Talkington Media

01/12/2025

The buzz about AI and its impact on creatives gets louder every day. I'm actively in the game, subscribing to a number of AI services and using them along the periphery of our video production. I have one foot in the water, checking the temperature and flow of current, but the future seems so unclear.

Short term, AI tools are evolving so rapidly that today's darling app might be a near relic three months from now. Names like Nano Banana, Sora, Midjourney, and Veo are constantly bouncing up and down the leaderboard. It's a lot to try and follow.

Longer term, there are very real fears that Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) could almost entirely replace human creatives. That's the fatalist - but not incomprehesible - view.

So, I've been thinking alot about the future and how to plan in this environment. How do you point the compass?

The answer came clear on a hike yesterday. While the world is zigging, maybe it's time to go all in on zagging:

In 2026, Talkington Media will be doubling down on humanity and what it means to be human. We'll keep telling more real stories about more real people.

Like only a human can do.

25/10/2025

October means planning for 2026 production! In addition to lining up projects and firming up commitments for the coming year, this year I'm taking a hard look at the camera and lens inventory, and anticipating year-end purchases.

Do I love getting new camera gear? The answer is a little nuanced. There are a handful of cameras and lenses that I've absolutely loved over the years, but a far greater amount of purchases are practical and made to serve a purpose. When a new camera or lens ticks both the ROI box and the "magic feeling" box, then that's something to hang onto! Advancing technologies sometimes make upgrades inevitable, though.

Everything is laid out here because there are decisions to make. Canon switched all of their camera mounts a few years back to a new proprietary type of mount, from EF Mount to RF Mount. Oh, and some lenses have specific focal lengths and mounts designed for smaller camera sensors, called EF-S and RF-S mounts. So I've amassed Canon EF, EF-S, RF, and RF-S mount cameras and lenses over the years, along with adapters that let some lenses cross over. There are other challenges, also, but let's just say that I don't think Canon has laid out the best roadmap. Maybe it's now time to rethink.

And there's always Sony over there, lurking in the shadows. They have a full line of cinema, photo, and hybrid cameras, too. But after years of Canon - and Nikon before that - that would be like going to the dark side...

22/07/2025

Have you experimented with AI voiceovers? I just did a test comparing my real voice, an AI clone of my voice, and two AI voices: Matilda and Chris. The results were fascinating, I thought, and worth sharing.

18/10/2024

Photo/video/content creator friends, a couple years ago I realized that I've benefited way more from spending 2 hours at a live information event than I can get from 200 hours of wading through all of the misinformation online. Not only are the in-person networking opportunities way more valuable, but time is important and we should spend it wisely. So, if you haven't heard, or you're simply procrastinating...

Tomorrow's the big day! You have 24 hours left to get a ticket to our industry speaker panel at the Taft Museum on Saturday morning. We've assembled a bunch of friendly folks who will be sharing their insights on current trends and technologies in The photo/video/content creator business. Whether we've known each other for years or we've yet to cross paths, I hope to see there!

https://www.asmp.org/ohiovalley/event/asmp-ohio-valley-state-of-the-industry/

08/10/2024

Teri Campbell created these amazing promos for our October 19 ASMP State of the Industry panel at The Taft Museum for photographers, videographers, and content creators. We're working hard to bring you a fun, informative, and inspirational event, so I hope to see you there! Get your tickets here: https://www.asmp.org/.../asmp-ohio-valley-state-of-the.../

16/01/2024

Remember the show "How It's Made?" I've always loved seeing behind the scenes. That's just what we got to do, in addition to working with some really great people, when making this company culture video for YSI, a Xylem Brand. This is the short one-minute edit for social, while a longer version will be used for other purposes. With Diane B. Amon and Bob Scheadler .

15/01/2024

Next Wednesday, January 23, Filmmaker and Global Nomad Brandon Li will be speaking with ASMP via Zoom. I urge anyone interested in filmic storytelling to check out the event and, if you haven't seen Brandon's work, you're really in for treat. https://www.asmp.org/ohiovalley/event/online-conversation-with-brandon-li/

A big thanks to Ben Ko for making it happen! I'll be one of the guys with a microphone, repping ASMP Ohio Valley, so I hope to see you there.

  EVENT DETAILS: TECH TALK : Online Talk with Brandon Li Date: Wednesday, January 23rd, 2024 Time: 11:00 AM (EST)Join us ONLINE via Zoom! Our guest is filmmaker Brandon Li. His…

21/12/2023

Feeling beyond blessed with all of the fun work we've had in the past year. One of the highlights has been helping my friend Patrick create videos for his new business, Patrick Goes Native, that's focused on creating less maintenance intensive, more environmentally friendly, front and back yards. He takes a practical, thoughtful approach to eliminating invasive species and incorporating native plants. Check his YT channel out at: https://www.youtube.com/

Not gonna lie, the pandemic years were tough for business, so I'm humbled and amazed at the gratifying opportunities that keep presenting themselves. So much to be thankful for as we head into '24!

10/11/2023

It's a wrap! Yesterday was the final day of filming for our 2023 annual video contract with YSI, a Xylem Brand. Over the past few years we've collaborated on over 100 videos together, either as special projects or as part of our contracted relationship. I wish more clients understood the benefits of partnering like this, it can be a win-win for everyone. With Bob Scheadler and Patrick Higgins.