Have a look at some of the reals I recently did for my Instagram profile, Bonhams|Cars Online, Bonhams|Cars, and Bonhams.
Come with us around London and try to guess what car is under the car covers. These videos require some planning, such as exploring areas, finding covered cars, find a person willing to be included in the video, beg for their help, getting your gear ready, waiting for a sunny day, and then going out to film surrounded by people who wonder what you are doing…
This video for ‘The Crown Exhibition’ on New Bond Street is my favorite among the series of videos that we created. We’ve been lucky to have the rights to use the original Netflix soundtrack, which adds character to the video, along with some pictures from ‘The Crown’ series that complemented the Specialist’s wording. This is not always possible, so I am very happy with the result.
At Bonhams|Cars Online, I had the chance to shoot a BMW M3 and an Aston Martin DBS V8 to create the ad for the next issue of Evo Magazine. The camera wasn’t mine, I had never done these shots before, the road was bumpy, the sun was coming and going… but hey, I am happy with the result! And so is Evo Magazine I suppose 😉
I filmed this footage during a photoshoot for Bonhams Jewels. The setting was meticulously controlled, with impeccable lighting and a stylist and a hairdresser ensuring every detail was just right. In such instances, the key is seamless coordination with the photographer, as we alternate tasks to guarantee a smooth workflow.
Immerse yourself in the vibrant Bonhams’ After Hour vibes for a sensorial experience, surrounded by art and lovely people. To tell this story, I wanted to capture our guests’ and artists’ smiles, the works of art, and the dynamism of the event itself.
Autoworld Bonhams|Cars Auction in Brussels—this Lamborghini 400GT is the real head-turner! A photo speaks a thousand words, so videos can speak millions. The challenge here is finding those perfect moments when the light is right and try to pay attention to details as much as possible. Shooting videos at a Sale is a wild ride because you can’t always predict what’s gonna happen in the car auction chaos.
Have you ever seen a BMW Z3M in Boston Green before? We didn’t, so we decided to create the reel where the car does the talking. I’m not using any stabiliser for this video, just a steady hand.
Join me on New Bond Street to check out the cars before the preview kicks off. Creating these reels means being everywhere at once, with any weather condition, tying to catch all the action. But, hey, there are also those chill moments when the cars are on their way, and all you need is patience.
The videos featuring specialists are always tricky to film because you have to find a specialist who is willing to stay in front of the camera and is not busy for at least 30 minutes. This alignment of stars happens very rarely, so it’s better to have your gear ready to film. Find below some examples: Richard Stafford introducing the Spitfire at the Goodwood Revival, Loïc Maschi at the Goodwood Members’ Meeting, and Thomas Reinhold at The Golden Age on New Bond Street.
Setting-up videos is where my creative self comes alive. It’s a matter of improvisation: the environment is not controlled and no action repeats twice. Therefore, you must be on the ball, literally ‘dancing’ all day from one spot to another of the venue, trying to capture any interesting moment that later will be condensed into a 30-second videos. Below are 4 of my favourite setting-up videos that I did for Bonhams|Cars.
This video took a day of filming during the last leg of the Mille Miglia. It’s all a matter of improvisation, and the real challenge was condensing this day-long experience into such a short video. It might not be the perfect length for a reel, but I decided not to give up on some moments that were important to me. I had no microphones back at the time, but I believe that that makes the video more “real” and authentic.
Just before Christmas, I had to cut short my stay in London and hop on a flight to Milan. There, I filmed this reel and snapped behind-the-scenes pictures of the ‘Air-Cooled Porsche Turbo Collection.’ The shoot was three-day long, and oh boy, it was freezing. The challenge arises when you have to juggle both photography and videography, as being spotless with both simultaneously is not easy. The seamless alternation between photos and videos is a skill that comes with experience.
Federica Olivotto Photography 