In November, we had an extraordinary opportunity to work in Dubai for our new client, The Heart of Europe. They invited us to be part of the grand opening of a brand-new hotel, where we were tasked with:
- Live streaming the event across multiple online platforms,
- Producing a highlight film of the event,
- Showcasing the island complex with 360° photography.
Departure and initial challenges
We set off for Dubai on November 13, and right from packing our gear, we faced our first significant challenge: assembling a compact setup that would still ensure a professional outcome while allowing us to remain mobile on site.
- Since the event was held outdoors, we didn’t need to bring special lighting.
- We weren’t responsible for the sound system, so we primarily packed our cameras and the equipment necessary for the live broadcast.
Preparation and testing
On November 14, we spent the entire day at the event venue, preparing and testing everything for the following day. Having fast internet and a reliable power supply was crucial for the live stream.
It was no small task:
- We had to stream simultaneously on 4 platforms (YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook),
- In 2 different aspect ratios,
- Using 3 cameras.
To handle this, we minimized the number of cables by transmitting wireless signals from 2 of the cameras, ensuring ease of movement and stable image quality. Once our setup was up and running, we were pleased to see everything working correctly, leaving us some time to explore Dubai’s magical surroundings and enjoy the pleasant weather.
The big day: Hotel grand opening
On November 15, the Heart of Europe Dubai London Hotel held its official opening. We started the morning by capturing guests arriving and the event’s kickoff, then began the live broadcast in the early afternoon.
- Two of our cameras were positioned stationary,
- The third camera was mounted on a stabilizer and connected wirelessly, allowing us to move freely throughout the venue.
The live stream went off without a hitch, and we continued filming until around midnight. Before calling it a day, we secured all the footage on two separate storage devices for safety.
Quick editing and 360° photography
The next morning, we immediately got to work on a 30-second highlight video that needed to be ready that same day. Our team split into two groups:
- Two colleagues started editing and cutting the video,
- The rest headed out to capture 360° footage of the islands.
When using the 360° camera, we had to remember that everything appears in the shot. This meant we often had to “hide” from the camera and use a remote shutter to snap the photos. This approach allowed us to showcase the Dubai Heart of Europe islands and breathtaking hotel complexes.
Post-production and wrap-up
Over the following days, we edited three more videos of the event and produced several 360° photo series. We were delighted to learn that our client was fully satisfied with our work, and we successfully delivered a comprehensive solution covering all of the event’s online presentation needs—from multi-channel live streaming to the event film and 360° photography.