Behind the Scenes: Prep for Adventure Videos
Getting ready for a video shoot is one of those often forgotten steps in the process. Some may think you just show up on the day of the shoot with your camera in hand and that's all there is to it. Large shoots can take hours of prep work! I'd argue that the pre-production side of shooting is one of the most important steps. Let’s dive in.
The Plan
Every project is different and offers a unique set of challenges. One thing that can help mitigate the challenges and anxiety of a shoot is being prepared. Generally, projects begin in the idea generation phase. You’ve got a subject or a product you will be focused on and you begin to build out a mental image of how things will fall into place in your head. You need a place to get these ideas down and that's where Milanote comes in.
Milanote is a software that I use for nearly every project but especially larger shoots. It essentially allows you to create a roadmap of your vision. You have the ability to create boards where you can add text, imagery, notes, arrows, checklists, and all types of organizational tools to help you stay ahead. There is no definitive way to approach this but I often begin by sourcing reference content that helps paint a picture of the look and feel I'm after along with frames that I may be looking to recreate. Another benefit of this software is the ability to share your boards with other creators and collaborators, allowing them to get involved in the process. This makes sure everyone is on the same page before heading out to shoot.
From here I begin to jot down locations, shot list ideas, and even write a script if necessary.
Here is an example of what one of my Milanote boards looks like. This was for the Epoch Tripod shoot. You can see I begin with reference images of other products, followed by product information, locations, and some themes of the product/defining words.
I also wrote out a script for the audio so my shot list could be generated in accordance with the script. This allowed me to nail down the storyline of the video and really define what I was after before arriving at the location. You’ll notice each scene is color coded with the corresponding shot checklist, making it easier to keep your thoughts organized when out on a shoot. I will also use subboards to help organize secondary shoots within larger projects along with organizing additional images, reference content, and logistics.
Something that is huge for me is listening to lots of music before leaving. I will scour music licensing sites like Musicbed or Artlist in search of potential tracks for my video. Ideally, I like to have music choices locked in before departing. This can really aid in the shooting process as I can envision the pace and can almost edit while I shoot. This makes the post production process far easier.
I can’t stress the importance of listening to music beforehand. I feel far more confident when I show up with a track in mind. I can begin shooting for the edit rather than hoping to shoot enough to put something together. Don’t get me wrong though there are times where I have spent hours searching for a track and have not discovered what I am after yet. Not everything is gonna work perfectly and oftentimes it won't, but the more you can have planned ahead of time the better the results.
You will also notice I have a gear checklist as well and this just comes into play when packing my equipment. If you’re like me you’ll know that it is all too easy to forget something (I have a problem). Let's get into the gear!
The Camera Gear
Gear prep can be quite fun (at least I think so). I will almost always begin by pulling all of the batteries out that I will need and begin the long process of charging them. Between camera, monitor, drone batteries, and battery banks this can take quite a while. Convenience is a major key when dealing with charging. For that reason, having some USB-C charging camera batteries and NP-F style batteries is very helpful. One of my favorite products that I use all the time is our powerhouse NP-F980.
This thing is a beast! It functions both as a power source for my camera monitor (runs for hours) or can be used to charge my phone, drone, or any other device I may have with me while on location. Honestly it's great for day-to-day life too when you need some power on the go.
While everything is charging, I will run through my bag double checking my filter pouches to ensure I have the right coverage for the shoot. This includes VND, CPL, Protection, and drone filters. Filters are absolutely crucial to every shoot, especially the VNDs. I like to have 2 of my most commonly used thread sizes in VNDs in case of a fall or scratch.
I am generally bringing a shotgun mic as well as a pair of lav mics on every shot. I will double check if these need to be charged and will make sure I have the right adhesives to fix lav mics to talent. Oddly enough, moleskin, a product designed for covering blisters, is extremely effective for laving up talent while outdoors. The moleskin sandwich, as it's called, essentially consists of a layer of moleskin, lav, layer of moleskin. This can be fixed to your subject's chest and I’ve found it to be very effective. Every piece of dialogue in the Epoch video was recorded with a moleskin sandwich setup. Just make sure your talent is cool with it!
Off my moleskin rant. I’ll make sure to have my gimbal and tripod setup near my gear so I do not forget them when heading out the door. I’m normally rocking a DJI RS3 for a gimbal and my favorite tripod is the Chronicle.
Memory! We cannot forget memory. Double check that you have your SD cards with you. Back up old footage off the cards, if you have not already, and format the cards so they are ready for the next big project. Make sure they are backed up though! For adventure related/offgrid projects, using the Rugged SD cards is a no brainer. With all of the durability features, these are literally the only cards I use. Peace of mind is always appreciated.
Image by Alex Knight
Lastly, having some cleaning accessories can save your life on a shoot. A blower is a must for cleaning a dusty sensor. I’ll also keep a few sensor wipes on hand in case of a more serious incident. Along with these, a lens pen is a great addition for surface dust and is handy to have around for cleaning numerous devices.
Once I’ve got everything organized, I’ll double check and make sure it's all where it needs to be. There are lots of odds and ends to remember but going through a checklist and being thorough can help alleviate a potential disaster.
The Extras
Adventure projects will almost always require a bunch of gear outside of just camera equipment.
Food and water should be of major priority. Figuring out how much food you’ll need for the number of days you’ll be on location is crucial. In some circumstances you will be close enough to a town that you may have food available to you; regardless, I’d recommend doing some research on the area and getting an idea on what’s around.
Bug spray is one of those things that can really enhance your experience while shooting. Bugs seem to be thickest when you're in off grid locations, absolutely covering you up. Having some bug spray can really be a lifesaver. Moreso, they can improve the experience for your talent and co shooters helping to make the overall morale of the crew better.
In addition to this, make sure that you have some extra clothes in the case of inclement weather along with some rain gear. Getting soaked without a change of clothes will really put a damper on your time.
If you’ll be shooting off the grid you will likely need a tent, sleeping bag, and some additional camping supplies. Keep the time of year and weather in mind when making decisions on what and what not to bring.
In Conclusion
There are a million different ways you can approach a shoot, but this is my general process. Some shoots will call for different equipment, more equipment, less equipment, the sky's the limit.
Really, what it all comes down to is being prepared while having the expectation that not everything is going to go your way, it never does. Being adaptable and rolling with the punches sometimes can produce an even better outcome.
When you're stressing that you're running out of light at the end of the day or you missed a shot, remember that this is what you love doing and we're fortunate to do it!
Image by Hunter LeRoy
Posted July 2, 2024.
