Five Location Shooting Tips

Posted Oct 7th, 2008 by Andrew Davis

Having just completed another shoot for Breville.tv I thought it might be helpful to provide you with some valuable insight into producing, directing, and completing a video shoot on location. At Tippingpoint Labs we have more than 20 years of video production expertise, and we’re still amazed at some of the things we need to keep in mind when we’re about to shoot on location.

So, here are five things to remember when you’re producing a video shoot outside of a studio.

1. You Always Need More Space Than You Think. When you’re scouting locations, whether it’s a corporate office or a loft apartment (like the one we just shot in), remember that you’re going to fill the space quickly with lights, cameras, grip equipment, monitors, audio gear, cables, and of course all the cases that stuff comes in. So, make sure you remember to envision the scale of the crew and the amount of gear you’re bringing to the shoot, and plan accordingly. As a rule of thumb, estimate a third more space than you think you need. It will make things much easier to deal with on your production days.
2. Client Monitor Is A Must. If your client is going to be with you on location (most times this is true for us), make sure you have a nice-sized client monitor with a feed from your primary camera. A client monitor helps keep people out of the director’s way and helps them feel comfortable with the material you’re shooting.
3. Bring One More Production Assistant Than You Think You Need. Loading in and breaking down are the two most labor-intensive parts of the video production. No matter what, always bring one more Production Assistant than you think you need. Many hands make light work, and you’ll appreciate the extra help.
4. Manage Your Shoot Schedule. No matter how well prepared you are for the production, double the amount of time you think it will take to complete each segment or interview. There are always little things that hold up the shoot or slow down production — a prop goes missing, your talent is late or their glasses won’t cooperate with your lighting set-up. It’s much less stressful to be ahead of schedule than behind schedule, and your crew will perform better if they don’t feel hurried each step of the way.
5. Feed Your Crew. In my 10 years as a video producer I’ve learned that a happy crew is a productive and attentive crew. One of the easiest ways to make sure they’re performing at the highest level is to feed them well and feed them regularly. If you can assure them that they will be eating on time each day and that their breaks will be stress free, they’ll look for the best shot, adjust the lighting on their own and really make a big impact on the production.

The next time you’re preparing for a big shoot, keep these five things in mind and I guarantee you’ll have a more successful shooting experience. Your client will be happy, your crew will be happy, and there’ll be nothing to complain about at the wrap party.