Take 5: 5 Considerations for Event Video

Uninitiated videographers can quickly find themselves sweaty, tired and frustrated as they try to chase the action at a fast-paced event. Stop to blot your brow or down a drink at the wrong moment and you might miss the best part of the best man's toast or the jabbiest joke at the CEO's roast. Want to shoot better event video? Consider the tips in these five areas and you'll be on the road to producing outstanding event videos.

Anticipation
While events are not typically scripted, most follow predictable schedules. It is essential for an event videographer to anticipate upcoming occurrences so the camera can be in the proper position to catch all of the essential action. Even without knowing every detail of a wedding ceremony, you can expect that the couple will exchange vows, rings and kisses, cut a cake, dance a dance and toss a bouquet before they drive off into the sunset. Miss any of these magical moments and your video will miss the mark. A printed program is an important tool for predicting what will happen next, and staying one step ahead of the action is absolutely essential. If a printed program is not available, find someone who knows the schedule and jot down the planned order of events.

Prioritization
Once you know what's on tap, prioritize what will happen into three categories: essential shots that absolutely cannot be missed, secondary shots that would be nice to have if you can get them, and bonus shots. Rank the shots within each category so that the most important ones are at the top of your list. When it's time to shoot, let the essential shots drive your shooting schedule, and record the secondary and bonus shots when there are lulls in the essential action. It'd be a shame to miss an essential shot like the cutting of the ribbon at a building dedication, because you were busy shooting a bonus shot of the contractor's name on a bulldozer used in the construction. You can live without that dozer, but the production is sunk if you miss the shot of those giant scissors snipping the …