VYV SMELLING SALTS – “Seize Your Moment”
Client: VYV Smelling Salts – “Seize Your Moment” Commercial
Location: On-location – Gym/Athletic Performance Space
Role: Director of Photography
Overview
“Seize Your Moment” was all about capturing intensity at its peak. As DP on this project, my goal was to translate the raw physicality and adrenaline of a training session into a punchy, high-contrast visual experience. The environment was fast-moving, loud, and unpredictable—athletes pushing their limits, sweat hitting the floor, and a product built to sharpen focus in an instant. The camera needed to feel just as alive as the athletes.
Key Responsibilities
Dynamic Camera Operation:
I ran a mobile cinema setup, shifting quickly between handheld, stabilized, and tight reaction shots to mirror the energy of the athletes. The pacing of the shoot demanded constant repositioning and fast lens adjustments to catch explosive movements from inches away.
Capturing the “Hit” Moment:
The product’s emotional core is the moment the athlete inhales the smelling salts. I built the visual language around this beat—close-up compression, shallow depth, texture-rich lighting—to make the inhale feel powerful, cinematic, and transformative.
Lighting & Atmosphere:
Worked with the director and gaffer to shape a gritty, contrast-heavy look that matched the brand’s voice. Sweat sheen, texture on the skin, chalk particles, and muscle definition were all emphasized to give the commercial that raw athletic edge.
On-the-Fly Problem Solving:
Because the athletes were pushing full power during takes, every rep, lift, and inhale was slightly different. I constantly adjusted camera height, focal length, and movement paths to anticipate their choreography while keeping the frame clean and intentional.
Outcome
The final commercial delivers exactly what VYV represents—a high-octane burst of focus and fire. Every athlete’s inhale becomes a cinematic ignition point, and the visuals push that surge of intensity straight to the audience. For me, “Seize Your Moment” was a chance to create something that feels alive, immediate, and unapologetically energetic—exactly the kind of work that reminds me why I love shooting performance-driven commercial content.