Hi Tim and Virginia, Here are two approaches to your client testimonials:
https://vimeo.com/93981519
This gives you a bit more of a polished look, combines well with websites with a bright colours. Another advantage is that it’s a look that’s easy to replicate. The backdrop also has a black background for a more intimate feel. https://vimeo.com/96372851
https://vimeo.com/103196491 We love Slow School, an unconventional business school for people passionate about building a purpose-driven and prosperous business that makes the world a better place. Last week Slow School officially launches at the Hub, so we asked a few people about that they think about education:
Recently we did a project with the wonderful people of Atkinson Vinden Lawyers in Sydney. We love working with Atkinson VInden because they trusted us in executing a bold idea. Instead of making a ‘promo’ video, we worked with Atkinson Vinden to create content that’s about meaningful connection and useful information. https://vimeo.com/99794385 We are very excited about this approach, because it create an authentic story around the business: Content that’s created to connect on a deeper level than making a sale.
Connecting in a meaningful way to your audience is worth while, but like anything worth while it’s not necessarily easy. A lot a agencies may tell you there’s a shortcut. You could write a script, stick it on an auto cue reader and get a great looking actor to read it out in front of the camera, pretending to be part of your business. This approach gets you very nice looking, polished and well presented video. The problem with videos like these is the level of audience engagement: 
The relentless media and advertising efforts of the past have created a major credibility gap between businesses and their audiences. Agencies have persuaded us that it’s basically o.k. to mislead our audiences by using pretend clients and pretend business owners. That approach is very effective in terms of fast turn around and low cost for the agency, but did all of that advertising really help us as business owners?
The average Australian encounters branding 3000-4000 times a day. By the time you read this post today, you’ve probably seen at least a few hundred. Can you recall five? I know I can’t. The ROI on TV commercials, banner ads and corporate video is dropping at a steady rate, despite the lower cost. Clearly, we’re not cutting through, and creating even more content isn’t the answer. Our audience just gets better at ignoring us.
Our audience’s attention is a privilege that’s based on trusting that we offer something relevant. It’s time for a different approach. At Hunting With Pixels we base our content on authenticity. We only work with real people talking about real experiences. https://vimeo.com/99220941
Great brands are about creating a real connection with a long term view, because we can see that in a media saturated world, it’s the only thing that works.
We may need to recalibrate how we look at what marketing is. The first step is to accept that trust is something that takes time to build. The idea that we can outsource connection and get a big return for a low investment in time and effort is outdated and short sighted. You need to have the clout and endurance to think long term and invest into the relationship you have with your audience.
Building an authentic brand can be challenging. The first hurdle you’d likely to encounter is that there is less control over the details of the outcome. All the information should be correct and well presented, but interviewees will bring their own personality into this. This is a generally a positive aspect of authenticity, but it does required a flexible mindset around what your brand really is. The reality is that the is no way to have full control, because your brand is what other people (including your staff) say about you.
Authenticity will give you the best shot at getting great results every time provided it’s well considered and is based on a long term strategy for your brand. This takes careful planning and some resilience, but it will yield real and sustainable results for your business.
The fundamental question for you is this: Would you share the video you created for your company with your friends. And more importantly, would they? 
At Hunting With Pixels we often get asked about what to wear to shoots. Clothing isn’t as ‘make or break’ as it used to be because cameras have become much more forgiving, and so has our audience. There are a few things to keep an eye on that are easy to miss.
Wear something that is congruent with your message, that is comfortable and won’t make you hot. Do that and you’re 90% there.
Consider what first impression your clothing gives if people see you ‘out of context’.
The video will be watched by total strangers, so they don’t necessarily understand the connection between your personality and your wardrobe.
Having said that, your personal style is your own. If you’ve got the killer content, what you looks like is secondary. Authenticity is key, so don’t ‘dress up’ to the point where you’re not ‘you’ .
Wear anything you like, as long as it’s not noisy when you move.
Big earrings look great, but will create weird clicking noises in they very sensitive microphones we use to capture dialogue.
With today’s super sensitive cameras, most clothing is unproblematic. Here are few exceptions:
Very thin stripes or fine patterns. This can create weird light effects on video because of pixellation. –
Very strong contrasts. If you’re pale skinned, avoid very dark clothing and vice versa. This has to do with the light sensitivity of cameras; our eyes have a much wider dynamic range in terms of what it can see in shaded of light and dark. A camera would struggle with that level of contrast.
Tones that blend into the background. Pastel colours can look a bit bland if the background has a similar colour. Even if you prefer colours are not too strong, pick on that contrasts with the background.
Light orange can appear to glow in some cases. It’s more pertinent in broadcast situations.
Video can be a bit unforgiving when you wear baggy and shapeless clothing. Go from something that has a nice shape that will give you a taller and more fitted look.
The reason for this is that close up shots don’t give us a context of your surroundings, which can make you look bigger than you are. This is why we’re often surprise about how short TV personalities are when we meet them in person.
Here are a few things that will make you look your best.
Feel free to totally ignore this though; authenticity is more important than being polished. 
Collared shirts tend to look better than T shirts in close up.
There’s more texture and visual interest. Jackets also look good, especially if they’re nicely tailored around the waist. Never, ever wear a too big suit on a video shoot.
Unless you’re David Byrne. He kinda got away with it.
Light coloured shirts generally looks better than pure white.
Pure white tends to blow out and look a bit flat once you add video lighting. Ties work if you’d normally wear them too.
Try to go easy on novelty ties or large patterns, unless it’s very ‘you’ of course!
Power suits. We love the 80’s just like the next girl, but they look huge on video.
Avoid earth tones if you’re interviewed inside; you’ll blend in to the background too much.
Consider the surroundings and find a colour that both suits your skin tone and has a nice contrast with the background. Wear clothing that emphasises shape without being tight. Wear shoes that give you good posture, but make sure they’re comfortable: they’re unlikely to be in the shot.
Being comfortable will make you look and feel more relaxed and confident.
Video lights can make your face look shiny, which is not always a good look. We’ll bring blotting paper and translucent powder to fix that, but overall avoid clothing that’ll is too hot, make up that makes your skin shiny or exercise before you shoot.
Men: Use a bit of powder a shade darker than normal skin color, to even out skin tone and reduce the shine on cheeks, forehead and nose. We’ll have some on set.
Women: any make up is fine, maybe avoid dark reds/maroon for lip gloss and cheeks because the extra contrast of video may emphasise the make up too much.
Also avoid a lot under the eyes (none is best). We provide translucent powder in case of shine, but you may want to bring your own just in case.
Get a good shave before the shoot to avoid the five o’clock shadow.
Neatly trim facial hair if it matters to you, and if you bother wearing facial hair it probably should. 
All of these suggestions are just that: if a snowman tie combined with an unkempt beard and too much make up is your style, go for it. Rules are there to be broken.
At Hunting With Pixels we work hard to make doing a video an enjoyable and relaxed experience, so contact us any time if you have any questions. We’re here to make you look and feel great!
I loved working with the wonderful people at Atkinson Vinden! When we started this project we were thinking about what it is lawyers do.
You can describe the process (litigate, check contracts etc.) or you can describe the ultimate goal: Getting the right advice from the right person so you have peace of mind.
One of the best parts of being part of Hunting With Pixels is that we get to spend time with people who work in a different industry. As a ‘creative’ it’s a very interesting and enriching experience; you get a much better understanding of what really drives people.
When I talked to Annabel, Rod, Sheena and all the other lawyers at Atkinson Vinden I really got a much deeper appreciation of the work of legal professionals. It’s very different from the stereotypes we generally use to describe them. Have a look at the video, I’d love to hear what you think. Robert, Creative Director
At Hunting With Pixels we believe in the power of ideas, so we’d love to help you spread them. Here’s how you can get started with video: 1. Join us at one of the amazing Startup Grind events in Sydney and Melbourne. 2. Do a 30 second pitch to camera and we’ll make you a free video that looks a bit like this: https://vimeo.com/91151014 3. Don’t bore your audience with a sales pitch. Show off your expertise by sharing something interesting. 4. Get in touch beforehand so we can help you shape your content for maximum effect.
If you really want to start cooking with gas, do a series of videos like these: https://vimeo.com/84089886
https://vimeo.com/119435600 Previous version https://vimeo.com/102099245
https://vimeo.com/102099246
Hi everyone, Here’s a work in progress of the ISSF video; https://vimeo.com/101589612
Please notice this is only one of the camera angles and the audio is from the camera, not the recorder. The finalised product will look and sound much more polished. https://vimeo.com/101207003
Here’s a version with the updated voice over. https://vimeo.com/100082417