Top Tips for Filming Event Video While Also Using Photography

Capturing event video and photography at the same time as a solo producer can be tough, but preparation and planning make it possible. We’ve compiled this list of top tips for filming event video while also using photography to help you get the most out of your resources when on location.

Video and photos captured together make for a double paycheck, right? Seemingly yes, but so many mistakes can arise when a single person attempts to capture film and photos at the same time. This is not to say it is impossible–but, to keep your sanity, follow the steps below.

Prepare Your Camera and Gear

You can’t capture film and photos with just any old camera. You’ll need a solid multi-purpose camera in order to easily switch between video and photography modes. A DSLR or mirrorless camera will work as long as you have familiarized yourself with the camera ahead of time and you’re fluent in the operation.

If working in a low-light location, make sure you capture photography and video with a rolling shutter. Also, pay close attention to the flash options made available to you and ensure you can mount the equipment on a tripod, monopod, or shoulder mount to free up hand use.

Use Your Strengths

As a videographer, you should already have a solid idea as to what you are and are not capable of. Use your strengths to your advantage and capture photos and video that plays with those strengths. If you’re not great at photography, focus more on video. If you’re better at photos, focus more there and less on the latter.

Capture Video in Motion

As you determine when to switch between video and photography, consider the general rule — video loves motion, photos love still life. It may be a little bit more difficult to focus and adjust on the fly, but capturing the motions of the event on video will certainly produce the best footage for the final edit.

Capture Static Photos

As mentioned above, static images are best captured by photography. Look for those subtle moments when your characters aren’t moving around or when you can catch a backdrop of the location and all of the elegant appeal that your viewers will later be mesmerized by.

There are tons of opportunities for static photos and equally tons of opportunities to capture video in motion. Do your best to adapt between the two and capture the moments. Photography is an art and like most things, it takes practice to master. If you are a photographer you can learn how to start a photography blog on 9 Mousai!

Monitor Lighting and Sound

Capturing video requires special care to be taken as to the lighting and sound surrounding the event. If you’re not familiar with shooting video, now is the time to prepare!

Add a boom mic to your camera to capture the sound or consider attaching lapel mics to your subjects to ensure the audio is top-notch.

As for lighting, use the outdoor lighting to your advantage whenever possible and, if there’s low lighting, get inventive with your camera angle to ensure a shot that is well lit and captures the moment in a crystal clear manner.

Communicate with Your Subjects

You may not be able to tell your subjects to move or look this way or that at all times, but you can use your voice to your advantage in capturing the best shots as you go. Let your subject know what you’re doing and what you expect of them to ensure you are catching photos and video that includes the perfect smiles and that special act in just the right manner.

Take Time to Edit, Photos First, Video Second

As you complete the production and begin editing, make sure to edit photos first, and then edit your video. This allows you to quickly deliver a finished project of photos to your client while you take more time to work on the editing of video footage.

It may be beneficial to put together a timeline of the best moments of the event to help you clip footage together for the final video rendering. Follow these tips on filming event video and photography simultaneously to ensure you capture the shots that will have your audience replaying their special day again and again.