In short
- Agree the goal: Know what the finished videos are for and where they will be posted.
- Prepare people and places: Brief anyone appearing and tidy the spaces being filmed.
- Plan for extra clips: Ask for short cut-downs and photos from the same day.
Agree what the video is for
Before talking about locations or cameras, agree what the finished video needs to do and where it will live: your website, social media, a pitch or an event screen. That decides the length, the shape of the frame and the tone.
Write the shot list together
A shot list is a simple table of everything to film: interviews, the space, products, people at work, details. Reviewing it before the day means nothing important is forgotten and nobody is waiting around wondering what is next.
Brief the people appearing
- Tell them what they will be asked and roughly how long it will take.
- Suggest plain clothes without small patterns or large logos.
- Get written permission from anyone, staff or customers, who will appear on camera.
Prepare the locations
Tidy and declutter the spaces being filmed, and think about noise: deliveries, music, coffee machines and air conditioning all get picked up by microphones. If you are filming in a shared or public place, check whether you need permission.
An hour of tidying before the crew arrives can save a day of editing later.
Get more from the same day
While the crew and equipment are there, ask for extra material: short vertical clips for social media, still photos, and spare footage of your space and team that can be reused later. It costs far less than booking another day.
After the shoot
Agree how you will give feedback on the first edit and who signs it off. One set of combined comments from the right people keeps the edit moving and avoids going round in circles.
Planning a shoot? Tell us what you have in mind.
