Event Videography Basics: Get Your Game On With These 9 Tips

Do you want to start taking advantage of the world opening up again and become an event videographer?

Then read along and learn everything you need about event videography and how to be good at it!

If you want to learn more about making films in general, head over to our article on filmmaking.

What is event videography?

Event videography is a form of videography that happens at various events like conferences, social functions, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs, and such.

9 tips to improve your event videography

1. Clearly communicate and set expectations with your client

Ensure you've clearly communicated with your client what's going to happen and what they can expect to get out of it.

No matter how much you plan, you can never fully anticipate what'll happen. But shooting the perfect video is nearly impossible, so express that to your client and give them realistic expectations.

Speaking of expectations, it's good to know what type of video they actually want and what they expect to get from this project.

Have a meeting with them, show them some different event videos, and ask them what type of video they think is best for their goals. This makes it easier to know what's important to look out for and plan your shots.

It also gives you more calmness to get creative because you know what style to go for.

2. Plan out your event video

It is always great to plan out your event video beforehand.

I know I just told you that it never goes to plan, but that still implies that you have to make a plan!

And a plan can really do wonders for your work. Having a plan doesn't mean you must follow everything to the tee. It's more of a guide you can always look at whenever you're "lost."

It is vital to plan the various events and when to cover them.

Let's say you're covering a conference with several speakers at multiple spots simultaneously. Some speakers are undoubtedly more popular than others, and you don't want to shoot videos of half-empty crowds.

That's just not sexy!

So if necessary, sit down with the client and plan which speakers they think you should capture.

But be sure to leave some time for breaks, walking around, and filming the crowd and miscellaneous things.

3. Create a shot list

When you're doing event videography, always create a shot list.

Trust me, it will make your life so much easier.

A shot list is an organized list of shots that sequence together and becomes a scene. Think of it as a detailed checklist that gives you an idea of what types of shots you're missing.

Remember, in event videography, you only have a short time to get every shot you need. And if you forgot to capture some, you can't just ask everyone to come back for another day of shooting.

So alongside creating a plan, it's imminent that you create a shot list to plan out the various shots that you know you'll need. This will also make your life easier in the post-production sessions because you've already got every type of shot you need to create a narrative.

If you don't know how to make a shot list, you can download your own shot list template right here.

While it's made for bigger film productions, you can easily customize it to fit your needs. This will make your process much more manageable.

4. Gather your necessary gear

When doing event videography, you have to ensure you've got all the necessary film equipment with you. This would typically be the right camera(s), lens(es), gimbal(s), and tripod(s).

Especially a gimbal or a camera rig like the EasyRig Minimax can be great for stabilizing your camera while walking around.

It could also help alleviate the strain caused by walking around all day with a camera.

Be sure to plan some shots where you can stand with a tripod. That way, you can still work without straining your body.

If you're a one-person production crew, or if you're just trying to keep your budget low, you shouldn't be scared of the prospect of getting all the various gear you need.

You can always rent gear and save a ton of money!

5. Arrive early and get to know the location

Be sure to arrive at the location at least a day early if possible.

This will make it way easier for you to plan your shots because you'll know where you can achieve the best shots.

Check out the venue, and see if you can imagine how it will look when it's packed.

Then consider which spots would be great for you to shoot from to capture the best content. And remember that the place will be packed, so take visitors and consider whether you can get these shots.

Another good reason to arrive early is that you can plan your route better and see which ways to go after each event.

This way, you don't waste too much time walking around trying to figure out where to go next and how to get there!

6. Be ready to shoot everywhere, anytime

One thing that you should be prepared for is the spontaneity of filming events.

You never know what's happening.

You should work on your instincts and be prepared to shoot anytime something interesting happens.

Always have your camera nearby, even on your breaks. Because who knows, it might be the money shot you're missing out on while waiting for your sandwich.

7. Get a variety of shots and test different compositions

When you're shooting all day, you'll get a bunch of footage that all looks the same.

To make a more engaging video, you need to get a good variety of shots and compositions.

So try to get something different to make your video more interesting to look at. Get some stabilized b-roll shots or POV shots from you walking around the crowd.

Try to change the angle, see if you can get up high, and take some shots from above.

If you need some inspiration, check out our article on camera angles, movement, shots & focus.

8. Shoot with a fast lens

A fast lens allows you to draw attention to any feature on the subject.

A fast lens is a lens with an aperture between f/1.8 and f/4. A fast lens lets in more light, meaning you can use a faster shutter speed.

Essentially it means that you can take pictures in faster succession. This is great in videography, as it allows your camera to quickly adjust to the lighting and get a quick and good exposure.

It is also perfect for moving around, which you'll be doing in event videography.

9. Never forget the importance of audio

Even though you'll probably use a song to overlay your video's soundtrack, capturing audio from the venue is a good idea.

It doesn't have to be with a professional microphone. It can be with your internal microphone in the camera.

The most important thing is that you capture the audio. You can then use it as an ambient sound to make the video more engaging and really make it come to life.

Up next: learn the fundamentals of videography

I hope this article helped you understand event videography better!

If you want to learn more about making videos in general, you can read our article on videography.

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