Common Mistakes to Avoid in Event Videography
Covered in this post—
Inadequate Preparation Dulls Results
Poor Audio Can Ruin Otherwise Great Footage
Insufficient Lighting Drags Down Results
Bland Composition and Framing Looks Amateur
Videography brings events to life like nothing else can. By documenting special moments, speeches, performances, and attendee reactions, video adds an emotional resonance that transcends still images. However, creating a dynamic event video is also full of challenges. Between difficult lighting conditions, equipment failures, and tight deadlines, it’s easy for even seasoned pros to miss great shots.
By understanding common pitfalls, you can avoid hours of headaches in post-production. Not only will you become a more confident, versatile videographer, but you’ll also deliver better results for clients. Read on!
Mark Campbell Productions is a Chicago-based video production company with decades of experience capturing events of all shapes and sizes around our amazing city. Let us help you shine a spotlight on your event.
1. Inadequate Preparation Dulls Results
Preparation is the bedrock on which a successful shoot is built. Without proper planning, things can quickly spiral out of control once the event kicks off. Here are three ways amateur videographers often trip up:
Not visiting the venue beforehand means you won’t know optimal camera placements. Lighting conditions can also be a surprise you want to be prepared for.
Failing to thoroughly understand the event schedule makes it impossible to anticipate key moments. Do thorough research and ask clients lots of questions beforehand.
Don’t become overwhelmed by a faulty SD card, dead battery, or rainy day. Always pack backups and have a contingency plan, just in case.
Once the action starts, it’s too late to prepare. Thorough planning is the best investment for nailing the final edit.
2. Poor Audio Can Ruin Otherwise Great Footage
Many budding videographers obsess over expensive cameras only to overlook audio. While flawless imaging is vital, a video filled with tinny, inaudible sound still provides a terrible viewing experience.
The most common audio mistake is relying solely on the internal camera mic. Its range and directionality are minimal. Even in close quarters, the mic struggles to isolate the main audio source from background noise. Worse still, outdoor events get drowned in echo and wind.
Advanced videographers always utilize external mics like shotgun or lavalier models. Whatever your microphone setup, be sure to monitor audio levels during filming. This allows you to adjust levels on the fly and ensure even quiet voices get picked up.
3. Insufficient Lighting Drags Down Results
The available lighting at events can prove incredibly challenging. Color temperature differences between indoor and outdoor areas wreak havoc on your camera sensor. Dim ballrooms, shifting stage lights, and direct sunlight all need special consideration. Without the proper lighting gear or knowledge, you’ll quickly end up with dark, grainy, unusable footage.
While you can’t control the sun or a venue’s aging incandescent lights, dedicated videographers come prepared. LED panels provide clean, bright light, whatever the conditions, while diffusers craft flattering illumination indoors and out.
4. Bland Composition and Framing Looks Amateur
Creative composition, beyond solid lighting and audio, elevates event videos above amateur efforts. Unfortunately, videographers often ignore framing basics by:
Filming subjects against cluttered backgrounds instead of simplifying scenes.
Leaving ample headroom when tighter framing would be more dramatic.
Failing to properly handhold the camera so shots wobble accidentally.
Overusing tripods so footage feels static and boring.
Study photography composition techniques through online tutorials or classes. Learn the impact of angles, perspective, depth of field, and more. Diverse, dynamic framing holds a viewer's attention far longer and delivers professional results.
5. Excessive Camera Movement Distracts Viewers
A common mistake is aggressively moving the camera throughout the shoot under the false assumption this enhances visual interest. Quick pans, tilts, and tracking shots inject energy at appropriate moments. However, shaky camerawork quickly becomes dizzying and distracting throughout an entire video.
Study how filmmakers create tension and impact with selective camera motion. Quick pans build drama, but steady wide shots let emotional moments breathe. Tracking shots emphasize a subject’s entrance, but lockdown shots keep all eyes on speeches.
The key is balancing stability and motion purposefully. Use tripods, slider dollies, and gimbals to prevent shaking, reserving handheld movement for selective moments. Paired with composed framing, this provides professional production polish.
6. Forgetting the Story Behind the Event
In all the excitement of gear and shooting techniques, it’s easy to overlook an event’s “why.” Yet the true purpose behind gatherings provides the emotional core that resonates with viewers. Don’t just showcase logistical details – capture the humor, heartache, passion, conflict, and shared experience.
Study how master documentarians like Susan Froemke and Ken Burns bring history alive through storytelling. These human details breathe authentic life into your event video. Audiences connect when they feel the event’s narrative woven throughout raw footage. Such storytelling mastery separates the work of amateur and professional videographers.
7. Disorganized Post-Production Bogs You Down
Shooting great footage means nothing if you can’t find desired clips later. Yet many rookie videographers capture hours of messy, unlabelled footage lacking coherent structure. Attempting to edit such a jumble into a polished video becomes endlessly frustrating.
The solution lies in adopting a systematic post-production workflow:
Before filming, create a detailed shot list and organization system for later footage review.
During the event, take notes on your best clips and label footage meticulously for easy searching later.
After shooting, immediately backup media so no data gets lost if equipment fails later.
Enter the editing process by watching all footage closely while organizing clips into edit-friendly bins and sequences based on narrative structure.
Carving hours of raw video into a concise, engaging edit is challenging enough. Don’t make the job impossible through early disorganization. Establish robust post-production habits from your first event shoot.
8. Client Misalignment Dooms Projects
You delivered well-composed, crystal-clear footage. Your edit elegantly captures the event’s energy and emotions while staying within runtime requirements. So why does the client seem disappointed in the final video?
Unfortunately, even seasoned videographers sometimes neglect to meet client expectations before the shoot. You need to understand exactly what stakeholders want or need from the video; otherwise, it will result in extensive editing.
Make true client collaboration your priority from the very first consultation. Ask targeted questions to understand problems they want to be solved or emotions they hope to convey. Manage expectations clearly regarding deliverable options and timelines. Approach videos as a creative partnership producing something greater than any one-sided effort allows.
Keep Improving Your Event Videography Journey
Event videography provides limitless opportunities to experiment, challenge yourself, and nurture creativity. But, realizing your full potential requires honestly assessing weaknesses and learning from failure. Use the common mistakes above as a roadmap to refine your skills and take viewers on an unforgettable journey each time you pick up a camera.
If you’ve got an important event coming up and need top-quality production, you may want to consider enlisting the help of a professional videographer. Mark Campbell Productions is here to help. Request a custom quote today, and let’s bring the memories of your event to life.