Halloween is full of terrors, but in the Videography industry we are more scared of faulty equipment than foolish ghosts and ghouls…

Here are 5 Videography Scares and How To Avoid Them.

1. Forgetting to press record

There is no worse feeling than missing the perfect take.

Before starting a take, leave the camera rolling for a couple of seconds to ensure the recording indicator is definitely on and the recording time is increasing.

2. Dropping the camera

Actually, this is worse.

Use a strap when recording handheld. When using tripods and stabilisers, ensure all locking mechanisms are tight and secure (check throughout the day). If you have cables or headphones connected to your camera, make sure they aren’t going to pull the camera over when moving around. For protection, always leave the lens cap on in-between scenes. You may want to consider protective covers and insurance.

3. Running out of battery life or storage space

You can’t fix this in post.

Always bring more batteries and memory cards than you need. Memory cards can also be prone to corruption and are easy to lose, so having spares is handy. On long shoots, bringing your battery charger will give you peace of mind, you can charge empty batteries while using another.

4. The audio sucks

Video is only half the job.

Use microphones connected to a reliable external recorder and sync it up to the camera footage later. Place microphones as close to the subject as possible to avoid picking up unwanted noise. Don’t forget to use windshields or a ‘deadcat’ when filming in windier conditions.

5. A ghost possessed your camera

It is Halloween after all.

How do you explain those times your camera was going sharp and then blurry all by itself? It must have been a ghost. That, or you left auto-focus on again...

Happy Halloween! 🎃

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