Where to Find Inspiration for a Commercial? 6 Sources that Will Boost Your Imagination

Let's start by clarifying that looking for references doesn’t mean you’re trying to “copy” someone. Examples are essential for both beginners and professionals to stay grounded in the industry and always keep up with the trends. Websites and accounts we’ve selected are so useful and amazing because they help you improve your skills, stay up to date with trends, and follow the best cinematographers in our field.

If you don’t have such sources on hand, you’re in the right place!

And here you can find our first compilation of useful examples for your inspiration and future work.

Source #1 — "Shotdeck" website

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This site is not just a gallery of beautiful and high-quality frames from your favourite films. It's a true lifesaver for any director or cinematographer. Not only can you enjoy the visual content, but you can also learn a lot about those who have inspired you throughout your life. Сomfortable filtering system, technical details on the equipment used by operators, and many other useful features are waiting for you on this website.

Source #2 — "Schierke" agency

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Now, let's assume that movies and music videos are not quite what you're working on. If your clients are more connected to the fashion or beauty industry, then "Schierke" is your go-to source of inspiration. Here you’ll find hundreds of examples of how to work with models, lighting, and objects. Additionally, the site is constantly updated, eager to share top videos from the industry with you.

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Source #3 — portfolio of Farhad Ghaderi

There are many amazing cinematographers in the world, and most names are well known to any film lover, let alone photographers, cinematographers, and artists. However, there are still rare gems whose names don’t often appear in Hollywood. Farhad Ghaderi is one of those. In our humble opinion, his work is pure art that everyone (whether amateur or professional) should explore.

Source #4 — "Kodak Film" Instagram page

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Here’s another interesting source where you can follow not only high-quality new releases in the film industry, but also find out who was behind its creation. You may even be able to connect with them via Instagram!

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Source #5 — portfolio of Pat Aldinger

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If you’re tired of standard commercial videos and are craving something new, then Pat Aldinger's portfolio is your next destination. Again, no one says you need to copy these videos, but keeping them in mind and expanding your horizons with such unique new ideas is definitely worth it.

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Source #6 — portfolio of Kremer Johnson

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This team of photographers (and videographers) is extremely popular in Los Angeles and all over Europe. Their constantly updated portfolio always impresses with clean, high-quality visuals. It’s perfect for finding inspiration for commercial videos, as that’s what this talented team specialises in.

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No one’s against you setting the trends yourself. But we believe that to have that ability, you need to learn everything that there is to know from others first. What trends are currently shaping your field? Where do you want to go next and what do you want to learn? The sources that we’ve prepared above will help guide you.

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Constant upgrades are very important for anyone working with video content. You can and you should improve your skills every day!

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If you want to learn how to turn an ordinary commercial into a cinematic video worthy of the big screen, we recommend reading an article about one of our favourite case studies. And for those who love complex and creative solutions in video production, our review of how we filmed a commercial for PlayStation will come in handy.

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We hope these tips have been useful. Or will be useful to you in the future when creating your next video!

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But keep in mind that the talented specialists at Lava Media are always ready to take on the responsibility of creating your video content, as well as promoting it. And for more inspiration, don’t forget to check out our cool TV commercials, all of which you can find on our website.

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