When it comes to videography, there’s a lot of things I do subconsciously that I’ve picked up throughout the years.
I primarily shoot live events, and there’s a couple key things I make sure I do when I’m at one such as a wedding, corporate event, or maybe a community event.
So here are 3 things I always do when capturing a live event when I’m making a recap video.
#1 – Shoot in Chronological Order
A lot of times when I cover a live event there is often an agenda or timeline. Certain things happen at different times. And knowing this as a videographer can make a huge difference.
Being in the correct position when key moments are happening are essential. But it goes a lot further than that…
There are several things that aren’t on the agenda that you should keep in mind.
One example is let’s say you’re filming a corporate event. Guests arrive, they register at a check-in desk, they walk through a cocktail hour space, and then enter the main event space.
Shooting in order can make a huge difference. You want to shoot guests arriving first before shooting cocktail hour. Because if you shoot cocktail hour and then go to shoot guests arriving, by then most guests have already entered the event.
It kind of sounds basic, but trust me… this is definitely something you want to pay attention to. Even if you’re focusing on getting detail shots or something else, just make sure you have a clock in your head that’s keeping track of what’s happening and the most active part of the event at any given point in time.
This tip can help ensure you capture everything at your next live event.
#2 – People Watching
In addition to the previous tip, another thing I’ll do specifically at the beginning of the event is watch guests as they enter the event.
You’ll notice that some guests are shy, some are very open and like to wave or say high to the camera. Even seeing how guests interact with each other can be a great cue as a videographer.
If someone enters the event and they hug people, they have a big personality, these types of guests make for great b-roll coverage at the event. Or even a potential interview subject if you’re capturing testimonials at the event.
Keeping an eye on who’s entering the event and how the guests are interacting with each other can give you a decent guide as a videographer on how to approach shooting the event.
#3 – Shoot in Pairs
When capturing video at a live event, I like to follow this rule I have for myself. I like to shoot in what I call “Pairs”.
This is specifically for b-roll shots. I like to record two different types of shots of the same thing that can be paired together in post-production.
Let’s say you are shooting cocktail hour for an example. Maybe you film someone walking up to the bar to order a drink. You can shoot a wide shot of them walking up to the bar and then maybe a closeup shot of the bartender pouring a glass of wine.
Thinking ahead on how these two shots can be used together in video editing can help you determine exactly what to capture at the event itself. And I like following this methodology for my live event coverage.
What tips do you have for live event videography? Leave your comments down below. Thanks so much for reading!
If you’d like to learn more on how I shoot and edit live events, I’ll link some of my videos below for you to check out!