One of the most challenging assignments is an outdoor videoshoot that includes also speech. The location should be chosen carefully, so that the background noise doesn’t disturb too much, as quite often something starts happening on a nearby road or construction site at the very moment when the filming begins.

The background is also relevant, as moving subjects can attract more attention than the interviewees themselves. Wind and rain are also usually quite challenging, but light snowfall can create a nice atmosphere.

Studio lights are often needed to even out the overall light and remove shadows from faces. Colour temperatures must be adjusted according to the prevailing light.

The easiest way to record audio is with wireless button microphones. If there are many interviewees, or if it’s not possible to put a microphone on them in advance, stick microphones will be used.

A drone was used for making the video of Villa Jämi, to make the magnificent building manifest itself in the best possible way.

A small dolly rail was used indoors to smooth out the horizontal movement of the camera.

There were lots of details and different angles of view in the 350 m² building, and so there was also lots of material. Everything that is filmed never gets into the final video, so there are always difficult choices to be made.

Filming events can include almost anything: interviews, dining, serving, speakers, performers, filming of the milieu, etc.

It is essential to agree in advance what the customer wants for the video and how long it should be – otherwise the video can last for hours!

This video is made in 4K resolution, which means that it is possible to get high-quality screenshots from it afterwards, if needed. Thus there is no need to take still images separately.

Sometimes things happen very quickly – like a herd of heifers!

I was shooting background videos for the interview, and was in the corner of the field. The heifers were released into the field and they were clearly enjoying themselves. When the herd started coming towards me I couldn’t help thinking about how well the electric fence would work and if there would be anything left of the photographer soon… The fence worked alright!

The Kaurakas video was filmed in several places: poses in front of a big mill in Kokemäki, drone and interview videos in Sastamala, and pouring pasta from the package at Pelisalmi studio.

The creative value agency Trust was responsible for coordinating and scripting the photoshoots, and implementing the still images. Studio Pelisalmi Oy was responsible for video filming and video editing.

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Products can’t always be photographed in the studio, but a “studio” can be set up in the customer’s premises. The background canvas and studio lights enable high-quality pictures.

Sometimes the subject may be so large that it doesn’t fit in front of the background canvas. That means extra work when editing images, because the background needs to be removed very carefully on the areas outside the canvas.

The white background becomes dirty when people move around during the shoot. Stains are removed in editing, as is dust or debris on the product.

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Once the apartment has been styled, as presentable pictures as possible are needed. Sometimes that means a bit of extra work.

Paintings cannot be hung on the wall, so they are placed on racks and the racks are removed in editing. The new carpet has wrinkles that can only be straightened in photo editing, where also the extra chair left in the background is removed. The dark couch needs to be slightly “opened” to show what it really looks like.

In this apartment the light sources have different colour temperatures and thus appear in different colours in the pictures. However, they need to be adjusted to roughly the same colour, because the eye sees them like that. The small light on the serving trolley was yellow but not particularly bright, whereas the lamp on the ceiling was very bright, so it was dimmed a bit.

It is technically impossible to get  the walls straight when taking pictures, so they are straightened one by one in editing.

Large differences in brightness must also be evened out. For this purpose, HDR mode can be used, because that makes it easier to edit the different parts of the picture to look like the way the eye sees them.

Did you spot all these in the picture..?

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Taking property pictures is great when the house is brand new, the terrace with its canopies has just been completed, the interior designer has finished the interior, the garden looks perfect with its neatly mowed lawn, and the sun is shining. Unless it’s shining from just the wrong direction and there’s no time to wait.

If the only option is to shoot towards the sun, it’s done with the best possible settings, taking multiple shots using a tripod, to get the most out of the pictures when editing.

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When a chef cannot come to Pelisalmi, the photographer has to go to the chef. Rapukartano has always had great chefs, and the portions are in line with that.

The “studio” was made in Pehtoorin Vintti loft and whenever a dinner dish was completed, one portion came to be photographed. It had to happen quickly, because hot food doesn’t look hot for long.

In this picture, a cooler version of a fish appetizer and a green shot. Video and still-pictures were taken.

When portraits are shot in milieu the place must be visited in advance, especially if it’s a unique event, such as a wedding.

Additional lighting is almost always needed. How the lights are placed, the background, the optics used, and the angle of view determine the technical quality of the final image. Facial expressions, gestures, posing, and atmosphere, however, are another matter entirely.

The newlyweds were photographed in the precious setting of an old building. Both studio lights and a wirelessly triggered infill light were used.

Portraits can also be taken, for example, for company websites or business cards.

Funerals are solemn occasions and pictures need to be taken as discreetly as possible. Modern cameras are silent and they don’t disturb the occasion, and pictures can be taken from farther away with a telephoto lens, without a flash.

In addition to the funeral ceremony, pictures are usually taken also at the grave (unless it is a cremation), and in the memorial service.

The photographer needs to arrive well in advance so that suitable images of the milieu, and especially the coffin, can be taken before the mourners arrive.

Video recording is also possible, and then a discussion with the priest is important, because the priest has to wear a wireless button microphone.

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Revamping the old website included acquiring a new web hotel, a WordPress environment, and an Avada theme.

The website was planned together with the customer and the old structure was kept as far as possible.

Content is the most essential part of a website, which is why a lot of new material was filmed, both from the air, on land, on water and indoors. Although there are many images, they load quickly because they are optimized for the web.

Since this is a travel website, translating it into English was very important. The site has been translated completely, not just on a “Briefly in English” level.

The Anneli-kana webshop was set up together with the website.

Setting up a Woocommerce-based webshop is technically relatively easy – the biggest challenge is the content. In order for the products to be nicely and accurately presented, each product needs dimensions, weights, prices, and possibly campaign prices and times. It also takes careful consideration on how the differences between similar poducts are presented.

Before transactions can take place, an agreement must be made with a payment service (e.g. Paytrail). In addition to this, an agreement is needed with Matkahuolto, Posti or, for example, shipit, to deliver the products.

Lots of settings only need to be made once. However, the webshop needs constant updating to make sure that the products are delivered – and preferably quickly.

Making high-quality recording of music and songs is a challenging task. Almost an unlimited number of microphones, cameras, and other equipment can be used.

At the very least, high-quality general purpose microphones and button microphones are needed for every performer.

This concert recording was made with Zoom 6 recorders and Sennheiser digital microphones. The videos were shot with two cameras.

The implementation was carried out by Kulttuuriosuuskunta TERÄ. Studio Pelisalmi Oy filmed with one camera, and was responsible for lighting, recording and editing all the material.

When a play is performed from start to finish for only three people, it is quite an extraordinary theatrical experience.

The theater lights were very bright, so they had to be readjusted.

The actual streaming was done later, when the material had been edited.

The implementation was carried out by Kulttuuriosuuskunta TERÄ. Studio Pelisalmi Oy filmed with one camera and was responsible for editing all the material.

Drone shooting enables a new kind of angle of view that hasn’t been readily available before.

Using drone requires permission/s, which can be obtained by passing a special exam. Filming is mainly restricted over crowds (usually allowed with a special permission only), and in certain geographical areas such as in the vicinity of airports.

Using drone is not sensible, or possible, in a very windy or rainy weather.