Behind the Scenes: Filming Celtic Festivals

The Magic of Live Music

Opening Ceremony to a Scottish Highland Games

There’s nothing quite like the energy of live music: the soaring notes of a fiddle, the heartbeat rhythm of a drum, the audience clapping in sync. At Stanis Creative, we’ve had the privilege of capturing that magic at Celtic festivals across the Pacific Northwest. What started with an invitation from the Katie Jane Band, led by the incredible fiddler Katie Jane, has grown into one of our favorite creative adventures.

Before filming, we had no idea how rich and abundant these festivals were. The Highland Games aren’t just about athletic feats; they’re celebrations of heritage. Everywhere you turn, pipe bands are marching, Highland dancers leaping, vendors proudly displaying their crafts, athletes throwing cabers, and clans gathering to honor tradition. Even the food is part of the story: traditional Scottish eggs, meat pies, caramelized puffy Cheetos, shortbread, kettle corn, and crispy tots. The atmosphere is immersive, joyful, and deeply rooted in culture.

Why Film Celtic Festivals?

For us, it started with connection. Our friendship with Katie Jane opened a door, and once inside, we were swept up in the sights and sounds of a world we hadn’t known existed. We quickly realized that filming these festivals wasn’t just about creating content—it was about preserving culture, capturing emotion, and sharing experiences with people who may never have the chance to attend in person.

The Challenges of Filming Live Festivals

Like any live event, Celtic festivals come with their fair share of curveballs.

Taylor Stanis using an upper body Gimbal.

Packing gear for the road was its own adventure. We found ourselves staring at stacks of cases, wondering what deserved precious cargo space. In the beginning, we always erred on the side of overpacking. Still, there were moments when a piece of equipment stayed buried in a case all weekend—valuable lessons in what truly earns its keep.

Once on site, the sun became both our friend and our foe. Cameras overheated, batteries drained faster than expected, and lighting was unpredictable. Performers were often shaded under tents or pavilions, while the background blazed with daylight. Choosing between properly exposed performers and a blown-out backdrop felt like a no-win scenario at times.

And then there was the audio. Festivals are noisy, and more than once, the sound of a booming grandstand completely drowned out an interview with a vendor. At another festival, a glitch in our setup forced us to troubleshoot on the fly. Nothing makes you sweat faster than a blinking error light with the cameras rolling.

Finally, back at the editing desk, the mountain of footage revealed another challenge altogether: keeping track of hours of video and photos from multiple cameras, plus social clips shot on phones. It was exhilarating and exhausting.

The wins that made it worthwhile

For all the challenges, the rewards were unforgettable.

We’ll never forget the moment Mary Queen of Scots and her court stepped into the crowd, dancing to the fiery fiddle of Katie Jane. The camera caught the delight of a lady-in-waiting twirling with abandon, her skirts flying as the music soared. Another highlight was a couple who performed a choreographed Scottish dance, their joy radiating as the audience clapped along.

The Mary Queen of Scots watching the Katie Jane Band performance.

Multiple cameras gave us the freedom to capture these moments from different perspectives. Our gimbals smoothed our movements as we wove through crowds, giving the footage a polished, immersive feel. And because we were embedded with the musicians, we gained behind-the-scenes access, glimpses of tuning bows, whispered pep talks, and laughter backstage, which make the final edits more personal and alive.

Lessons we Learned along the way

Every festival became a classroom.

We learned quickly that no amount of planning could guarantee perfection, but planning gave us the confidence to adapt when things inevitably went wrong. When our audio setup failed, it was frustrating, but our preparation meant we had backups ready and could salvage the moment.

Our “everything bag” also became legendary. What started as a joke—a tote stuffed with clamps, tape, scissors, rubber bands, even vinegar—proved its worth time and again. It turned out that a single rubber band or clamp could save an entire shoot.

We also discovered the value of truly knowing our gear. Running checks well before the festival began helped us catch problems early. Just as important was knowing what mattered to the performers. By talking with the musicians ahead of time, we learned which solos or interactions they cared about most. Capturing those moments made our work more meaningful, not just technically sharp but emotionally resonant.

And perhaps the hardest lesson: accepting imperfection. There were times when the light washed out a shot, when the crowd blocked our view, when a magical moment slipped away. At first, those misses felt discouraging. But over time, we realized that chasing perfection misses the point. Instead, we celebrated what we did capture—moments of joy, connection, and heritage that no camera could fully script.

Tips for Filming Live Music

If you’re looking to film live music, here are a few things our journey has taught us:

• Scout the venue ahead of time.

• Bring backups of everything (batteries, cards, mics).

• Capture multiple perspectives to tell a fuller story.

• Prioritize audio—it makes or breaks the footage.

• Stay mobile with gimbals or handheld rigs.

• Film the context (vendors, food, dancers, crowd reactions).

Why It Matters

Filming Celtic festivals isn’t just about creating a highlight reel. It’s about preserving culture, celebrating heritage, and building bridges. These festivals bring people together through music, food, and tradition, and filming them helps extend that community beyond the festival grounds.

We hope that our work not only gives festival-goers lasting memories but also introduces others to a rich cultural experience they might not have known existed. In a world where people are often divided, capturing and sharing moments of joy, heritage, and togetherness feels like a small but meaningful way to build community.

For us, filming live performances has become more than a creative challenge. It’s a way to celebrate culture, connect people, and tell stories that continue long after the music fades.

Jonathan Stanis between sets at the Pacific Northwest Highland Games.

Meet Hamish: From Highland Games to Handmade

This lovely crochet highland cow is named Hamish! He is brown, with adorable yellow eyes and a beautiful, fluffy head.

Every once in a while, inspiration shows up in the most astonishing ways. For us, it came in the form of a shaggy, wide-eyed baby Highland cow at the Prosser Highland Games in Washington. Between capturing the music, traditions, and laughter of the event, one little calf stole the spotlight and our hearts.

That moment sparked something for us! Our resident crochet aficionado and self-taught maker with a talent for bringing whimsical creatures to life, Ava, transformed our vision! With her crochet hook flying, yarn piling up… Hamish the Highland Cow was born.

Hamish isn’t just a stuffed animal; he’s a story woven in yarn. With his fluffy coat, tiny horns, and loveable expression, he’s every bit as adorable as the calf that inspired him. He’s also cuddly, huggable, and perfectly suited for intermediate to advanced crafters looking for a project with personality.

What makes Hamish even more special is that Ava developed the pattern from scratch. After a few prototypes, tweaks, and (let’s be honest) plenty of yarn tangles, she not only brought Hamish to life but also created a full crochet kit so that others can make a Highland cow of their own. It’s a way to share both the joy of crafting and the memory of that magical day in Prosser.

Hamish is next to his kit, which is currently in development! You could make a Hamish of your own!

At Stanis Creative, we believe creativity thrives when it’s shared, and Hamish is the perfect example. He started as a fleeting moment at a Highland Games, transformed into Ava’s latest creation, and is now ready to become part of your own story.

So whether you’re a seasoned crocheter looking for your next project or simply someone who loves Highland cows (who doesn’t?), Hamish is here to bring a little extra warmth and whimsy into your hands.

Road Notes with the Katie Jane Band

This summer, Stanis Creative Solutions packed our cameras (and sunscreen!) and hit the road with the Katie Jane Band. From Whidbey Island to Roseburg, we filmed, jammed, camped, and made some memories we’ll be laughing about for a long time.

Stop #1: Whidbey Island

The tour kicked off at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in May. Katie’s fiddle filled the room, the crowd cheered, and we knew right away this summer was going to be something special. We filmed the Katie Jane Band lighting up the stage alongside other Celtic acts—it was the perfect way to start. As audience members for the other festival bands, we got to enjoy the Celtic tunes ourselves (work perk!).

Stop #2: Roseburg, Oregon

Next up: the cozy Rosebud Theater. We filmed the band in their element—Katie leading with her signature smile and energy, Jodi sparkling both literally (sequins, glitter, and all!) and musically on upright bass, Curt grounding the sound with his down-to-earth style and dry humor, and Brian bringing his fun-loving percussion and quick jokes to the mix. Filming this show felt like bottling up magic—Katie’s fiddle soaring, the band’s energy buzzing, and the audience totally locked in.

Into the Highland Games

June meant Highland Games season, and the road trip vibes were strong. We set up camp in Central Oregon, trading our editing desks for tents and starry skies. Julie walked away with a sunburn that deserved its own credit line, but the performances were worth every ray.

Prosser, Washington, was unforgettable. Not only did we film fantastic sets, but we also witnessed anvil firing (yes, anvils literally launched into the air). Spoiler: the anvil did not land on our paper plate, so no prize money this time. But we did meet a baby Highland Cow, Mary Queen of Scots and her court, and Jon even joined in on the fiddle. Nila joined us for this event, adding her easygoing presence and magic chimes, reminding us how every small sound can make a performance shine brighter.

By Tacoma, things had turned into a family of Celtic musicians. We joined a jam with the Celtic Spoons group and other extraordinary musicians, and laughed our way through Brian and Curt’s endless stream of “dad jokes.” We purchased some fantasy jewels from the crew at the Chocolate Lantern, a new kilt, and a warm woolen Highland poncho for those chilly nights!

July wrapped with the Pacific Northwest Highland Games in Enumclaw. Katie’s fiery fiddle absolutely shredded for the biggest crowd of the summer! Jodi’s sequined sparkle matched her basslines, Brian’s rhythms drove the night forward, and whether on acoustic guitar or his sweet flute, Curt added a soulful layer that grounded the music and drew the audience in.

The Band’s Sparkle ✨

Katie’s smile is contagious—she and Jodi have this way of lighting up the stage so that everyone, band and audience alike, gets caught up in their energy. Jodi’s upright bass holds everything steady. Curt’s grounded musicianship allows him to jump effortlessly between guitar and flute! Nila’s gentle magic and Brian’s playful spirit keep the rhythm pulsing on bodhrán and percussion. Together, The Katie Jane Band is pure magic—and we’re lucky to help capture it. Unforgettable.

Why We Do What We Do

For us at Stanis Creative, the best part of the summer was letting the band’s sparkle shine through photos and video. From live performances to behind-the-scenes moments, our job was to bottle up the joy, laughter, and music so it can be shared far beyond the festival grounds.

THE STORY OF STANIS CREATIVE SOLUTIONS LLC

Some ideas begin in the most unexpected places. For Stanis Creative Solutions (SCS), our story started not in a boardroom or studio, but in a classroom. Years ago, while developing course materials for Julie’s nursing courses, our friend and mentor Dr. Laurel Matthews jokingly dubbed our work Stanis Creative Solutions. The name stuck, and over time it became more than a nickname — it became a vision.

For years, we carried that vision forward in conversations and sketches of ideas, always with the hope of one day bringing it to life. In 2025, we finally took the leap and built SCS into a creative agency where family, artistry, and community converge.

Our mission is simple: tell stories that connect people. Whether through video, digital design, or web solutions, we believe creativity has the power to inspire, to build community, and to leave a lasting impact.

Together, our team blends diverse talents into one creative voice:

Jonathan leads with strategy, technical expertise, and a passion for digital solutions.

Liv infuses bold artistry, animation, and design.

Ava lends fresh ideas, digital and fiber art, leading a new generation of creativity.

Julie brings the heart of storytelling and creative direction.

Taylor crafts film and video that make stories shine.

What began as a classroom idea has grown into something much bigger: a team committed to building connections through creativity. We’re proud to finally share our story — and to invite you to be a part of it.