Category Archives: videographer

French Photographer & Director Chris Roman Brings Beauty into Focus

November 28, 2024 P. L. McGroarty Leave a comment

In a world saturated with fleeting visuals and fast-paced media, the pursuit of true beauty feels more essential than ever. For some, beauty is merely surface level, but for director and photographer Chris Roman, it’s a way to communicate something deeper. Whether photographing fashion week or directing high-end campaigns for luxury brands like Dior, Chanel, Givenchy, Longchamp and Lancôme, Chris’s mission remains clear: to make the world more beautiful, one frame at a time.

“I like the elegance, the refinement and premium aspects of the luxury fields. Luxury brands tell stories, because they have a strong DNA and enriched history. I have much respect for them, I call them ‘Houses’ and not brands,” admits French photographer and director Chris Roman. “Their universe can vary but I’m always fascinated by their vision and I feel very lucky to be a bit part of it, to translate visually their vision and DNA.”

For Chris, beauty isn’t just a job — it’s a calling. As a photographer and director, hehas built a reputation in the world of fashion and luxury for his signature style that blends energy, emotion, and elegance.

His approach is deeply personal. “I call myself a beauty maker,” he says. “I do think we need more beauty in our world. Even if it’s through commercial work to sell beauty and luxury products, I tend to bring some beauty into people’s lives.”

From high-profile luxury campaigns and collaborations with Netflix and Vogue Paris to intimate behind-the-scenes moments at fashion weeks, Chris’s lens doesn’t just capture beauty — it creates it. His goal? To ensure everyone in front of the camera lives a memorable experience, capturing their truest selves with grace and style.

“I’ve been working with Chris since 2017 on many projects ranging from events video capture with filming high profile celebrities, creation of digital branded content campaigns and editing work,” explains Fanny Level, Chanel’s Head of Special Projects.

“He has an eye and sense of luxury aesthetic that few film directors possess…As a creative mind he’s dedicated to producing beautiful content in line with his client’s business brief… He’s extremely talented hence sought after by many luxury brands.”

Over the years, Chris has shot for some of the most iconic names in fashion, luxury, and entertainment where his reverence for each brand’s legacy shines through. “Every brand has its own DNA,” Chris explains. “My job is to respect that history while bringing my own creative perspective to the table.”

His work with Dior stands as a testament to this philosophy. Tasked with interpreting the brand’s timeless elegance, Chris fused traditional luxury with modern sensibility. In 2020 Chris directed a series of stunning videos titled “Dior Beauty Lessons” for Dior’s Capture Totale age-defying skin cream.

Chris directed five separate videos for territories ranging from France to Japan, which featured icons such as famous international chef Mimi Thorisson, Japanese model and actress Mayumi Sada, South Korean actress Lee Hanee, former model Rose Ferguson and actress Nina Dobrev.

“We proposed to create some beauty lessons in a very intimate environment to really feel the sincerity. Very organic and true,” explains Chris about the campaign.

With soft lighting and fluid movements there is a beautiful intimacy within each of the videos that makes us feel close to the subject, trusting that there is honesty within their words and a natural essence to their beauty– no doubt, Chris nailed the mark. His Beauty Lessons campaign for Dior exudes a quiet sophistication, with each shot capturing the essence of the brand’s heritage while introducing subtle contemporary flourishes.

Chris shares, “It’s about honoring the classic while leaving space for something fresh.”

His work for Lancôme follows a similar principle, bringing out the emotional allure of the brand’s identity. Whether showcasing their signature fragrances or beauty products, Chris’s visuals seamlessly blend energy and emotion into each frame.

For Lancôme’s Teint Idole Ultra Wear concealer, Chris directed a commercial campaign that was all about empowerment and unity within diversity, while maintaining the class of the brand.

“The client wanted an experienced director, who is used to shooting international celebrities with a high expertise in luxury and beauty,” recalls Chris. “The vision was to showcase all 15 women’s single personality while being able to bring them all together as one and empower them. Diversity was really important.”

Shooting in Barcelona, Spain with the set designer creating a little universe unique to each woman, Chris brilliantly brought them all together with Lancôme’s Teint Idole Ultra Wear concealer as the unifying force. Chris says his favorite part was “meeting all these incredible women from all over the world — women ranging in age from 20 to 65. Beauty has no age; my job is to enhance each one of them.”

With over 15 years of experience as a photographer and director in the fashion and luxury industries, Chris Roman has become known for a signature style that is defined by a unique blend of energy, emotion, and elegance. His ability to capture the essence of his subjects — whether it’s the unguarded emotion of a model backstage, the delicate balance of luxury and spontaneity or even the playful personalities of actors from a hit television series — has set him apart in the fashion and beauty world.

“Emotion is key. I’m here to help the talents to express themselves in a very organic and simple way. Never try too much,” admits Chris. “I always say, I feel like a conductor… I focus on making the talents comfortable while creating a bubble in between us to have them at ease and focused on the acting, like playing the right music which fits to the mood of the film.”

A prime example of Chris’s signature style can be seen in his collaboration with Netflix and Vogue Paris for the hit six-time Primetime Emmy nominated series “Emily in Paris” starring Lily Collins (“Tolkien”), Ashley Park (“Mean Girls”) and Philippine Leroy-Beaulieu (“The Crown”).

In both his commercial projects and personal endeavors, Chris creates art that resonates and elevates the brands he captures.

“Chris is a top-level advertising director. His creativity and professionalism make agencies and clients trust him with their projects to take them to the next level. He helps grow their stories to sell their products,” explains executive producer Carolina Legovich, who’s worked with Chris on a number of beauty campaigns in Spain.

With a passion for capturing moments that felt both authentic and artful, Chris Roman got his start in the industry after studying photography in Montpellier and Toulouse, France. He moved to London soon after where he managed a photo studio, prepping shoots and assisting photographers. This role allowed him to work with talented professionals from around the world, solidifying his technical skills and expanding his understanding of the fashion industry.

“After one year in London, I moved back to France and more specifically to Paris. I needed to be in the Fashion capital,” recalls Chris.

His big break came when he returned to Paris and started working as a production assistant for renowned photographers Garance Doré and The Sartorialist (Scott Schuman) during fashion weeks. It was during this time that Chris began experimenting with video. Bored with simply managing the technical aspects of shoots, he picked up a small video camera and filmed behind-the-scenes content. After editing the footage himself, Chris presented it to Garance, who was so impressed that she posted it online the next day. This spontaneous project marked the beginning of Chris’s career as a director.

Shortly after, he was called to New York by The Sartorialist to shoot behind-the-scenes videos for Vogue Italia. His talent for capturing the energy of fashion shows on film soon led to more opportunities, including a one-year stint traveling the world with Doré and Schuman, filming campaigns and fashion weeks for major brands. By 2011, Chris had made history by directing the very first fashion video content for Vogue Paris.

“I was shooting luxury events in Paris while I was working with Mario Testino. I first shot a GQ event, then a Vogue Paris event,” recalls Chris about what led him to shoot the first ever BTS videos for Vogue Paris.

“They just got their new website and they had never shot any content during fashion week, so I proposed that I go to NY and start to shoot some content during the shows, in the city and backstage.”

Featuring iconic brands and designers such as Tommy Hilfiger himself in NY to Mickael Kors, Burberry, Vivienne Westwood and Paul Smith in London, as well as Prada, Dolce & Gabbana, Fendi in Milan, Karl Legerfield and many more, Chris’s behind-the-scenes videos provided an exclusive, documentary-style glimpse into the world of high fashion, offering viewers access to moments previously unseen by the public.

Today, Chris Roman continues to create beauty through his lens, no matter the medium. Whether directing high-profile campaigns for luxury brands like Dior, Chanel and Lancôme or capturing the energy of famous actors for series like “Emily in Paris,” Chris’s work resonates on a deeper level with audiences around the world.

As he looks to the future, Chris is focused on expanding both his photographic and directorial portfolios as he continually pushes the boundaries of what it means to capture beauty. His unique approach — one that blends technical precision with raw emotion — has left an indelible mark on the fashion industry. For Chris, the key to success lies in his ability to create genuine connections with his subjects and collaborators, a skill that continues to drive his creative vision.

In an industry where visuals are constantly changing, Chris Roman’s work stands out for its timelessness. His images are more than just beautiful; they are imbued with emotion and energy that make them feel alive, ensuring his legacy will endure in the ever-evolving world of beauty, fashion and more global luxury.

Film Editor, international Talent, Interviews & Features!, Reality TV, Television, videographer

Video Editor Emeric Le Bars Has Time on His Side

November 20, 2017 pressva Leave a comment

Hollywood’s film community is populated by a host of specialized craftsmen and technicians, with many working behind the camera in unique, separate and distinct fields. These widely varying duties abound in the post-production stage of filmmaking and while many make limited contributions, others have a critical impact on a films audience. The editor is perhaps the single most significant of all post-production talent, with the ability to dictate the feel, pace and emotion of the finished product, and French-born video editor Emeric Le Bars is quickly proving himself as one of the best in the business.

While Le Bars has distinguished himself as an in-demand cutter with a solid reputation thanks to such as editing award winning features Lily’s Light and documentary Live Another Day, numerous episodes of TV series Say Hello, contributions to in-douse content for Smile TV and public television station PBS Socal, numerous freelance editing jobs and his own web series The French Touch. It’s a fast-growing body of work that ensures Le Bars status as a rising up and comer on a natural career path.

“As a youth, I was shooting a lot of small personal movies with friends and family,” Le Bars said. “And I started getting really good at video editing—the passion started there. Then when I went to college, I had classes and internships where I was doing a lot of video editing and camera work. I knew this was what I wanted to do in my life and moved from France to the United-States as soon as I graduated.”

Based in Hollywood, Le Bars keeps busy, thanks to his editing skills but has recently parlayed even more fascinating skill into a new facet of his career—time lapse photography, Time lapse, of course, is the sequential series of photos shot over a long period of time and compressed into a finished product that shows what was originally a gradual piece of action (a flower blooming, a dawn-to-dusk cityscape) at a dramatically accelerated pace. While the process sounds simple, it’s a discipline that requires comprehensive technical knowledge and painstaking attention to the camera’s mechanics to ensure a seamless final effect, and Le Bars is one of the best in the business.

“Time lapse photography is really a mix of photography and video editing,” Le Bars said. “That’s why I love it so much. I have a portfolio of more than 600 clips from all around the world. And time lapse has become a big part of my life—I now specialize in them, shooting for big companies like Skyspace LA, Google, Red Bull and, recently, on the Netflix original Real Rob.”

Le Bars’ previous work, and notable profile as a force to be reckoned with, made him a natural for the show (a charming fast paced series centered on comedian Rob Schneider’s day-to-day Hollywood life) which began to prominently feature his top quality time lapse.

“I had worked with Real Rob editor Darius Wilhere on The Hollywouldn’ts, a movie he directed,” Le Bars said. “He saw that I was also doing time lapse and asked me to edit a few for Real Rob. I wasn’t used to working on demand—usually I go out and shoot what I want, the way I want it. This time, I had to make sure I was doing what Rob Schneider wanted, make sure I am using the right interval for the subject, the right composition and the right shutter speed. The color correction is also very important as well because it has to be related to the subject is, Los Angeles, sunshine, palm trees.”

Characteristically, Le Bars nailed it: “Emeric is, without a doubt, in the top 1% of time lapse videographer-editors working in the world today,” Real Rob editor Darius S Wilhere said. “His work is gorgeous and the quality is evident to anyone who sees at it. It’s his attention to detail and his willingness to return to locations again and again until he has the exact right shot that communicates the beauty and power of a given location.”

“This level of work only comes from constant dedication to one’s craft for years and tens of thousands of hours. I applaud his diligence to the craft and look forward to working with him for many years to come. The director and producers were thrilled with his work and have asked me in advance to secure his services for season 3.”

“Rob Schneider and Netflix loved the shots,” Le Bars said. “My time lapse work ended up opening 8 episodes of season 2 and also as a few establishing shots in the episodes. It definitely is an amazing credit to have on my resume”

Having firmly established himself with a formidable catalog of professional achievements in just a few short years, the driven, ambitious Le Bars’ potential is unlimited.

“I have always been a big dreamer,” Le Bars said. “And every day I am thankful that I am where I always wanted to be, working in the field I always wanted to work in and that I am around so many creative people in the city of Angels. All of this helps me to create more and more content, to edit more and more time lapses and videos.

“Just follow your dreams in life. I know it’s easy to say, but if a young French man who came to the US with nothing and succeeds in the industry can do it, anyone can do it. Create a life that you will remember. Work hard for what matters to you, not to others.”

Film, international Talent, Reviews, Interviews & Features!, videographer

Videographer and video editor Maria Aguado had “the courage to pursue her dream”

August 11, 2017 pressva Leave a comment

“All of our dreams come true if we have the courage to pursue them.” Maria Aguado wrote this to herself at the beginning of her career. At the time, she was just a girl from Barcelona with big dreams; she wanted to make films. Throughout her life, Aguado never stopped believing she was meant to be behind a camera, and this belief became her mantra. Now, she is one of Spain’s best videographers and video editors, and her faith to overcome any obstacle has contributed greatly to her acclaim.

Throughout her career, Aguado has shown international audiences what she is capable of with a series of celebrated projects. She worked with high-profile fashion designers Claudia Morera and Carlota Cahis, the popular shoe brand Alvarez & Moixonet, the fashion company Brownie, the iconic fitness brand Les Mills, and the eclectic Spanish shop Button Barcelona. She worked with the advertising company Puente Aereo helped the company gain new clients, her videos for the magician Nilo with MCN Magic helped put the magician on the map, and just this year, she worked with the fitness company Human Body Experience to create outstanding informational videos for consumers. Her work in both filming and editing has impressed many, and her passion for what she does inspires others.

“As editors, having another point of view is basic. Working together gives us the opportunity to fusion our minds and obtain the best results. Maria brings a very creative perspective to every project. She is very hard working and has a huge knowledge as an editor. Working with her is a pleasure,” said fellow editor Felipe Bravo.

Bravo is a well-known editor in Barcelona, and has worked alongside Aguado many times. The two immediately connected because of their shared passion for film, and make quote the team. Last year, they worked on the award-winning short Happy Burger, a project that Aguado thinks of fondly.

“I love the feeling of being emerged. While I film or edit everything else disappears,” said Aguado. “I create a world that is later shown to an audience to express a feeling, a concept or an idea. Since the age of seven, I filmed my dolls, edited my films and wrote screenplays without being aware of what I was doing. I grew up with a camera.”

Aguado’s first job was years ago, working as a film editor for Puente Aéreo, an advertisement company. Just beginning, it helped the now esteemed filmmaker learn a lot about advertising and editing ads for television. Since that time, she has worked for countless brands. After Puente Aéreo, she moved on to working for the interactive party platform Get Wasted Events. She was ready for a new experience, and it was there was she learned exactly what style she enjoyed that has now become her signature.

“I always film with a bit of camera movement. My shots are not static and I use a lot of close ups. While filming I try to forget everything I’ve ever seen and have a new vision in each project. I play while I am filming, I don’t see it as a job. I also edit in my head while filming, I know which shot will go next to the other, it’s like building up a story,” said Aguado.

Aguado’s first time working with the fashion industry was with Carlota Cahis, a well-known designer of jewelry and clothes. By this time, Aguado already had an outstanding reputation, and the firm contacted her to film and edit Cahis’ fashion show. Cahis was instantly impressed, and contacted Aguado many times after this to shoot for her. Quickly, other designers began to notice her and to seek the videographer out. She did several fashion videos for fashion designers such as Mercedes Arnus in her “Pure White” Collection and Claudia Morera’s brand, selected in 080 Fashion Week Catwalk Barcelona.

“I’ve always known this is what I wanted to do. I grew up playing with a camera. This is what I’ve always done. Filming and creating is a huge part of me. Without filming and editing I wouldn’t be able to fully express myself,” said Aguado.

Not only does Aguado excel with advertising and fashion videos, she is highly experienced in film. She worked with director Max Larruy on the film Caperucita Roja, and later worked on the feature film Barcelona Nit d’estiu. She has an extraordinarily artistic eye whilst looking through a lens, and her editing experience helps her know exactly how to frame a shot. She also edits films, such as the short Blanco Roto by Director Belen Reina.

“Creating movies is a way to believe in the magic of life. It is a way to experience different lives. It is a way to be a part of new stories and experience another point of view. It is a way to make people feel, know, and experience new emotions, new ideas! It is a way to express the parts most inside of your soul, and surprise yourself in the process by opening your mind to new perspectives. It is a way to make your dreams come true while you show them to the world. Making cinema is the same as travelling around your dreams. Making movies is not letting the child you’ve got inside to die. It is a game. Being able to make cinema is a good reason to be alive,” concluded Aguado.

advertising, Canada, Film, Reviews, Interviews & Features!, videographer

Innovator Rosanna Peng’s Videography Inspires Creatives Across the Globe

May 9, 2017 lgreenbaulm Leave a comment

Today videographer Rosanna Peng is known around the world for her remarkable ability to tell relevant and impactful stories through video. Her unparalleled creativity, the diverse nature of her work and her expertise in editing are a few of the things that have made Peng standout over the last few years, not to mention the high caliber of clients that have specifically sought her out to create visual content to showcase their brand in a way that grabs people’s attention.

Last year she created the videos for the launch of the J.Crew x New Balance 997 Butterscotch and 997 Cortado sneakers, edited EST Fest: The Documentary, which was featured on Trill HD and follows multi-award winning rapper Machine Gun Kelly at EST Fest and gives viewers a closer look into Kelly’s fan base, as well as created several video tutorials for the popular craft marketplace, ETSY, that teach users how to set up their own shop. On top of that Peng was tapped by Society 6 to shoot a series of photo stories that were featured on their website. Her work in 2016 alone has revealed her to be one videographer whose creative talent truly knows no bounds.

Still in her early 20s, Peng’s story is rather unique considering the level of international attention she has already received and the fact that she is primarily self taught. Originally from Vancouver, Canada, Rosanna Peng first discovered her innate talent and passion for telling stories through videos while taking an editing class back in high school, and from that point on she was hooked.

“I was a shy girl and being able to express myself through videos was something I became addicted to. I couldn’t see myself doing anything else,” admits Peng.

In 2014, Peng was tapped as the lead videographer for FREE, a Toronto-based creator studio and digital agency built for modern creative entrepreneurs and progressive brands. The first videographer at the agency, Peng’s work with FREE gave her the chance to really begin exploring her skill as a videographer without boundaries.

She explains, “I experienced a lot of creative freedom, which was essential to the videographer I am today… I dedicated my weekends and evenings to producing content for the agency and I was oddly satisfied with that, knowing I was crafting my own style with every video that I made.”

Her work as FREE’s videographer put her in charge of creating and editing all of the video content for The Creator Class, a cutting-edge online channel designed by and for creators around the world that brings viewers innovative content centered around music, art, style, culture and adventure. A collaboration between FREE and Canon Canada, The Creator Class has been featured by publications and online platforms such as Booooooom, Fast Company, Highsnobiety, Hypebeast, It’s Nice That, Nowness and Vimeo, and has become a driving force in the social revolution of how users around the world approach creativity through photography and videography.

Peng says, “The Creator Class is a space for creatives to be inspired by one another, but also a platform for them to share their work with like-minded people. It is an important space for young creatives because they need to be reminded that even though there is an over-saturation of image consumption today, their vision and voice is still important.”

The videos Peng has created for The Creator Class over the last three years span the gamut in terms of subjects. From those that highlight the work of leading figures in the art and music scene, to the ‘Cheat Sheet’ segment of videos, which teach viewers how to use specific photography tools and achieve certain effects, Peng’s work has helped to both inspire and inform other creatives.

The ORIGINALS: Go & Get It w/ WondaGurl, ft. DJ P-Plus video she created, which has garnered over 600,000 views on Youtube, gives viewers a rare peek into the creative process, personal inspiration and unique path to success of music producer WondaGurl, who began making beats at age 9 and has since been tapped by the music industry’s leading artists, such as Travis Scott, Jay Z, Drake, SZA, Young Thug and Kanye West, to produce some of the hottest tracks on the market today.

“I feel proud of the finished video because I’m happy to share young female creative’s stories. I think a lot of people, male or female, view WondaGurl to be an immense source of inspiration and aspiration. Being able to share her story was a very rewarding feeling,” says Peng about the video.

As the videographer, Peng was in charge of not only shooting the video, but like most videos on The Creator Class channel, she edited the entire work as well. Her unique way of capturing her subjects, combined with her expertise as an editor and keen sense of pacing and rhythm, has endowed each video with a deeply personal aspect that gives viewers the experience of feeling as though they are right there in the room having a conversation with the subject in the video.

“I am naturally an introverted and sympathetic person. When I experience situations, I usually sit back and observe. My personality type lends itself to be a great videographer and editor because of my tendency to express myself through videos,” admits Peng. “I have a natural sense of pacing and timing in telling the story. I am also drawn to catching moments that most people look past or ignore. This allows my work to stand out from other work that captures more generic imagery.”

Coming on board as The Creator Class videographer early on in the channel’s inception, the visual content she’s created has bolstered the channel’s social media following exponentially and established the tone and style the channel has become known for. Considering that one of the main reasons people turn to The Creator Class is to discover information about a broad range of topics through the videos they publish online, videos that for the most part have been created by Peng, it’s not a stretch to say that her work is the foundation on which The Creator Class community has formed.

She says, “Every video was output through my computer to make sure the editing tone and aesthetic matched the channel’s. I have a natural understanding of what current video trends were and brought those elements to the channel growing them to the 40,000 plus subscription base on YouTube and 154,000 follower count on Instagram today.“

Thanks in no small part to Peng’s inspiring work, The Creator Class earned the prestigious 2016 Gold AToMiC Shift Award, which honors breakthrough achievements in the realm of advertising, media, creativity, technology and content.

Former FREE Channel Manager Danielle Reynolds says, “Working with Rosanna is always an inspiring experience. She always pushes the creative boundaries while still maintaining an attention to fine detail. It amazes me how she has been able to teach herself videography.”

While she is primarily self taught as a videographer, Rosanna Peng studied graphic design in college, an area of study that has undoubtedly come in handy as quite a bit of the visual content she creates for clients are embedded alongside stationary graphics and text online. Her understanding of how the style of the video she is creating connects with the attitude of the brand and the overall visual layout has been imperative to her unparalleled ability to create a striking finished project that commands the attention of viewers across the globe– something that can easily be seen through her work as a videographer for MTV FORA and as a photographer for Society 6.

Last year Peng was hired by Society 6, an online marketplace that connects international artists and gives them a platform to sell their work, to photograph the images featured within the popular articles LA Photographer Fauxly On The Realness of the Hustle and Art in the Wild: A Photo Essay. Considering that Society 6 has a massive reach with 344,000 followers on Instagram and 476,000 monthly viewers on their website in the U.S. alone, Peng’s shots for each project gained quite a bit of attention.

Screen Shot 2017-05-22 at 9.23.06 PM — Photographer Fauxley shot by Rosanna Peng for Society 6

For the Fauxley feature Peng captured LA photographer Fauxly in a series of dynamic and architecturally intriguing shots that reveal her in a way that feels natural and aesthetically lines up with the overall layout of the interview on the Society 6 site making it visually pleasing for viewers to read.

Peng explains, “I wanted to shoot her organically without too much posing. This was my approach for this photoshoot because the environments I brought her to had a lot of symmetry in architecture. By balancing an organic subject with a structured environment, it made for a well-balanced juxtaposition between the two.”

For the Art in the Wild: A Photo Essay she was tapped to translate some of her favorite Society 6 designs into photographs in various outdoor environments. The unique images she captured create a bridge between the natural world and the Society 6 designs in a way that is mesmerizingly beautiful. Clearly Peng’s creative eye extends beyond videography and her design degree has been put to good use.

Rosanna Peng’s innovative, inspiring and diverse work has definitely struck a chord with audiences around the world. Stay tuned for the release of her next Society 6 project, which is a lookbook video shoot slated to be released on June 1. She is also currently working on a promo video for Canon Canada’s macro lens, which will be released in August.