When this project came across my inbox I was extremely excited. I get pumped when I have the opportunity to promote a new product in a creative way. I wanted to go all out on this project to make the best possible video. NanoFit Grips are sticky grips made for those who workout at the gym and don’t want their hands to slip on the bar. Many people use gloves to mitigate slippage on the bar, but NanoFit Grips are attached directly on the bar. So I was tasked with promoting this new style of product. The key audience is the CrossFit crowd so I knew this had to capture the essence of the sport. I watched other CrossFit videos and talked to avid athletes to find out how to best capture the feel of the sport. That was the first step. Then I started on the visual aesthetics. We found a CrossFit gym that was almost completely black. This was perfect because I wanted the video to be as dramatic as possible. Choosing the lighting is crucial in setting the mood for this video. I wanted tube lights for the longest time so when this job came to me I knew I had to finally purchase them. Linked below are the ones I bought. I paid $280/tube. It was a lot of money considering the client wasn’t going to pay for them, but it was important for me to make this video as good as possible. I also knew it was an investment in my business. The one downside to all this gear is how long it take to haul everything on site! haha

Tube Lights: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0836JSZDP/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

These lights made the set so much better and created the feel I was looking for. Originally I was going to make both tube lights white, but my production assistant suggested to make one red. I am so glad that I did because it matched the company colors and made it much more dramatic. My key light was the Aputure 120DII with the Dome II.

My camera set up was the next test to cover. My rig for this shoot is listed below:

Sony A7SIII + Ninja V + Samyang 35mm T1.5 + Fodga DP500III Follow Focus

I love this rig but my only issue is that my handheld steady hands aren’t as steady after a while. This shoot has really made me consider buying a Easyrig Minimax…But that is $1,300..Maybe after a few more shoots.

I love shooting handheld because I have lots of flexibility and can move from shot to shot very quickly. I often pick my shots on the fly so being handheld really works well for my style. Overall, the shoot went very well and I had so much fun working with the athletes. It was so worth it to take the extra time to research Crossfit and purchase the tube lights.