Written by Chris Jolley
Introduction
Finding the perfect location for your video shoot can be difficult and stressful; with so many options, finding the right one can take a lot of time.
This article will explore our top five tips, in no particular order, for finding the perfect location for your video shoot.
Tip 1: Make Sure There’s Enough Natural Light
Lighting is EVERYTHING to a great shot. Changeable weather means constantly varying light conditions and adapting quickly whilst on location. It’s really important to expose your scene correctly to get the look you want, not to mention a quality image.
No videographer can control the weather, so think about how to work with the changing conditions as the day progresses. For instance, an evening shoot is the perfect opportunity to work with the sun when it’s lower in the sky. This can be far more flattering for portraiture work!
Check out our 5 tips for getting perfect lighting for your corporate video.
Tip 2: Make Sure It’s Accessible
Video equipment is heavy and expensive, so the last thing anyone wants to do is carry everything across difficult terrain, which is why it is so important to find somewhere easily accessible by car or a short walk over easy ground.
If the shoot is smaller and requires significantly less equipment, slightly less accessible locations can be used, but they should generally be avoided.
Tip 3: Avoid Noisy Areas
Unwanted background noise can completely ruin a shoot and should be avoided. This includes locations in busy city centres, construction sites, or on motorways. They’re not worth the hassle.
There are exceptions to this rule, such as if you want construction noise in the background to create a certain atmosphere, but generally speaking, it’s best to look for quieter locations.
Tip 4: Have a Backup Location Prepared
Bad weather can completely derail a shoot, and if you have only the equipment, production staff, or actors for a limited time, scrapping the shoot because of bad weather can be extremely costly.
Preparing a backup location or bringing wet-weather camera gear is always a good idea. Since travel between locations may be limited, it’s also advised to have a backup indoor location, which can be used as a last resort.
Tip 5: Speak to a Professional
If you’re still stuck, speaking to a professional is the best thing to do. If you’re hiring a freelance videographer or video production company already, they will likely take almost full control of this whole process.
If you’re planning on doing everything yourself, reach out to any professional videographer and ask them for their advice. The likelihood is that they will give you their opinion free of charge.
Not sure what to look for in a video production company? Check out our complete guide. Alternatively, if you’re unsure whether you should hire an agency or rent equipment yourself, we have a guide just for you.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. There are five top tips on choosing the perfect outdoor location for your video shoot. Now, it’s time to start looking at how you create the video.
To learn more about this, check out our guide to getting started with video marketing.
If you’re still stuck or you’d like to hire a videographer to bring your vision to life, fill in the contact form below, and we’ll be in touch soon.
