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How to Shoot an Epic Cake-Making Video
Learn these tasty tips for making your baking videos more cinematic.
Baking a fluffy tiered cake with a flawlessly torched meringue is one skill. Making it a thrill to watch is another. Filmmaker Miranda Morey (@mirandamorey_) is the rare creative talent who can do both. In this Master It episode, she’ll show you her secret ingredients for shooting cinematic, feed-dominating baking videos with the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G. OK, that’s probably enough pre-heating; let’s get into the scrumptious details.
Do your prep work
Like any recipe, you’ll want to get a few things in order before you begin. Morey strongly recommends compiling a shot list and inviting a friend to help film while you bake. (Think of them as your video sous chef.) Soft, natural light works best, so open those kitchen windows and let some sun in. The most important part of prep? Presentation. All of your yummy ingredients should be beautifully arranged, perhaps near a few decorations that relate to your video theme. After that, Morey customises her camera settings in Pro Video mode and gets baking.
“Pouring, chopping, mixing—who says they all have to be showcased in the same way?”
—Miranda Morey
See things from the ingredients’ point of view
The biggest challenge when shooting these videos? Turning a set of repetitive baking gestures into a story that can hold your audience’s attention. To Morey, that’s a creative opportunity. “Pouring, chopping, mixing,” she says. “Who says they all have to be showcased in the same way?” One of her go-to tricks is changing up the point of view by placing her camera inside a fridge or cabinet, then filming herself as she pulls out ingredients. For this, Morey said the Galaxy Z Flip3 5G’s Flex mode¹ saved her a lot of time. “Instead of having to constantly take my phone off the tripod and reposition it, I could just flip the Z Flip3 open, adjust it and start shooting.”
Add slow motion.
Sprinkle liberally.
Unlike a timed challenge on a certain charming baking show, you don’t have to rush this. In fact, the best cake-making videos give viewers a chance to luxuriate in all the mouthwatering textures and details. Slow-mo is your best tool for capturing them. Let that egg yolk lazily run out of the cracked shell. Watch the powdered sugar cascade gracefully through a sieve. When it comes to showcasing the lush beauty of a bake, slow-mo is a staple for a reason.
Whip up some movement
Shot variation and camera motion will give your cake video extra flavour. Morey changes her focal lengths often, going from a close-up macro shot to a faraway shot of the same action so viewers get a complete feel for the scene. And with Director’s View on the Z Flip3, she’s able to see multiple shots simultaneously, then pick the one that works best. Morey also likes to move the camera across the table, which (1) shows off all the delicious foods and (2) creates sweeping transitional footage that keeps viewers engaged.
Now that you know the ingredients, we can’t wait to see what you cook up!
¹Flex mode supported at angles between 75° and 115°. It may be difficult to maintain Flex mode while moving due to shaking or other movement. It is recommended to keep the phone stationary while in Flex mode.