’ and ‘divide and conquer’. I went along to a leather making course so my focus is on leather work and our brand identity, while Bek concentrates on plants and ceramics production. Sourcing great makers and suppliers, especially growers, has also been a challenge, closely followed by the classics like pricing, margins, business financials and knowing how much to produce for each market.
When did you know you’d made the right decision in turning your passion into a business?
When we sold our first porcelain pot. It’s a really special moment when someone is prepared to pay for something you’ve spent so much time, energy, investment and love getting to market.
Do you use social media as a business tool?
Yes – Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest. Instagram is our primary space and where we are attracting like-minded followers - it’s such a visual platform so it’s the perfect fit for brands like ours. It’s also been great for collaboration and getting feedback, along with the community aspect. Facebook still tends to be more for people we know than a source of new business, however we expect this will grow given we’re such a new business. Pinterest is a very interesting space – we use it to be engaged in the wider communities for plants, vessels and ‘plant accoutrements’ as we call them. Pinterest is our mood board and a great inspiration source, particularly on greening internal spaces.
What are your top tips in turning your passion into something more?
1. Really think about your branding and how that plays out in the experience people have with you – the tactical items like on pack, packaging, business cards, as well your online presence.
2. Spend time on your financials and pricing structures, know what else is on offer in your category
3. Make sure you’ve got the right team around you
4. Seek feedback regularly, from customers, peers and gurus
5. Be prepared to constantly fine tune what you’re doing and adapt to change and unexpected curve balls!
What advice would you give your 18 year old self?
Don’t let your passions or your weirdness be hidden or repressed as you get older. Embrace it now and hang on to it! Be proud of it, let it out there in the wild. Especially when having more responsibilities and supporting a family becomes paramount. We encourage our kids to express themselves, explore and experiment so let’s model it for them; show them we don’t lose our passions when we graduate to ‘grown-up’.
What were you doing before you turned your passion into something more?
I fell into the world of styling. I worked for a wholesale home wares company and discovered this career. Once I set my mind to it I haven’t looked back. I love my job.
Tell us about the moment you knew you’d made the right decision to focus on your passion?
A chance meeting I met someone who said they would love to bring my brand to life. It was perfect timing.
How important is content in telling your story?
We produce all kinds of photographic images for my brand, lifestyle images for my blog and styled campaign and products shots for my brand. We are in an age where it’s really important to have imagery for everything.
What are your top tips in turning your passion into something more?
