This post is the best place to start if you work overseas and have decided to shoot some video to send back to the home office for editing.
What are you going to shoot? Work this out before you pick up the camera. Ask yourself, “what images best illustrate what you and your team do?” For example, if you work in a rural hospital that serves a local community, think about the sorts of images that would illustrate that best? (These images are often the same for stills or video footage.) Here’s a quick list:
- The classic ‘wide-shot’ showing the front of the building with a sign, front gate, etc. Take time to compose this shot and ensure you hold the camera nice and steady or use a tripod. While you’re out the front, get a closer shot of the sign. Do this by moving closer rather than zooming.
- If possible, have some people from the local community walk through the gate – make sure you start the camera before they enter the frame and keep it rolling until they are well inside.
- Vary the wide shot – maybe from a different angle, or include a tree in the foreground.
- If there is a patient waiting area with good light – take a series of ‘mid-shots‘ of groups of people waiting. Again, keep the camera steady and hold each shot for 10-15 seconds. You should take at least six different ‘mid-shots‘.
- The ‘close-up‘ shot will really help you audience engage with your video. If possible, these could be a series of shots of people’s faces as they wait. It could be a baby sitting on its mother’s knee. Maybe signs around the waiting area. Aim to shoot at least ten close ups
- If possible, take a series of ‘2-shots’ of a patient and a doctor. These can be angled so you shoot from behind the patient so their face is not visible. If there are some simple procedures like taking blood pressure, then get close ups of the cuff and unit.
Thinking and planning shots like the above will help you shoot usable footage. The concept of ‘wide-shot’, ‘mid-shot’ and ‘close-ups’ can be adapted to literally any subject.
Please read the post on ‘So – what is bad video‘ so you can avoid these mistakes as well.
