Event videos in reportage style
My focus when filming an event is on capturing the highlights and the atmosphere to make the event unforgettable through the video. The overall experience arises from the interaction of the actions, the effect of the room, the spoken words, the audience, catering, as well as the light and music experience.
My style is the reportage style. I see myself as a participant in the event and capture the special moments with my photographic eye. By getting close to the audience and the event, without forgetting the view from the outside, I create an authentic video with a “I want to be there” effect.
1. preparation
Before you start shooting, it’s always good to know what the video will be used for later. Is it to create beautiful memories for the guests or to be able to “sell” the next event better with the video?
An event is always most successful when it appeals to the heart and brain, with the emotional components having the strongest impact.
2. adopt different perspectives
To get a feel for the space, I have to show the context. The surroundings and the first impression are important points of orientation. I like to film this from a subjective angle with the gimbal, just as a visitor experiences the first moments. Depending on the event and the task, the chronological order is important or the focus is on the highlights. I use different camera positions and focal lengths to show details and the big picture.
3. show shining eyes
To convey the effect of an event in a video, the reaction of the audience is essential. It is always important to me to show faces. If there is a recognizable nod or enthusiasm in the eyes, the message has been received. The way the audience behaves is sometimes more important for the video than what is shown or talked about.
4. observation is more important than staging
Authentic shots of people work best when they don’t feel like they are being watched. I therefore make sure that I mingle with the audience as inconspicuously as possible. Appropriate clothing is just as important as inconspicuous technology. My camera equipment is as large as necessary and as compact as possible.
Not to be underestimated is my own charisma, which is benevolent. If I’m happy about how happy the guests are, then they don’t turn away from me, but are happy to share the joy. If someone turns away the moment I approach them with the camera, I respect that. It’s perfectly okay not to want to be in the video.
The viewer of the video immediately notices whether a scene is staged. In a staged handshake, for example, or when someone picks up a product at a trade fair. When a layperson does this, it always looks too straightforward, too smooth, i.e. too deliberately staged.
5. capture the special moments
The highlights are particularly important. This requires me to be in the right place at the right time. To do this, it is essential to know the agenda and to know in advance when which highlights are planned. Because a good event always consists of planned and unplanned experiences, a high degree of flexibility is also necessary for my role as a videographer. The clearer the schedule, the better I can adapt to the upcoming events. The more complex the event, the more important the support from the organizer. At the same time, I rely on my intuition and many years of experience to determine which perspective and which camera setting would be best to capture a particular highlight. It is also important to anticipate which circumstances could prevent a good picture. Suddenly someone is standing in front of the camera. The keynote speaker does not go on stage as planned, but into the audience first. These are typical incidents for which you need a plan B.
A single word in a speech can have more meaning than a long text. It’s impossible to predict during filming which moment will be the right one for the movie later on. That’s why I always collect a lot more material with the camera, which has to be evaluated later.
6 The sound makes the music
The harmonious combination of moving image with sounds, words, noises and music in the background has a much stronger effect than the image alone. The original sound reproduces the atmosphere on location and gives the video more depth, even if music is played over it. Unfortunately, the effect of sound is often neglected in videos. Sometimes it is not important to understand what is being said, but that it is being said. Sometimes small snippets of words have a big impact. Without capturing the atmosphere on location in the sound, an event film looks rather dry, like a studio production. That’s why I not only pay attention to a good visual effect, but also to high-quality sound during recording and mixing.
If a sound system is available, I can record the sound with an external recorder from the mixing console in the control room.
7. conduct interviews
Anyone who has had a special experience is happy to talk about it. Depending on the purpose of the video, it makes sense to take advantage of the moment and conduct a short interview with participants. What were the highlights for you? What impulse do you take with you? Would you come back next time? Feedback on such questions is very valuable in conveying the mood of the event and inspiring others to attend next time.
For interviews and statements, clip-on microphones (lavalier microphones) or a reportage microphone in radio mode are standard.
8. dynamic camera work and steady shots
There are always two cameras in my suitcase. One camera with a gimbal for stabilized moving shots and a second camera that I use to film handheld and capture details. A mixture of slightly moving and still images is the perfect solution when shooting at a trade fair or a summer party, for example. It makes me fast, varied and flexible at the same time.
Two coordinated cameras are also very valuable at a conference, for example, when I record a presentation with one camera on the tripod and use the second to pan through the audience. The additional camera is also intended as a backup. Better safe than sorry.
I also have a portable mini dolly, camera crane or teleprompter for special shooting situations.
9. full-frame cameras with optimum low-light performance
Whenever possible, I use compact cameras with a full-frame sensor so that I can work creatively with the depth of field. This is the ideal prerequisite for the high-quality cine look. Full-frame cameras also have a second advantage. Because each individual pixel in the full format has a larger area in absolute terms than other camera types, each individual pixel can receive more light and thus contribute to less noisy images even in very low light. A good low-light performance of the camera is the biggest gain for authentic shots, because the need to set light is eliminated.
Depending on the shooting situation, I rely on the reliable autofocus of my cameras. Autofocus is extremely valuable when shooting with movement in 4k, because the focus is not always easy to see on the monitor.
For some purposes, I have a set of manually focusable fast lenses. Targeted focus shifts can be very atmospheric. They are also wonderful for giving a company logo more perspective and, at the end of a video, for distancing yourself from a celebrating crowd through targeted blurring.
10. postproduction
I do all the editing myself and think about a suitable scene for the opening or last shot while shooting. Short paths save time and avoid misunderstandings.
Before I start editing, I save all the video material on a second hard disk. The next step is always to review and structure the collected footage. The best moments and most meaningful scenes are selected and suitable music is sought. In my understanding, music in a video is not there to fill a void. Rather, it serves to support the intended mood: motivating, elegant, luxurious, relaxed, sexy, Asian, whatever.
At fashion shows, dance and music events, it is usually not possible to use the original music for legal reasons. (More information on this topic in this article). In this case, it is possible to use similar-sounding licensable music from a music archive. I will be happy to advise you on this.
After editing, the brightness, contrast and colors of all scenes are adjusted and the appropriate colour look is defined, and the music and language are optimized and mixed. This takes time, but in my opinion it is essential in order to achieve a professional effect and to differentiate myself from “a quick shot”.
Only at this final stage do I present the film to the client. So I don’t do any layout editing to first coordinate the content and then work on fine-tuning, as is often the case in post-production. Two rounds of corrections for possible change requests are standard for me.
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