A RAW approach to filmmaking

Andy is a director of photography and creative director based in Miami, Florida. He originally studied Business Communications in college, but it was during his time working at Apple – in a role called ‘Creative’ – that he discovered his passion for photography and videography. “I helped both customers and employees understand software programs like Final Cut Pro,” Andy recalls.

After five years of mastering Final Cut Pro and experimenting with cameras, Andy took his creative journey further at his local church, serving as Creative Director for another five years. There, he developed ideas and campaigns that eventually led him into full-time videography, working on documentaries, commercial productions, and music videos.

Today, Andy’s workflow centers around his Fujifilm X-H2S camera paired with the Ninja monitor-recorder. He shoots in ProRes RAW, monitors his footage with custom LUTs, and edits his footage in Final Cut Pro. “I chose Atomos for its flexibility. Ninja gives me the quality of a professional-grade monitor and the added benefit of RAW recording in one seamless workflow,” he explains.

That flexibility is key when Andy works across different cameras and environments. “I love loading in different LUTs based on whatever camera I’m using,” he says. “From the Sony Burano to the Fujifilm X-H2S, having access to all my LUTs from camera to camera on any job is helpful.”

He also relies on Ninja’s built-in monitoring tools. “Aside from being able to record in several different formats, I really love all the menu features,” he says. “False color helps me dial in exposure and make sure it’s spot on – much better than relying on small camera LCD screens, which can be deceiving or tough to read because of their size.”

Frame guides are another essential part of his setup, especially when projects demand different formats. “From client to client, different aspect ratios are required,” he explains. “One day you’re filming social media content at 9:16, and another job you’re shooting at 16:9 or 2.41.”

“ProRes RAW gives everyone in post the freedom to push the image exactly where it needs to go.”