About

Authentic Video is a documentary-style video practice led by Nick Agafonoff, combining qualitative research, documentary filmmaking and human-centred storytelling.
We help businesses, researchers, organisations, communities and individuals turn lived experience and meaningful stories into clear, useful and emotionally engaging films.
Our work sits at the intersection of research, documentary and communication. We favour thoughtful, grounded storytelling over polished marketing language—creating films that help audiences understand, connect and care.

  • Real Storytelling

    We capture people, places and lived experience with curiosity, care and respect. Our films are grounded in authentic voices and real-world context, helping audiences understand the story rather than simply being sold a message.

  • Co-creation

    We work closely with clients, participants and communities throughout the process. By listening carefully, sharing ideas and shaping the story together, we create films that are both purposeful and true to the people represented.

  • Human Connection

    We create films that help people see an issue, experience or organisation through someone else’s eyes. By combining careful listening with thoughtful documentary craft, we build understanding, empathy and connection.
Nick Agafonoff, Director of Authentic Video
Nick Agafonoff is a qualitative researcher, video ethnographer and documentary storyteller with more than 25 years’ experience exploring and communicating human experience. He has worked across market and social research, executive communication, brand and business storytelling, community and social impact projects, life legacy interviews and personal films. His research background shapes every Authentic Video project. The process begins with careful listening, an understanding of context and a clear sense of the human story that will help audiences connect, care and understand.
  • 25+ years as a qualitative researcher and commercial video ethnographer
  • Trained in observational and ethnographic filmmaking
  • More than 4,000 filmed interviews and immersions
  • Produced and edited hundreds of documentary-style video projects
  • Experience across research, business, social impact, cultural, community and personal storytelling

What makes our work different?

Authentic Video combines qualitative research, documentary craft and collaborative storytelling. We capture people in context—through interviews, observation, video diaries, archival material and everyday moments—then shape that material into films that are clear, emotionally grounded and useful.
  • Human-centred — focused on lived experience, authentic voices and meaningful stories
  • Insight-led — informed by careful listening, qualitative research and analysis
  • Documentary-style — natural, observational and grounded in real-world context
  • Collaborative — shaped with clients, participants, families and communities
  • Purposeful — created for a clear audience, objective and practical use

Co-Create

Many Authentic Video projects are created in collaboration with the people whose experiences, knowledge and stories shape the film. Co-creation can include guided interviews, video diaries, participant-shot footage, family archives, photographs, existing client material and shared review sessions. This can bring more voices and perspectives into the project while preserving a clear structure and professional narrative. The approach is particularly valuable when the story belongs to a community, family, organisation or group of participants. It helps the final film feel more personal, inclusive and grounded in lived experience.

How co-creation can work

  • Clients and participants can contribute ideas, footage and source material
  • Video diaries can capture everyday moments and personal reflections
  • Participant-shot footage can be combined with professional filming
  • Shared review points can help ensure the final story feels accurate and respectful

What clients say

  • Video Ethnography

    I consider Nick at Authentic Video to be one of the most experienced video ethnographers in the area of commercial market and social research in the world. He understands customers and how to capture and communicate their real worlds, frustrations and delights with insight and empathy. He is also a skilled videographer and editor in combination with being an outstanding qualitative researcher.
    Rigas Harbilas, The Practice Insights

  • Research Persona Films

    I used Authentic Video for a market research study, and I couldn’t be more impressed with their work. They employed video ethnography techniques to bring to life key segments of our research in the form of a series of short, impactful video portraits. What really stood out was their innovative approach to co-create footage with respondents. By involving them in the process, they were able to capture authentic, personal stories that resonated deeply with our target audience. In addition, Nick was incredibly flexible and responsive to the needs of our clients and the results were exactly what we needed. Cannot recommend Nick highly enough.
    Robin, The Practice Insights

  • Social Impact Documentary

    Working with Authentic Video on the documentary "Life, the Universe and Stories" was an incredibly positive experience for Shared Reading NSW. The film has helped to raise awareness about the program, allowing us to reach new audiences and effectively communicate the power of shared reading in fostering connection and emotional well-being. More importantly, the film played a key role in helping us secure funding and gain visibility, both within our local community and beyond.
    Christopher Smith, Shared Reading NSW

  • Brand Story Films

    Authentic Video co-created a video package for my personal brand. Nick was incredibly collaborative, guiding me through the process and helping bring my vision to life. The package included several key videos: a short documentary about my inspirational journey to creating the “delicious skinfood” product, a show-and-tell video that highlighted the unique aspects of my product range, and a customer testimonial video. Together they provided a foundation for me to engage my target audience in a very authentic way. The result is a series of powerful, high-quality videos that truly reflect my passion and the essence of my products.
    Ilana Paull, Delicious SkinFood

  • Feature Documentary

    Making a documentary film with Nick Agafonoff about the role of music in the Bougainville Peace Process in Papua New Guinea was a wonderful collaboration. He has a gift for opening people up and letting them tell their stories. He possesses the full suite of documentary skills from conceptualising to camerawork and editing. The film made a real difference to the people on Bougainville Island reinforcing all they achieved in emerging from a bitter civil war.
    Iain 'Fred' Smith, Diplomat, Author, Musician

  • Community Storytelling

    Nick came to our 30 year School Reunion and recorded some great interviews and anecdotes that brought our whole year together. In addition, he produced a series of short documentary portraits about different people from our year to capture where they are in life, using video diary footage and photos. I'd recommend him as someone who can not only document an event in a professional way, but build community around content.
    Jeremy Capes-Baldwin, CGS School Captain (1994)

  • Memorial Films

    After my wife passed, I found the video memorial prepared by Authentic Video to be an enormous help. We had so many photos but Nick provided us with a methodology that enabled us to compile the perfect representation of her life. The overall effect turned out to be exactly what I had been looking for. It worked beautifully in the final ceremony and I would recommend Nick to anyone seeking a memorial video.
    Lloyd Fell, Customer

  • Life Legacy Interviews

    I asked Authentic Video to record an oral history with my Aunt who survived the holocaust. She was so very anxious, but Nick made her feel quite at ease and she was able to share her story in a clear and powerful way. The interview has travelled across the world and is available in various Jewish museums in Australia and beyond. Ultimately the interview gave validation to my Aunt's life.
    Peter Kaldor, Customer

How the process works

  • brief authentic video
    Start the Conversation
    We begin with a briefing conversation to understand the purpose of the video, who it is for, what needs to be captured and how the final film will be used.
  • Commission project
    Agree on the approach
    We confirm the objectives, creative approach, deliverables, timeline and production method. Depending on the project, this may include interviews, observational filming, video diaries, archival material or client-supplied footage.
  • Pre-Production
    Plan the Story
    Before filming begins, we develop the structure of the project. This may include a documentary treatment, interview guides, shot lists, schedules and a clear plan for the final film.
  • PRODUCTION
    Capture the Material
    We film the interviews, everyday moments, places, details and interactions that bring the story to life. We can also guide clients, participants or families to capture their own footage.
  • post-production
    Shape the Film
    The material is edited into a clear, emotionally grounded and purposeful film. The process usually includes rough-cut, fine-cut and final review stages, with agreed opportunities for feedback.
  • Delivery
    Deliver Final Formats
    The completed film is supplied in the formats required for presentations, websites, events, social media, internal communication, online platforms, archives or family use.

Service Areas

Authentic Video is based in the Blue Mountains, NSW, and works with clients across Australia. Projects can be delivered in: > The Blue Mountains and regional NSW > Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Melbourne > Other Australian locations by arrangement > International locations where project scope and budget allow Many planning, research, scripting and editing stages can also be completed remotely.

Let’s explore your story

Whether you are communicating research, documenting an organisation, supporting a community initiative or preserving a personal story, Authentic Video can help you shape the right approach.
Tell us briefly what you are working on, and we can discuss the most useful way to bring it to life.

Contact us