Chapter 1. Mastering the Video Shoot

It's axiomatic, but true: all video projects start with someone filming some thing. If that someone doesn't capture all the necessary shots and frame them correctly, you usually can't "fix it in post," and project quality suffers. Fortunately, with just a little advanced planning, you can get it right the first time and pretty much every time. That's what this chapter is about.

I'll start by outlining some assumptions I'll be using throughout this book, and then describe some common shooting scenarios that will serve as the templates for this first chapter, and the following chapters on audio and lighting. Then I'll describe how to create your "shot list," (the list of shots to take during and after your shoot), how and where to set up your camera, and how to frame your subject in the camera.

I'll finish with some recommendations regarding setting the scene: specifically, the types of backgrounds and clothing to avoid, and how different distribution media, like streaming video, should impact how you set your scene and shoot your video.