Professional Advice For Videographers

Preparing Your Camera Kit Beforehand

A good videographer is always prepared. It is best to choose and pack all needed gear for filming the day before any filming day if you’re filming on location instead of the studio. Dedicating some time to packing your filming gear also lets you check everything is in total working order. In addition, ensure you clean, and suitably protect your camera lenses. As a result, this helps with preparation for the shoot and that you and your team can set up the shoot quickly when you arrive at the filming location.

The correct kit for each shoot

If you are shooting with a DSLR camera, consider bringing a backup power supply and equipment options for any equipment you are bringing that may need it. This includes; phone charging, a pack of memory cards and a selection of different zoom lenses and audio equipment if needed. 

Each different photo or video project will, most likely, require different professional videographer equipment to be available. 

Consider your client’s needs

Your client may be new to video production and have little technical knowledge about film or video production. As a result, you need to explain any technical terms or questions. Therefore, it is worth asking your client about their technical video knowledge. In addition, if you understand your client’s experience level before the project starts, you can change their experience levels during the production and filming. 

Consider potential challenges

It would help if you considered the project’s ideas and challenges before the shoot day is an excellent way to be more prepared. Consider what information you know about the filming location, such as the location, if it’s indoors or outdoors and who or what you’re filming. Whether filming the project indoors or outdoors, always check weather forecasts beforehand. This knowledge may change what professional videographer kit you need to bring to the filming session.

It is essential to plan safe working methods for all staff members and videography equipment involved; you should also consider what problems occur. For example, if you are filming in a public area such as a busy street or a town centre, the security for yourself, your team and equipment will need to be managed. In addition, you may come across people that are trying to disrupt the project being filmed.

Have Good Lighting

One of the most important aspects of achieving professional-looking videos is having the proper lighting for your project. While planning your shoot, consider how much light will be available to help decide what artificial lighting you need to bring to achieve the desired effect of the project. However, if you’re on a budget, you can work with existing lights such as natural lighting and lamps. 

For example, if you want to shoot a dramatic-looking scene, you will want the shadows to be in the right places so adjusting lighting is necessary. On the contrary, having the entire scene have a large amount of light can create a happy environment, depending on your light placement.

Plan your travel

It is best to arrive early to film the project as this allows more time to set up the equipment needed for the shoot. In addition, this helps remove the potential stress of rushing to set up. It is always helpful to check Google Maps for travel and time of day. Using Google Maps is also good to check for disruption due to accidents, roadworks, and alternative routes.

Data protection

Using a reliable brand of the fastest SD cards available for camera recordings is beneficial. SanDisk cards are a good choice as SanDisk cards come with a lifetime guarantee. In addition, purchasing the fastest cards available means that the SD cards can be used for a longer period of time.

I hope this list of videographer tips will be useful for any future videography project.

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