How Much Camera Equipment Does a Corporate Video Shoot Require?
Among other things, we strive to be extremely professional at Looma Media, conscientiously producing high-quality, cinema grade corporate video content and promotions.
What does that mean? It means that we use high tech gear - and lots of it.
Camera Gear: Prepping for an Average Video Shoot
On several occasions now, we’ve shown up to a video shoot and our client has been stunned at how much gear we’ve brought – even to the point of questioning whether all the gear is actually necessary. It takes more gear than you might realize to produce even a short video.
Here’s an example. Let’s say you run a construction company and you hire us to do some videography work - maybe a video business card:
we agree on a price and a budget.
we talk strategy, demographics, and rollout.
we sort out all the important pre-production details.
we put together a shot list.
we schedule a filming date for a four hour shoot consisting of two interviews and some b-roll of your crews in action.
Overall, it’s a pretty small-to-average size project. What kind of gear does a shoot like that require? Probably not much, right?
Let’s take a look at the list – that way you won’t be surprised when we walk in with two dollies and a gigantic carrying case full of gear.
Gearing Up
Camera Gear and Accessories
For a shoot like the one we described above, we’d likely use 2-3 cinema-grade cameras – 2 angles for the interview, then one camera for the b-roll. 2-3 cameras may not sound like much, until you realize that the cameras we use are pretty big – and that the attachments and accessories each of those cameras require to operate at a professional level make them significantly larger.
Each camera (depending which one we’re using) generally requires a lens, a filter, a mount, a tripod, a v-mount battery, a monitor, and several cables to connect it all together. Some cameras also have built in gimbals which make them gyroscopically stable (and much larger), or else we bring a detachable gimbal.
Lighting Equipment and Accessories
There is little more important than proper lighting on a video shoot. A spectacular, high-tech camera with no lighting or poor lighting will still barely look better than an average phone video, so don’t be surprised when we show up to a shoot (especially an interview or promo) with a lot of lighting gear.
A shoot like the one described above likely requires two film spotlights, and each light requires a plethora of accessories:
Wires and control panel
A soft box (the thing that looks a bit like a big, heavy umbrella), which helps diffuse the light
A stand
Depending on the shoot and the setting, more lights may be required, such as tube lights to help brighten areas of the scene that can’t be reached by the key light. Additionally, a shoot may require diffusion sheets and black sheets, which can create proper contrast and mood, which helps add a cinematic quality to the video; those sheets each require two or more stands, plus additional hardware, to set up.
Audio Equipment
Audio fidelity is key for any video. At minimum, audio equipment requires a microphone, cables, and a stand; at most, it can consist of multiple microphones, an audio mixing board, and a computer.
Necessary Props/Set Dressing
Depending on the project, it may also be necessary to bring additional props or set-pieces, ranging from small items (such as plants for background interest) or large. One project we tackled this spring (left) required the use of a large false wall, complete with a window, which we assembled on-set, then took down once the shoot was over.
Drone
Especially if you work in construction, a drone is a must-have nowadays for gathering high-quality aerial footage, which helps set the scene and offers a wider, more in-depth perspective to viewers.
Equipped for Success
Even a small shoot takes a lot of gear, and the list above only covers the basic stuff we’re likely to need on every shoot this size in order to produce a high-quality, technically proficient video. We’re committed to our work and want everything we make to look amazing, but unfortunately, that requires a great deal of equipment.
Interested in having some video work done? We’d love to help you out. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any requests or questions!