How I make my BTS videos

Feat. the QooCam 8k by KANDAO VR

The way I make my behind the scenes videos is fairly simple, but it took me some time to find the best way to capture these moments easily without the need of a sidekick. Thanks to one special tool, I am this close to making the BTS videos I want… alone! let’s dive into this.

I do these to see my progress and for memories. My very first camera to help me make these was a Gopro. It did the trick for me back then for many reasons. They were small, lightweight and easy to handle. My only issue was that it took me out of my photoshoot everytime I had to turn them on and offf (to save the batteries) and frame my shot. Sometimes when in a hurry I would frame my shot poorly and end up not using the footage.

And then I got the insta 360 ONEX! Of course nothing can replace an actual talented individual with a camera by my side, but… this allowed me to film most of my sessions myself and keep most of the footage I shot. Now I can just take out the camera, turn it on when needed, and worry about framing later.

I don’t film everything. I usually wait until that moment where I know we will get the shot, and film between 30 secs to 5min max. 5 minutes is already too much, this only happens when I am creating something a bit complicated, when I am adding accessories (like smoke or fabrics), or when we struggle making a shot.

The quality of the images from the INSTA 360 cameras is good, but I needed an upgrade. A bit more resolution, 10 bits 422, I mean the basics to make it watchable on the tube. So I waited a bit before upgrading my camera. Surprisingly, instead of choosing one of INSTA 360’s newer models, I went for the Qoocam 8K by Kandao VR.

QooCam 8K at a glance:

• 1/1.7 ’’ 20MP Sensors

• 7680 X 3840 at 30fps ∣ 10bit ∣ H.265 200Mbps (max)

• 3840 X 1920 at 120fps

• 6-axis gyro, IMU sensor and advanced stabilization

• Realtime RAW Mode (photos)

• 2.4” Touchscreen

• Built-in 3000mAh battery

• Built-in 64GB internal memory

• External SD card support (up to 256GB)

I still consider this camera and upgrade from my ONEX although it is a 3 years old camera.

So why did I change?

Better image, better low light capabilities, more details thanks to the 8k sensor and better ergonomics thanks to that huge screen.

The downsides:

Their software still needs some improvements. Adding that extra step for stitching is not ideal for quick edits. Because that’s how it works. You use Kandao’s software to stitch your 360 footage, render it in Prores 422 and then you open it in Davinci resolve (for example) with the help of Karta VR (Thank you Andrew!) and do your framing and camera movements there.

This is currently my workflow, I do all the edits of my Youtube videos directly in Davinci Resolve!

Some of you asked me where I get my music for my video. I used to rely heavily on Artist.io and I’ve been testing Audiio the past weeks. These platforms offer license free music… and I have to say that these sound libraries have evolved in a good way the past few years.

I will make a review of my experience with the platform Audiio in a future video.

Once I chose the music, the beat, the rhythm and the vibe of the song will guide me for the edit. This is how I decide where the stops and acceleration will occur in my footage from the QooCam 8k.

I usually do not grade my footage for my BTS now, I just do some minor corrections. I show you what I want you to see, and choose the clips that summarize the photoshoot best. I also do my best to show where the lights were placed and the amount of interaction I have with the models.

I wish I could add the time to add the audio. I know it’s possible, but the amount of work this requires in post will make it impossible for me to propose these videos regularly.

Did I make a mistake by switching to the QooCam 8K… we’ll see. Since this camera is now a few years old, I want to believe that there will be an upgrade soon, that will get me even closer to the type of image I want from such a camera.

Better dynamic range, better battery life, and better software would be great! If Kandao could make their own plugin, in order to do the stitching, framing and camera moves directly in Davinci resolve, it would be awesome!

If they can also make it 12k without changing the size of this then it would be a dream… because 8k sounds a lot, but in reality it is 4K for each lens. And when you zoom in and out like I do, it looks great in 1080p but if you wish to deliver in 4K... You know the story!

Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic camera! I Love the design, the size and weight, so from now on this will be my Goto BTS 360 camera. I still have a few videos filmed with the ONEX but the QooCam 8k will soon take over in the weeks to come.

Check them out on their official website, they make other cool tools for creators, and professionals: https://www.kandaovr.com/