People often underestimate the importance of location scouting. Finding the right location for a shoot is an important part of pre-production. When it comes to any sort of video, from corporate to creative, one thing that must be solidified before shooting is location. It’s both a practical and aesthetic decision that can affect your production positively or negatively. Location can be the difference between a smooth shoot with the perfect background and a production nightmare.
Planning Ahead for Success
In the past, we’ve talked about the benefits one of location consultation. One of the more obvious advantages is preparation. Knowing where you’ll shoot answers a lot of related questions. It means you’ll be aware of set-up options for equipment, power sources, and subject framing. You can also assess the light at that time of day, which is especially important for outdoor shoots. This pre-planning can save time, effort, and money.
Audio and Location Scouting
Audio is an important consideration when it comes to location. If the shoot is heavily reliant on sound, it’s important to decide what the noise levels will be at the time of the shoot. A loud industrial area isn’t ideal for interviews. On the flip-side, if a corporate company requires b-roll with ambient noise, then you want to shoot while work is in progress. Production and corporate companies need to work together to decide the specifics of audio before shoot day.
Room to Breathe
Both distance and space are incredibly important when deciding on location. After all, camera equipment takes up space, as does audio and lighting gear. You’ll also need to consider the distance between the camera and the subject. Leaving enough room between the camera, an interviewee, and the wall behind them is important. This configuration allows for depth of field, which makes for a better visual.
That’s a Wrap on Location Scouting
When you work with the team at Key West Video, we can suggest locations to suit your project. Some clients want to shoot at their place of business for the sake of convenience or to show off the space. Other times, we use our studio to take advantage of a quiet space that’s green-screen capable. Finally, we can scout options that specifically suit your video if necessary. We’ll also take care of related permits. Call us today for a free quote.
