Here’s a quick “behind the scenes” video to help you prepare for your next video shoot, and help you avoid common on-camera mistakes that can be a challenge to fix when editing your video!

Power of Production Notes

If you are doing it all yourself, remember to take production notes. Photograph your film set, lighting set-up, camera placement, and the marks on the floor where you stand (I use clear packaging tape to mark off the carpet, duct tape can leave adhesive marks).

Record voice notes if you are too busy to write (Evernote works well for this).

Post-shoot Autopsy

This seems like an obvious thing to do, but from my experience coaching clients, very few people realize the importance of mastering their film-day systems and processes. This causes time delays and unnecessary stress.

Instead, after your shoot, make time to perform a review (or a team debriefing if you have a crew). Doing so will reveal potential tactics, systems, processes, and valuable learnings. It will also save you a lot of time prepping for your next shoot. Ideally, shoot day should feel like a simple, fun, plug, and play process.

Review Questions:

• • What went really well?
  • What didn’t?
  • What would you like to try next?
  • Knowing what you know now, what could you have done better, changed, dropped completely?
  • How was your scripting? Too many words, need better chunking, etc?
  • How was your vocal timing and delivery? Lot’s of mistakes? Word flubs etc? Brain fog?
  • How was your vocal quality i.e. did your voice tire? Sound flat? etc
  • How did your styling, makeup, hair products, clothing, accessories work out?
  • How well did your equipment perform? Any issues etc
  • Did you run on time or over? Costs?

Upload your notes to Evernote or Google Drive for future reference.

Do Sweat the Small Stuff

Oh, those sweat marks! You do need to watch out for this while filming under the studio lights.

If you’re moving around a lot during your shoot, or you’re constantly adjusting your arm position, sweat marks may occur even with supersonic antiperspirant. You will sweat. This is a normal part of show business. In this instance, the saying, “Don’t let them see you sweat” can be alleviated by the right wardrobe choices.

You’ll note that stage presenters often resort to wearing dark shirts or jackets for this very reason. Keep this in mind the next time you are shopping for your on-camera wardrobe.

Avoid the Lipstick Break-up

There’s nothing more frustrating than having lipstick on your teeth throughout your shoot or sporting camera-ready make-up that is throwing a strange hue. All of which can be a challenge to fix when editing your video.

Use an external monitor (not your camera’s viewfinder) to perform what I call “Last Looks” or spot checks before you commence filming. It will save you from capturing unusable footage. It will also prevent lost time in the edit suite or a possible re-shoot.

By the time you are editing your video, if you discover problematic footage, it’s too late. However, there is a workaround.

Use this Pro-tip to Quickly Salvage Your Footage

You’ve loaded your newly shot master footage (A-roll) into your edit suite software and realize to your horror that you have an obvious, distracting visual error in your A-roll.

Without having to re-shoot or ditch your footage entirely you can quickly troubleshoot with supplementary B-roll footage (i.e. images, additional video footage, text-on-screen) which you can insert over your A-roll to mask the error.

You still retain the audio track of your A-roll material but you insert the B-roll elements over the top. To avoid creating a visual disconnect or causing viewer confusion with your messaging you need to choose material that “relates” to the topic or the key point in your A-roll audio.

For example, you are discussing fitness in your A-roll, you would not edit in unrelated B-roll footage i.e. a rosebush.

If you want more quick tips check out the following resources to help you with your next video shoot.

• • How to Demo Product on Video (without the Hard Sell)
  • Choosing a Video Background
  • Develop a Visual Identity in your Video Presentations
  • Your Script is Your Lifeline
  • The Edit
  • Video Presentation Coaching. 6 Pro-tips for Being Great on Video
  • How to Apply the “Rule of Thirds” to Your Video Presentations
  • On-camera Cheating Techniques to Look Great on Video

 

Remember to keep your film day easy, light, and fun with proper planning. It will make for a better onscreen experience (for you as the presenter) but more importantly, it makes for a better viewing experience for your audience.

If you have a question or you want me to cover a topic for you let me know. I’m always listening!

You can also book a time with me to troubleshoot your video creation or a production challenge.

Keep creating and putting your best out into the world! You’ve got this.

 

Bianca Te Rito

Established in 2006 Bianca Te Rito, founder of STEBIAN.com provides an exclusive, consulting service helping business thought leaders, speakers, award-winning authors & VIPs productize their thought leadership and present themselves, their products, services, or brand message to their target audience in the most effective way possible on video. Get the tailored expertise from a real-world operator with over 20 years of TV/Film industry experience working in front of and behind the camera.  Learn more about our custom offers here.