Notes from the Field
Learn the human side of storytelling.
Because the best stories aren't found, they're revealed.
"The section on finding stories alone was worth the price. I now have a much clearer framework for deciding which ideas are worth pursuing." - Sarah T.
"Warm, thoughtful and refreshingly free of filmmaking jargon. The focus is always on the human being in front of the camera." - Louis G.
"Most filmmaking advice teaches you how to operate a camera. These guides teach you something harder: how to be in a room with somebody and help something
true emerge." - Meera T.
A series of practical guides drawn from years of experience directing and filming for broadcasters and streamers, designed to help you find, film and tell more compelling human stories.
Feeling less like you're 'doing interviews' and more like you're having real conversations.
Noticing the stories as they emerge in front of you.
From focusing on gear to focusing on people.
Whether you're making documentaries, creating YouTube films, producing branded content or simply trying to tell more human stories, these guides will help you approach your work with greater confidence, curiosity and clarity.
What will I learn?
Conduct interviews that reveal character, relationships and emotion.
How to film people in a way that feels present, confident and respectful.
Discover stronger stories hidden within everyday lives.
How to create work that feels lived-in, not manufactured.
Create documentaries that audiences connect with on a human level.
Field Notebook - 01
A practical system of interview prompts and field-tested techniques for drawing out authentic human stories.
Field Notebook - 02
A practical guide to finding documentary stories that matter, illustrated through four real case studies in story discovery.
Field Notebook - 03
How to film real life without interrupting it, from the first moments in a room to what happens when the camera stops.
Two bonus field notebooks only available with the full series of 5:
Bonus Field Notebook - 04
Three practical camera set ups from smartphone to broadcast, with guidance on audio and backing up, along with insight into the kit used on real films.
Bonus Field Notebook - 05
How to plan and film emotive documentaries using a simple script, scene structure and tools drawn from real films.
Hi, I'm Celia.
I've had a camera in my hand for as long as I can remember.
I started with a DSLR and, over the years, I've filmed on everything from smartphones and GoPros to cinema cameras worth tens of thousands of pounds. I've turned that passion into a career making documentaries, branded films and human-interest stories around the world.
But the most important thing I've learned has very little to do with cameras. It's that great filmmaking starts with people.
Over the years, I've spent countless hours sitting across from strangers, asking about their lives, building trust, and learning how to recognise the moments that reveal something true.
Those lessons came from years in the field, through mistakes, missed opportunities, unexpected breakthroughs, and a lot of listening. That's why I created Notes from the Field.
These guides bring together the practical lessons, observations and storytelling approaches I've gathered throughout my career, so you can learn from my experience rather than having to discover everything through trial and error yourself.
They're not a shortcut to becoming a great filmmaker. Nothing replaces getting out there, meeting people and making films. But they can help you get there faster.
Inside, you'll learn how to build trust with contributors, ask better questions, recognise stronger stories, and approach filmmaking with greater confidence and clarity.
If you're interested in telling honest, human stories, I think you'll find something useful here.
The lessons you usually learn the hard way, collected in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is this series for?
Anyone interested in documentary storytelling: aspiring documentary filmmakers who want to tell real stories with real people, content creators moving from performance to authenticity, journalists, photographers, and writers adding film to their practice, brand storytellers who want their films to feel human, not produced, anyone who has ever watched a documentary and thought ‘I want to do that’.
Is this just theory, or is it practical?
Both, but grounded in practice. Every note comes from something real, a decision made on a shoot, a moment that changed the approach.
I've read a lot of filmmaking content, what's different here?
Most content teaches you technique. This teaches you how to be in a room with someone so they forget the camera is there. They're about people, relationships, and the storytelling skills that remain useful long after cameras and platforms change.
How long are they?
Long enough to be useful, short enough to read in one sitting. Around 25-35 pages, beautifully designed and large font with illustrations. You'll receive them in A4 PDF vertical format.
Can I use these for family history or personal storytelling projects?
Yes. The principles work for professional documentaries and personal stories alike.
Why not just watch YouTube videos?
These notebooks bring together years of experience into a clear, structured methodology you can return to whenever you're preparing a story.
Tell better stories, or get your money back
Real storytelling is learned in the field. If these notebooks don't help you see stories differently, we'll happily refund you, no awkward questions. We would love to hear your feedback too, it helps us make the notebooks even better.
For the moments when you're in the field, and you want to trust what you're seeing a little more.
