If you don't know where you are going, you are likely to end up somewhere else. Although it sounds boring, step one is “sit down and think.” Preferrably with pencil and paper or a word processor. Writing it down will help you get specific in a hurry, and specific is good.
Question One is: How important is this video to you? If you don’t give a darn and are just fulfilling an obligation before getting on with the rest of your life,
perhaps you should pass the assignment on to someone who cares.
Good video comes about through careful attention to small details. It isn’t hard, but it can be time consuming. If you don’t have the time, energy, effort and enthusiasm to commit, you will hurry through something you shouldn’t, and it will show.
Some gurus preach rules, such as: spend an hour preparing for each minute of edited video you want to end up with. Or shoot twice as much video as you want to end up with. Or assume it will take an hour of editing for each minute of final video. Be aware that doing without thinking, or doing the minimum
shooting or editing will result in a crumpier video. Plan to invest yourself in the effort. Even then, it will probably take longer than it seemed going in.
What is it you want to shoot? If it is a specific event, held in a specifc location, at a specific time, such as “Susie’s Graduation,” or “Johnny’s Birthday Party” or “Mom and Dad’s Anniversary” you start under the gun as you will need for a lot of things to go right the first time for a couple of hours, then you will either have the footage required or not. (More about that later under Shooting.)
If your objective is less well defined, such as “Our Summer Vacation” or “Christmas At Our House” by definition your shooting schedule is more relaxed and each individual shot will be less stressful.
There is more to getting specific than picking your subject. How long a video do you want to
create? Generally speaking, shorter videos are easier than longer ones. If you are just starting out, try making a few
"commercials," (just seconds long), then try "music
videos," (a couple of minutes), before graduating to half hour TV shows or two-hour
feature movies. The longest effort you can confidently tackle is the same length as the longest you’ve ever done. Beyond that you are into a new, bigger challenge.
If at all possible, to the fullest extent possible, develop a script for your video. Even in the worst case scenerio, you ought to be able to develop
(at least) a Shot List -- a list of video clips that you just have to get: the handshake, the kiss, opening gifts, cutting the cake, blowing out the candles, whatever.
Perhaps the biggest mistake amateurs make is starting in the middle. They falsely assume viewers know more than they really do. You may know the bride is your niece, but the parents of her bridesmaid may not when they watch the video years from now. Nor will her daughter’s boyfriend 20 years from now. Do yourself a favor: turn your assumptions off, then review your script once again.
Sooner or later you will end up a big believer in the importance of scripts.
Sooner is easier.
You will thank yourself later if you plan two shots in particular: your opening and closing. Generally speaking, events can start with an exterior shot of the location where they occur. Closings might be shots of hosts waving goodbye to their guests. Whatever you plan will probably serve you better than whatever shots you just happen to get during the event.
A good planning question is “What assets already exist?” Do you have –- or can you borrow long enough to scan – earlier photos of your video’s stars? You may want to include montages of stills taken of the bride and groom growing up. Or of a great-aunt who was too sick to attend. Similarly, while the event is in progress, touch base with any other videographers or photographers there. They will probably get shots that you don’t, shots that would add another dimension to your video.
Think footage swap.
Think before you shoot! You will be glad you did.
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