In early April, I was at the Jaarbeurs in Utrecht. I photographed and filmed the finalists during their final assignments at Skills The Finals for the professional competition Automotive Technician of the Year 2022.
In times of labour market shortages, it is more important than ever for companies to actively seek out emerging talent. The professional competitions of Skills The Finals
are an ideal opportunity to do just that. For my client, I created a photo series and video production that can be used internally and across affiliated dealer companies to show how the organisation actively invests in attracting strong new candidates.
Freelance photographer, videographer, and editor — on a day like this, everything comes together, and that’s what makes it so enjoyable. Capturing professional photographs, interviewing people on camera using separate microphones and audio recording equipment, all within a tight schedule. Operating the right equipment at the right moment requires full focus, which makes a production day like this both challenging and rewarding. Time flies, and there is only one chance to capture everything.
In advance, the message of the production was clearly defined. What I particularly enjoy is how everything ultimately comes together so seamlessly. Insights from my photography background—especially in composition and lighting—help bridge the gap to filmmaking and make that transition more intuitive. That said, filming is very much a discipline of its own, making this project above all a varied and engaging challenge.
During the assignments, I photographed the finalists in action. My client provided vehicles equipped with specialist tools and supported by experienced staff. Below is a selection of the photographs.
What the footage shows is only a small part of the collaboration behind the scenes. By giving a voice to various participants, it becomes clear how much energy goes into preparing the competitions and guiding the finalists—ultimately with the goal of recruiting the right candidates.
Watch this edit on YouTube
While the edit above was created with a very specific message in mind, the footage also lends itself perfectly to reuse in a second version. This alternative edit includes many of the same images and allows schools, finalists, friends, and family to see how the Automotive Technician finals unfolded. The aim was to capture the day in a spontaneous and engaging way, helping to inspire new candidates for the years to come.
Watch the alternative edit on YouTube
