Like many creatives looking to broaden their skillset, George Hersant-Lisher began his career as a photographer, expanding his professional business to offer a wide range of services including portrait, events and brand photography. “When I was younger, my family told me I had a keen eye for photography. I pursued it further after taking pictures of my friends on stage at music college,” he says. In addition to photography, his curiosity ventured into filmmaking, where he later found himself working as a director and videographer on creative projects for clients around the world. “I love travelling and meeting new people, hearing their stories and sharing experiences with them. I feel privileged that working in filmmaking and photography has enabled me to do all this,” he added.
From pictures to podcasts
Find out how photographer and videographer George Hersant-Lisher used Atomos technology to grow his business, alongside producing and filming a series of podcasts.
Switching made simple
In his spare time, George draws on his filmmaking expertise to produce and record two emotional-wellbeing podcasts. The first, which he set up in 2022 called ‘50 and Coping?’, hones in on trauma and mental health issues. “We work with guests that have real-life experiences and explore ways to manage them,” he says. His most recent podcast, ‘Master and Student: Psychotherapy’, follows a series of discussions between a student and qualified psychotherapist, aimed at highlighting the ins and outs of the profession.
With many aspects involved, including filming, editing and distribution, running a series of podcasts is no mean feat – requiring much planning, and the ability to wear multiple hats on the day. For George, a simplified workflow was essential to the podcast’s successful running. Recording often takes place at a local tattoo studio, where he uses Canon C70 and R5 cameras to record the conversation, with an Atomos Ninja monitoring the footage.
However, it wasn’t until he introduced the Atomos AtomX Cast – an accessory which converts the Ninja into a portable multi-camera switcher – that he noticed a considerable difference in the edit. “When I started the podcasts, there was a greater need to use two cameras. I needed to find a way to help streamline the editing process and it became apparent that a switcher was the way to go. I came across the AtomX Cast, and because it was a simple plug and play setup, I swiftly incorporated it into my workflow,” he says.
Benefitting from multiple input and output options, George plugs both cameras into the Cast, alongside a Universal Audio Volt 476P audio interface. “This allows me to capture up to four XLR microphones at once and input them to the Ninja through the 3.5mm jack,” he explains. This flexibility allows George to adjust his set up with ease. “I’m able to connect a monitor to show clients the recording, or attach a laptop to record and control the Cast through Atomos’ dedicated desktop app,” he adds.
“I needed to find a way to streamline the editing process and it became apparent that a switcher was the way to go.”
The right tool for the job
As an experienced creative assembling his kit list, George prioritises equipment that is ‘lightweight and easy to operate’, so that others working with him can use the technology. Although he’s made adjustments to his kit throughout the years, the piece George turns to regularly is the Atomos Ninja. “The physical build and user interface across Atomos’ product range is exceptional. Their monitors are straightforward to learn and incredibly simple to use,” he says. For video projects, he combines the monitor-recorder with his Canon C70 camera, but switches to the Canon R5 for photography, or multiple-angle shoots. “This setup works well, as I’m able to use the Ninja’s larger display to show the client the images in real-time.”
As with most videographers on set, the ability to record for prolonged periods without the need to regularly swap batteries between cameras is a welcome feature. For George, this is one of many reasons why he invested in an external monitor-recorder. “The Ninja enables me to record directly onto an SSD, which means I’m no longer worrying about the battery life of my camera,” he says.
Recently, George was charged with filming and directing a behind-the-scenes style documentary at a distillery in Hertfordshire, UK. “It explored their daily operations and delved into the challenges they faced as a small business,” he explains. The Ninja’s user-friendly interface, coupled with its range of built-in monitoring features, enabled him to get the best out of his shoot.
A regular user of the false colour tool, George says that it ‘helps gauge whether the scene is over or under exposed’ – a feature which comes into its own when working with multiple types of lighting. He loads LUTs to the monitor, which provide him with an accurate picture of what his footage will look like in post, and recommends applying focus peaking, as it ‘sharpens the image when you’re using a manual lens on the camera.’
In general, introducing Atomos to his existing toolkit has changed the way George works – a fresh, more straightforward workflow has shaped the way he runs his business. “The versatility Atomos products have given me has transformed the way I produce video content, especially podcasts,” he says.