Nick Biondoletti | Shoot Better Fishing Videos | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 464

Nick Biondoletti is the producer of Guides and Tides and a cameraman for both Into the Blue and Saltwater Experience, bringing years of hands-on experience in fishing videography to the table. In this How to Tuesday episode, Nick reveals how learning camera settings transformed his work after a costly early mistake, why shooting a little underexposed can save your footage, and the specific angles that turn ordinary phone videos into scroll-stopping content. He shares the exact editing platforms beginners should start with, the filters that make the biggest difference when filming fish in water, and why most people never unlock their camera's true potential. This conversation is packed with immediately actionable tips for anyone wanting to create better fishing content, whether you're shooting with a phone or professional gear.

The Costly Mistake That Changed Everything

Early in his career with Into the Blue, Nick made a critical error that ruined an entire day's shoot. He overexposed the footage just enough to make everything unusable, leaving the guest disappointed and Nick with a hard lesson learned. But this failure became the foundation of his technical knowledge. The specific threshold between salvageable and ruined footage is something most videographers learn the hard way, and Nick's experience reveals exactly which direction you should err when you're unsure. The revelation about underexposure versus overexposure has since guided every shoot he's done. Nick explains what he learned from ruining that entire shoot at 5:25.

Why Auto Mode Is Sabotaging Your Footage

Most people pick up a camera, see it's set to auto, and assume that's good enough. Nick reveals why this approach fundamentally limits what you can capture, especially in challenging fishing environments where light changes constantly. The problem isn't just about quality—it's about losing control over focus, iris, f-stop, and color balance in situations where those variables make or break the shot. Nick learned camera settings through a combination of hands-on mentorship and diving deep into his equipment's capabilities, discovering that manual control transforms amateur footage into professional content. The difference between knowing your filters and not using them is especially dramatic when filming fish in water. The conversation about moving beyond auto mode and learning your camera starts at 2:31.

The iPhone Advantage You're Not Using

Your iPhone can shoot 240 frames per second in slow motion—that's higher frame rates than many professional cameras Nick uses for Into the Blue, which max out at 180 fps. But frame rate is only part of the story. Nick's favorite thing about phone cameras isn't the technical specs; it's the creative freedom that comes from how easily you can move them. He demonstrates specific angles that transform standard fish photos into compelling content: shooting low through rocks, getting down below the subject and shooting upward, incorporating more water in the frame. The key is experimenting with different perspectives rather than taking the standard snapshot everyone else captures. Nick also reveals the affordable stabilization tool that eliminates the choppiness many people experience with phone slow-motion footage. Nick's phone videography tips and the slow-motion capabilities start at 6:54.

From Raw Footage to Finished Video in One Day

The editing software that intimidates most beginners is actually more accessible than people realize. Nick breaks down the two platforms that make the most sense for different skill levels: iMovie for basic editing that you can do right on your phone, and Final Cut Pro for more advanced work. The surprise is how quickly someone can learn the basics of Final Cut Pro if they're genuinely interested—Nick estimates you can learn basic editing in a single day of focused practice. But learning the basics is different from developing style, and that's where studying other creators becomes essential. Nick explains how he's built his editing approach by watching other videographers' work, identifying techniques he likes, and then adapting them with his own improvements. The process of developing your eye and learning when to use certain transitions or cuts is something that happens over time. The conversation about editing platforms and learning timelines starts at 8:52.

Final Thoughts from Tom

I have so much respect for people learning videography and editing because it's a genuinely slow process. Nick has put in the work over the past couple of years, and you can see the difference in everything he shoots now for Guides and Tides and our shows. The specific tips he shares about camera settings and angles are immediately useful, whether you're shooting with your phone or trying to figure out a more advanced camera.

What I really appreciate about this conversation is that Nick doesn't pretend there are shortcuts. He talks honestly about the mistakes he made, like that early shoot where he ruined everything by overexposing. Those kinds of failures are where real learning happens, and hearing him explain what he took away from that experience is valuable for anyone trying to improve their content.

If you're trying to create better fishing videos or just want to understand what separates amateur footage from professional content, this episode breaks it down in practical terms. Nick knows this stuff inside and out now, and he explains it in a way that makes sense. Listen to the whole thing—you'll pick up techniques you can use on your next trip.