My background is in still photography, but in recent years I’ve started working in video production more, particularly through my church. A good bit of this has been volunteer work on my part, but it has also led to paid contract work as camera operator both there at the church and live music venues.

I finally added this experience to my LinkedIn profile and have since had a couple people ask about seeing a reel of my footage. More often than not, it can be difficult to say what I’ve shot for certain due to the nature of how the production team operates there. Most Sunday’s two different people will  run the same camera covering the same musicians / instruments on stage for different services during the day.

Whereas this past Saturday they had the same camera crew for all of their Christmas Eve services – and I was assigned to the same camera for all four of the services. Additionally, it’s not often that they post the entire service – music and all – to their website as they have for the Christmas Eve service this year.

So, here is a link to the whole service, and below I’ve given some time references as to what was happening at different points during the service and what I was shooting:

10:00 Minute Mark: “O Come All Ye Faithful” :: I was covering the drums / drummer.

14:10 Mark: “Sons And Daughters” :: I was covering the drummer for this song too – and I think it might be my favorite from the service in regards to my shots. The segment from 17:48 – 18:30 catches one of my favorite angles to capture the drummer from.

20:20 Minute Mark: “O Come Emmanuel” :: I’m covering the acoustic guitar player through the song – and yes I’m throwing my shots out of focus on purpose.

24:28 Minute Mark: “Noel” :: I’m shooting the reverse shots (shots from behind) of the singer, Angelica. We were shooting this for the online audience due to there being graphics on the two screens on either side of the stage for the physical audience there at the church. They showed the overall room shots so those watching online could get an idea of what those there at the church were seeing.

27:34-46:34 Minute Mark: Billy Phenix’ Message:: Only the stick camera operators out in the audience cover this, so I was able to take a short break at this point. As far as what Billy has to say here – well – if you’re skeptic in regards to God, or not so crazy about some of the past church experiences you’ve had – give it a listen. The first service I heard there back in 2009 was from Billy – and its content was very similar to what he’s says here in this one. That’s what brought me back to church after having had no real desire to be part of one for years – even though I have always believed in God. What he has to say here is why I love the place.

46:35 Minute Mark: “O Holy Night” :: Each time I heard – and filmed – her perform this I could hear her and knew she was killing it. I couldn’t really listen due to the headset I was wearing, and having to stay focused on what the video director was saying. But I could feel it each time, though. It does sound every bit as beautiful as I thought, and I’m glad to have played a small part in helping make it look beautiful on screen too. The out-of-focus shots of the acoustic guitar are mine. I recommend you listen to and watch it with the best headphones or speakers you have available to you. The girl has got a voice! Here is a slightly different – and I think better – version of it visually.

52:20 Minute Mark: Billy talking about the Buckhead Church Christmas tradition. Again, this is covered by the stick camera operators out in the audience, so nothing I shot can be seen, but what he says here explains what happens next:

54:55 Minute Mark: Shots of people lighting candles and the panning shot of all the candles in the audience. I love serving as a camera operator at Buckhead Church, but one of the downsides to it is that sometimes I don’t get to actually experience the service due to being on stage and capturing it through a video camera. Again, I hear the music, but I can’t really listen to it. I have an idea of how things look, but really can’t see it for myself due to having to stay focused solely on what I’m shooting. But, getting this perspective of all the lit candles in the crowd during the Christmas service there is a real good reminder of why I give so many of my Sunday’s up to do it. The people holding all those candles are liable to have their lives changed for the better due to what they experience and learn there, and in turn, make the world a better place to live for all of us. It’s a pretty rewarding sight to see.

1:01:08 Minute Mark: “O Come All Ye Faithful Reprise”:: I’m covering the drummer here and can definitely see that I’m trying to shoot it and add more energy into my shots to fit the upbeat tempo of the song, mood of the room at that point, and what I’m imagining the video director and other camera operators are doing.

So, I’ve taken the time to share this and write about it with the detail I have due to how I feel about it now:

When you look at the big picture, I played a very – very – small roll in how that service as a whole was perceived by those in attendance this past Saturday. The production team alone consisted of five camera operators, the director, the stages hands, the shader, the producer, the production director, the green room host, the lighting director, two console operators for sound in the musicians monitors and what the audience is hearing, the music director, and then the musicians of course.

Then, on top of that, there are all the volunteers there: the parking team helping direct traffic before and after the service, the guest services team greeting people with a smile at the doors, and then – then – there are the Wuamba Land volunteers looking after kids so their parents can enjoy the service.

There are so many people that make the services there a great experience for those in attendance each Sunday – or in this case – Saturday. I’ve just got maybe 30-60 seconds of footage that is shown total out of all of that, but man am I proud to have been there to shot it.

It was a contract based / paid day for me, but at a rate that’s faaaar less than what I would usually charge for a day of shooting. So, it was still kind of like volunteer work to me. But – you know what – here it is the last day of the year – and when I look back on every job I shot this past year – all of which paid more – I realize I’m most proud of this one single day of work.

The experience of looking out into the audience and seeing of all of those candles – and why they were lit – is what makes me feel that way. Getting married and then getting to help facilitate that experience for so many have been the highlights of my year. Thank you Buckhead Church for allowing me to be part of it.

Happy New Year, Ya’ll