Producing an event video is easily one of the most challenging processes for many producers. But learning how to do it properly pays off. Since videos are crucial for contemporary marketing, offering event video production services can help you win many new clients. Bonomotion is one of the best Miami Video Production Companies Just consider these mind-blowing facts: in 2021, 85% of marketers said that video is a fantastic way to grab attention online. A whopping 98% believed that video would play an important role in marketing over the coming years. Obviously, learning how to strike a chord with your event videos can help your business thrive. Regardless of whether you’re filming a live or virtual event, these 9 tips will help you offer impeccable event video production in 2022.
1. Prepare Your Video Production Equipment
The first step in any event video production process is preparing the right equipment. Here’s the basic gear you’ll need:
Cameras: Choose cameras specialized for video recording instead of those designed for shooting photos.
Tripod: Use tripods to mount your cameras, especially for long events. The longer the event, the more difficult it is to hold the camera in your hands.
Slider: Sliders will help you capture moving subjects with ease.
Headphones: They allow you to monitor the sound quality of the event video.
Collar microphone: It’s a must-have if you’re going to do impromptu interviews with some of the attendees.
Stabilizer: Stabilizer ensures that the recording isn’t shaky even if you suddenly move the camera.
Flood lights: These are for illuminating dark or dim indoor spaces.
Light reflectors: Reflectors softly illuminate the subjects, so you’ll avoid excessive contrast.
Batteries: Pack four to five extra for each camera – expect the unexpected.
Memory Cards: Carry extra memory cards to ensure you’ll have enough storage space for all your video content.
Lenses: Pack lenses with different focal lengths, apertures, depths of field, and zoom ranges. That way, you’ll be prepared for anything.
Shoulder rig: This will help you produce more stable videos with a digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) camera.
The above equipment will mainly help you during the shooting. For post-production, you’ll also need a modern editing console and sophisticated software.
2. Plan In Advance
Getting tense before and during an event is normal, but a detailed plan can help you endure the pressure. Here’s how to make one:
Plan for problems: Arm yourself with as many fully charged batteries as possible, and don’t forget to bring your charger to the event venue. Dead batteries are a nightmare for video producers, so avoid this scenario by bringing backup. Unfortunately, other problems can crop up as well, so plan for those, too.
Keep emergency contacts: See to it that you have your cell phone with you, together with the contact details of the event owners and your crew members. This will help you coordinate the video shoot on-site.
Consider the physical setting: Find out whether there’ll be a rehearsal before the D-day. If not, visit the venue on your own. It’s during this time that you can plan your camera setup and adequately assess the venue for aspects such as proper lighting and potential obstacles.
Plan around the people or moments you need to capture: For example, your highlights video for a conference should feature the keynote speakers. Make sure your shooting plan aligns with the event timeline.
Although this step precedes the actual event video production, it will very much influence the final product you’ll deliver to your clients. So ensure that you have a stellar shooting plan before the event.
3. Adjust the Settings for Capturing the Event Perfectly
The right settings can make even trade shows and corporate videos look thrilling. So, ensure you adjust the settings before filming and keep them aligned with the style and the message you want to communicate. If you opt for shooting with multiple cameras, ensure that your frame rates, color profiles, and video modes are adequately matched up. That way, all cameras will capture videos with similar qualities, and you’ll combine the footage more easily during post-production.
4. Know Your Event Video Production Gear
You must have in-depth knowledge of your shooting gear so that you can make a prime event video. For instance, if you’re shooting tapeless, you should be prepared in case your recording gets a blip. That’s especially true if your camera automatically breaks your videos at, say, 5 GB to adjust to the memory card. You should also be familiar with changing audio channels and dealing with interference caused by your wireless microphones. In short, you should consider and thoroughly prepare for equipment issues during event video productions. If there’s no rehearsal, run a test before the event by leaving your camera on the whole day and examining the footage to check for issues. You can also do an audio test in various locations and try different output settings to see what would bring out the best quality video.
5. Collaborate With The Audio Crew
The video you shoot won’t get much attention if the audio’s substandard. So see to it that you work closely with the audio crew. They’re the ones who can help in situations such as when you want your soundboard to give you an XLR or mono audio feed. Discuss all the technicalities with them beforehand to ensure that the entire team is on the same page.
6. Have Proper Lighting
Proper lighting is crucial for high-quality, professional-looking videos, so be intentional about the lights you’ll use. Identify the types of light you’ll need and the exact areas to place them to achieve your desired effect. For example, if you want a dramatic setting, you’ll need shadows in the right places. On the flip side, if the lighting’s more extreme, it can add cheer and evoke a bright mood. If you’re on a budget and want to work with existing light sources — like the sun or indoor lamps — you can use your creativity to make the lighting favorable for different scenes.
7. Aim For A Simple Background
One of the most challenging parts of live event video production is that many things are happening at once. This doesn’t just make your job harder. It also makes it more difficult for the viewer to assess what he should focus on. And most viewers won’t give your video a second thought. So, you need to strategically emphasize the important objects or people in your video. One way to achieve that is by using a simple background or by decluttering the area. In some instances, you may want to use dark or solid-colored backgrounds such as a bedsheet, backdrop paper, or a painted wall, and then place the subject a few meters away from the background to avoid casting a shadow. The aim is to minimize the objects that’ll steal attention from the main subject, although some storylines and themes benefit from a cluttered scene. Still, the best way to improve your skills is to first master the basics of backgrounds and experiment with other scenes after.
8. Have Proper Composition
Someone who’s long been part of the motion picture industry can quickly identify the work of an amateur by watching just a few seconds of footage. The primary factor that gives them away is the lack of composition and proper framing. Good videography entails more than just focusing on the subject or the scene. To achieve it, you have to arrange the visual elements skillfully and allow them to tell a story. It also means you have to change your frame rate to make the scene more appealing. There are many cinematic videography tips you can apply in regard to composition, but one of the most critical is the rule of thirds. According to this rule, you should mentally divide the frame into horizontal and vertical thirds before juxtaposing the subject in the section of your choice, provided that the outcome is balanced.
9. Set The White Balance
If you’re using multiple cameras to shoot a video, you may find that they vary in default color temperatures. Unless you set the white balance, you may go through the significant challenge of correcting the color and temperature of footage from different cameras. Seeing a video with alternating warm yellow and bluish tones can be distracting. To avoid this, you should set the white balance on all your cameras before you start recording. That’s how you’ll ensure that you create videos that are consistent and of good quality. In turn, this will simplify your editing process.
The first step to making a teaser for an event video is to include three pieces of information in it: the name of the event, the date, and a call to action (CTA). The teaser should also feature the best moments from the event footage. It’s up to you to decide which parts of your footage are the most worthy of highlighting — or you can hire an event video production company to do it for you.
How do you make a good video for an event?
Invest the most effort in the pre-production stage to make a good event video. Start by defining your style, target audience, and the key messages you want to communicate. This will give you a better idea of what your video should look like. For example, corporate events and hard rock concerts typically have wildly different target audiences, and videos need to reflect this.
Do I need a professional event video production company?
It depends on how high-end you want your video to be and how knowledgeable you are about video production yourself. As a general rule of thumb, business and finance-related events should be done by professionals, while you might have more leeway in other niches.
You’re Almost Ready For Your First Event Video Production
If you’re planning on offering event video services, this checklist will help you get started. But there’s much more that goes into producing fantastic event videos. We highly suggest rehearsing the entire process before the D-day. Also, it might be wise to partner with professional teams that already have experience in event videography for your first few gigs. RELATED: Your Partner for Video Production for Events Coverage There’s a lot more to learn than we could cover here. However, we’re sure you’ll start producing fantastic videos if you just remain patient and determined. Take it from us – educating yourself on event videography truly pays off. If you’re planning an event contact Bonomotion today for all your event video production needs Bonomotion Video Agency 120 SW 8th St Suite #104, Miami, FL 33130 +1 305-914-7030
