Earlier this week, I shared a short 10-second sizzle reel filmed around Jo’s Coffee in Austin, Texas. On the surface, it may look like a quick snapshot of the neighborhood, but for me, it represents something much bigger: practice.

My goal with this project was to sharpen three core skills essential to professional videography and cinematic storytelling:

• Handheld Shooting – Learning how to stabilize and move with the camera naturally, creating a sense of energy and authenticity in each shot.

• Editing Clips Together – Practicing the rhythm of editing, finding how clips flow into one another, and creating a cohesive visual moment even in a short reel.

• Color Grading – Using tools like DaVinci Resolve to bring the footage to life, experimenting with tones and textures to create a cinematic feel.

This reel is part of my journey toward entering the realm of professional videography and cinema. I’m using these small exercises to practice storytelling and refine my craft with the professional tools and equipment I’ve invested in, including my cinema camera.

Every frame is a chance to learn something new — about composition, color, pacing, and ultimately, how to tell a story through motion.

This is just the beginning, and I’m excited to continue experimenting, growing, and sharing more as I work toward turning my creative vision into polished cinematic work.