Video production can be a daunting task, especially if you've never done it before. But don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are some do's and don'ts to help you make the most of your video production day.
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
It All Boils Down To Time
Practice Each Shot Before Filming It
Keep Track Of Any Changes
Sound Quality Is Equal To Video Quality
Proper Lighting Is Essential
Have Your Make-up And Outfit Ready To Go
Don’t Forget About Your B-roll
It’s video production day! You finally get to see all your extensive planning and creative brainstorming come to life. To make the most of the time you scheduled for shooting, you should acquaint yourself with the process. Whether you’re handling production yourself or have hired a team to do it for you, having an understanding of the process will make time more efficient when you’re ready to get started when the time arises!
If you’re ready, let’s take a closer look at what you can expect on the big day! This should be pretty obvious, but keep in mind that you want to tell a specific story and appeal to a targeted demographic. So when it comes to the quality of storytelling, don’t skimp. Make sure you give your video team plenty of time to gather the necessary footage. The final product will be more appealing if the footage is of higher quality.
1. IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO TIME
You should have your entire video production calendar ready to go by the time shooting day arrives. Here at Elevate, we customize ours for each shoot and client. But if you want to make one up quick, check out this template option. Depending on the duration of your video, you may spend a couple of hours, several full days, or potentially even more time shooting. However long- be prepared to stick to whatever timetable you’ve set. Elevate Media Group has years of experience managing the clock to ensure your time and budget are not wasted.
An experienced production team, like at Elevate Media Group, will be able to correctly set up shots and film swiftly and effectively — yet not hurriedly, to avoid wasting time.
2. PRACTICE EACH SHOT BEFORE FILMING IT
Testing each shot before shooting is an important (and frequently overlooked) stage in the video production process. You want to make sure there aren’t any distracting props in the background, terrible lighting, or broken camera equipment. Frame your picture, test your gear, and employ stand-ins to ensure that the tops of heads and shoulders aren’t cut off in the finished output.
3. KEEP TRACK OF ANY CHANGES
Things will change inevitably – it’s a fact of both life and film production. Whatever occurs, make sure you keep track of everything, whether on paper or electronically. Keep track of the timestamp if you deviate from the script. Do you want to change a shot? Make a note of it. Do you require a new prop? Make a note of it. This will help your video editors edit and identify their work accurately, as well as increase communication with the rest of your team.
4. SOUND QUALITY IS EQUAL TO VIDEO QUALITY
Don’t overlook the significance of audio quality. Your video production will appear unprofessional if the sound is poor. We recommend for sit-down interviews, you’ll need a clip-on mic, and for larger shots, you’ll need a microphone and boom combination. Make sure you have a sound engineer on-site with all of the necessary equipment to record sound without any problems. Elevate Media Group has professional quality audio equipment on hand to ensure audio is clear and crisp!
5. PROPER LIGHTING IS ESSENTIAL
Lighting, above all else, will determine the mood of your video production. This again goes back to the significance of practicing your shots. Not only should your lighting be technically perfect (not over-or underexposed), but it should also reflect the mood of your video. Darker lighting should be used in a more somber, melancholy video, whereas brighter lighting is used in a more hopeful, lively film. It is also important to consider the use of shadows and lighting in these instances.
6. HAVE YOUR MAKE-UP AND OUTFIT READY TO GO
Come video production day, your hair, makeup, and wardrobe staff should already know what they’re doing. Make sure all makeup, clothing, and props are ready to go and easily available during the session. Everything should be transported, tested, authorized, and ready to go by production day.
7. DON’T FORGET ABOUT YOUR B-ROLL
Unless you’re a professional Hollywood cinematographer, chances are your video won’t be a single shot. B-roll, or extra video footage, will very certainly be used in your video to intercut your main footage. It will play over your narration or voice-over to provide visual interest to the scene. B-roll might be shot on the same day as interviews or on a separate day. Regardless, make sure your b-roll makes sense and effectively conveys your message. Just as you would with your main footage, pay attention to lighting and sound here, too.
There are numerous considerations to make on production day and throughout your video marketing approach. It’s never a bad idea to over-prepare. Keep in mind that lists, calendars, and schedules are your best friends! Prepare to go, plan ahead of time, and prepare for a busy yet exciting day!
Alternatively, you can save time and money by hiring Elevate Media Group to handle all of your production needs. We can create the branded video you’ve always wanted, from pre-production through post-production. Best of all, you won’t have to worry about any production day deadlines when you work with us.