Relaspe Music Video
Director of Photography
2026
Embedded Files
Project Overview
Relapse is a concept-driven music video for Sophia Golding that explores the cycle of returning to an unhealthy relationship, using baking a cake as a metaphor. As Director of Photography, my role was to execute the director and producer’s vision, translating their creative ideas into cinematic visuals through camera operation, lighting design, and shot composition. The video captures the transformation from calm and controlled beginnings to chaotic, emotional climax, reflecting the song’s narrative and emotional tone.
About the Project
Relapse is a concept-driven music video for Sophia Golding that explores the theme of returning to an unhealthy relationship, using baking a cake as a metaphor. The cake begins sweet and controlled but gradually becomes messy and chaotic as more ingredients are added, symbolising the breakdown of the relationship. My role as Director of Photography was to bring this narrative to life visually, balancing both performance shots and metaphorical storytelling to create a cinematic, emotionally engaging experience. The video was filmed entirely in a kitchen, with each act reflecting a stage in the relationship. From calm, pastel-lit beginnings to chaotic, high-contrast moments and the final collapse of the cake, the visuals were designed to reinforce the song’s emotional tone. This required precise camera setups, careful lighting, and thoughtful shot composition to ensure that each moment effectively communicated the story while maintaining a consistent and polished look throughout.
My Roles
As Director of Photography on Relapse, my primary responsibility was to bring the director and producer’s creative vision to life on screen. I executed their ideas through careful camera operation, lighting design, and shot composition. This included selecting and preparing cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment, as well as setting up three primary camera configurations: a locked-off wide shot for coverage, a second camera for close-ups, and a gimbal for dynamic movement during chaotic sequences. I implemented lighting setups to support the mood of each act, soft and warm for calm beginnings, higher contrast for tension, and harsh, cooler tones during chaotic moments. On set, I monitored framing, lighting, and technical quality in real time, adapting to the evolving conditions of the kitchen set and performance. While the creative decisions originated with the director and producer, I applied my technical expertise and judgment to ensure their vision was realised clearly, consistently, and cinematically.
Production Process
The production was meticulously planned to build the narrative and visual chaos naturally. Each act was shot sequentially to allow the cake and set to deteriorate progressively. Several weekly phone calls were held with the director and producer prior to the shoot to discuss creative ideas, shot planning, and technical requirements. Pre-shoot setup included preparing cameras, lenses, lighting, and props, while ensuring multiple cake backups were ready for the messy sequences. The day before filming, I set up multiple cameras, including a wide safety shot, close-ups, and a gimbal, and fitted lens adapters such as fisheye to achieve specific visual effects. Multiple lighting setups were prepared to match each act’s mood, allowing for quick transitions and efficient shooting on the day. Lighting was tailored to each act’s emotional tone: soft pastels and low contrast for Act I, gradually increasing contrast for Act II, and harsh, cooler tones with strong shadows for Act III’s chaos. Final acts used plainer, harsher lighting to emphasise the collapse and emotional resolution. Camera coverage was designed to capture multiple perspectives, with consideration for editing rhythm: slower, controlled sequences and faster, repetitive cuts during chaotic moments. The shoot required constant problem-solving, including adjusting lighting for reflections, framing shots around the growing mess, and coordinating with the performer to maintain the intended energy without interrupting the flow. Each stage of production reinforced the metaphor of the song, combining technical precision with creative storytelling and ensuring the director and producer’s vision was fully realised.
Technical Setup
For the production of Relapse, we used a combination of high-end cameras, stabilization tools, and lighting to achieve a cinematic and dynamic look. Cameras included the Sony A7III, Sony A7IV, and a Nikon Z6 equipped with a converter for a fisheye lens to capture creative, unique perspectives. A DJI Ronin RS 2 gimbal was used to achieve smooth, dynamic camera movement, complemented by two Manfrotto tripods for stable framing of key shots. For lighting, we used 2 Neewer RGB168 18" LED panels and 3 GVM LED lights to create versatile setups tailored to each act, allowing quick adjustments of mood, color, and intensity throughout the shoot. Audio was managed with headphones and playback using an Amazon Echo Show 8 to stream the song during filming, ensuring timing and performance were precisely coordinated. This equipment setup allowed for flexibility in framing, movement, and lighting, supporting both the controlled early sequences and the chaotic later sequences of the music video. Careful planning of gear and configurations ensured that every shot could be executed efficiently while maintaining high production quality and fidelity to the director and producer’s vision.
Reflection
Working on Relapse allowed me to strengthen my ability to interpret and execute someone else’s creative vision while maintaining technical and cinematic standards. I gained experience translating the director and producer’s concepts into practical camera setups, lighting designs, and shot compositions, adapting in real time to changing set conditions and performance. This project improved my collaborative skills, teaching me to communicate effectively on set and anticipate challenges to support the creative team. I also refined my technical decision-making, framing, lighting adjustments, and camera movement, to enhance the intended emotion and narrative without altering the director’s vision. Overall, Relapse reinforced my ability to combine professional cinematography with responsive, team-focused execution, delivering a polished final product that fulfilled the creative intent.
Client Feedback
Sophia Golding and the production team praised the execution of their creative vision in Relapse. They highlighted the clarity and polish of the visuals, the effective use of lighting and camera angles, and the way the cinematography supported the storytelling and metaphor of the song. My technical work in managing multiple cameras, lighting setups, and shot composition was recognised as helping bring their ideas to life while maintaining a professional and cinematic finish throughout the video.
Behind The Scenes
The production of Relapse involved extensive preparation and collaboration to realise the director and producer’s creative vision. Leading up to the shoot, I worked closely with the director and producer to set up multiple lighting configurations in the kitchen, experimenting with different moods, intensities, and angles for each act. I captured test shots and stills of these setups and sent them to Sophia Golding so she could select the colours and tones she preferred, ensuring the visuals matched her creative expectations. We also practised key shots and explored different lens options, including fisheye and gimbal setups, to experiment with framing, movement, and visual style. This rehearsal allowed us to refine camera angles, movement, and lighting before the main shoot, ensuring the production ran smoothly and efficiently. On the shoot day, this preparation enabled quick scene transitions, consistent lighting, and dynamic coverage while maintaining the artistic intent of the video.
Meet The Team
Bradley Crawt
Director of Photography
Responsible for translating the director and producer’s vision onto the screen. Managed all camera setups, lighting design, and shot composition to capture cinematic and dynamic visuals that support the story and mood of the music video. Executed shots across multiple cameras, gimbal movement, and creative lens choices while maintaining technical and artistic consistency.
Ryan Hughes
Producer
Oversaw the production workflow, coordinated equipment and schedules, and ensured all technical and logistical aspects of the shoot ran smoothly. Supported camera operation, lighting setup, and collaboration with the director and DP to keep the shoot efficient while maintaining the creative vision.
Gertrude Burgess
Director
Led the creative direction of the music video, guiding performance, shot selection, and storytelling. Worked closely with the DP and producer to translate the concept into visual sequences, providing feedback and adjustments during the shoot to achieve the intended emotional and narrative impact.
Sophia Golding
Artist
Delivered the on-screen performance, bringing the narrative and emotional journey of the song to life. Collaborated with the director and DP to ensure movements, expressions, and interactions aligned with the visual storytelling, and provided input on creative decisions such as color preferences and visual style.
See the Project in Action
Check out 1066 Pets and People to see their training in action, learn more about their methods, and explore the progress of the dogs and their owners. You can browse their website to find out more about their services, or visit their social media pages to see the videos and tips I produced as part of this project.
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