There’s a secret no one talks about when it comes to great content: when you’re having fun, your audience are too.
We all know how easy it is to get caught up in the grind of algorithms, creator earnings and posting schedules… but the thing that makes a video stand apart from the rest is when the creator has loved the process of making it.
And you can tell.
Joyful videos have a sense of play about them. Maybe the creator is excited to try out a new bit of gear like this is for the late bloomers in her photo walk. Or they’ve spent hours experimenting with filming techniques like Sam Snowden, just for the fun of it. When you hit on a video full of joy it inspires you to look at your own creative process and how you can bring a sense of lightness and exploration to it.
In this Monthly Cut, I’m encouraging you to do just that. Here are 5 creators intentionally having fun with their content. Professional filmmakers, wedding videographers and YouTube vloggers – they are experimenting, building community and most importantly, creating what they love. Give them a watch and get inspired to pick up the camera and start having some fun!
Sam Snowden: Keeping the play alive
Every Sam Snowden video ends with the same tagline, ‘Create More’. It’s simple, inspiring and sums out exactly what his channel is all about: a commitment to joyful creativity. Sam is a professional filmmaker and owner of a creative agency, but still keeps ‘lightness’ in his vlogs and tutorials by regularly experimenting with new tools, techniques and formats. You can tell he loves what he does… and so we love watching too.
The video → A “blueprint” for his journey as a documentary filmmaker.
Why I love it → This video touches on so many important subjects, for example intentional storytelling and creating ‘human’ work in an age of automation. Videos like this inspire creators like you to tell their stories, which is why I couldn’t recommend it more.
Get inspired → Sam emphasises the importance of post-production for soulful storytelling. In particular, he says human-made music can be the difference between a scene full of emotion and a generic cut that flops.
Plus Two Films: Capturing the soul of a party
Rein and Robin aren’t your average wedding videographers. Rather than the standard aisle-ring-speech-cut-cake-affair, Plus Two Films work hard to truly understand the couple and create a film that reflects their personality and the soul of the wedding. As a result, each video on their channel is its own premiere, with editing, camera angles, colors, music and script all completely unique to the story they’re trying to tell.
The video → An intimate wedding in the heart of Rome.
Why I love it → This film is pure joy bottled. The mix of candid moving shots, camcorder film grain, speeches and laughter is the perfect marriage of footage… I got to the end and realised I was smiling all the way through.
Get inspired → Sometimes your best subjects are your friends and family. How can you mix up different pieces of footage to tell the story of who they are?
This is for the late bloomers: Using life as the subject
Georgina’s channel name says it all. @thisisforthelatebloomers is all about celebrating the every day, so-called ‘boring moments’ as opportunities for creativity and growth. Her channel is complete with cinematic vlogs, reflective storytelling and creative tech diaries (like this photo walk) and tied together with her warm personality. Watching is like catching up with a friend.
The video → A short video on what happens when you start choosing yourself.
Why I love it → In just 2 minutes Georgina is able to communicate exactly who she is and what she stands for. It’s really skillful scripting that peaks your interest and points you to the rest of her longer-form videos.
Get inspired → Good color grading is eye-catching. Consistent color grading is brand-defining. Use the same colors across your videos and your audience will start to spot you easily in the feed.
Gabby Le: Having fun with different formats
I’ve been following Gabby Le on Instagram for months, but have only recently discovered her YouTube content. Like Benny Dong in last month’s Monthly Cut, Gabby is an expert in curating specific content streams for different platforms. On Instagram, educational videos and lifestyle content. On YouTube, candid looks into her life. She’s building for both width and depth, and that is hard to do for so many creators.
The video → A casual vlog of a late winter evening in Seattle.
Why I love it → Lighting can change the mood of a video so much. In this one, the soft lamps of her apartment against the dark blues of the night night sky make for seriously cosy watching.
Get inspired → Gabby’s vlogs all start with the same soft piece of music which you come to identify with her content. Choosing a ‘theme tune’ like this is a clever way to tie your content series together and show off your personality.
Gerrit Knein: Filming what you love
I watch a lot of hype videos and so for me Gerrit’s channel is a welcome reminder to slow down. His videos record his life in Cape Town chasing his athletic dreams as a cyclist and in short, it’s beautiful. Filming sports can often default to rapid moving cuts, but Gerrit mixes slower, wide angle frames with close-ups to capture both the serenity of cycling, and the speed and excitement of being on the road.
The video → A silent vlog documenting a day well spent.
Why I love it → What happens when you choose to not rely on dialogue? Your shots have to work harder, and so your work gets more intentional. I love Gerrit’s vlog for this exact reason.
Get inspired → Placing constrictions on your edit (like making a quiet vlog) can encourage you to focus on other aspects of your filmmaking. If you’re looking for a challenge, it can be a great way to expand your filmmaking skills.
Get inspired to pick up the camera
We’ve looked at just 5 creators who are pursuing joyful creativity, but I don’t need to tell you how many more are out there doing the same (including you!).
If you’d like more inspo, my Instagram The Creators Cut is a great place to discover new creators and filmmakers committed to making great content. Or if you’re interested in the human behind The Monthly Cut, my new vlogging channel In The Cut shares the behind-the-scenes of life as a full-time creator. I’d love to see you in the comments!
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