Covering something that happens once.
WHAT MAKES IT DIFFICULT
Nothing can be repeated Lighting is whatever exists Sound is uncontrolled Access is limited
WHAT TO ESTABLISH BEFORE THE DAY
The running order Where you may stand What must be captured Who the important people are
WHY THAT LAST POINT
Missing the person who mattered is unrecoverable.
WHAT TO ARRIVE EARLY FOR
Scouting positions Testing light and sound Meeting whoever runs the event
WHAT TO CAPTURE ALWAYS
The arrival and setting Wide shots establishing scale Speeches, with sound taken from the sound desk where possible Reactions and the audience
Detail: hands, decoration, materials
The key moment, from a position secured in advance
WHY SOUND FROM THE DESK
A microphone in the room captures the room; a feed captures the speaker.
WHAT TO BRING
A second recorder as backup More batteries and cards than seems necessary
WHAT TO AVOID
Blocking guests Moving during speeches Relying on a single camera position for anything essential
WHAT TO DO IMMEDIATELY AFTERWARDS
Copy everything, twice, before leaving or sleeping.
WHY
The window in which footage can be lost is the window before it is backed up.
