Shooting & Editing High Quality Footage – Safety Provisions

Shooting high quality footage can sometimes be a challenge, but we know you will do amazing! As you shoot videos on worksites, in confined spaces, in hospitals, or wherever you may be be sure to remember what you can do to ensure you footage is useable and high quality. Check out the guidelines and examples below to help you as you shoot:

Avoid Shaky Footage

Shaky and blurry footage make it hard for the viewer to focus on the actual subject matter and message of your video. If possible, always use a stabilizer when shooting footage. This will help you video to remain smooth. You can also avoid shaky footage by:

Shooting at a higher frame rate. Try shooting in 60 frames per second or more. Shooting at a high frame rate decreases a viewers ability to see any shakiness that may be happening.
Stabilize your body and the position of the camera. If you are not able to use a tripod, try to position the camera in the center of your body. Footage shot that way will look much better then footage taken while trying to remain on your tippy toes. You can also use the camera strap to create tension.
If you have a tripod, and the shoot allows it, use it!

Avoid Dramatic or Jarring Cuts

While jump cuts have their time and place, we do not use them in our videos. They create an uneasy and unsettling feeling in the viewer. Instead, we want our viewer to feel they are seeing all the information they need and not missing any important safety principles. There are some great techniques you can use to ensure you don't have jarring or dramatic cuts like jump cuts.

Use transitions! These help to transition the viewer from one scene to the next. Review the article "Transitions" to know which transitions we use in our videos.
In addition to using transitions, you can transition to the same scene but from a different angle. Essentially showing the viewer another view of the same thing happening, ensuring them that they aren't missing anything.
If you don't have multiple shots of the same subject, then it is also a good choice to transition to B-roll to help you viewer feel guided through the safety principles you present.

Check out these examples:

Avoid Cheesy Parallaxes

Parallaxes are a great way to make ordinary pictures look more interactive and inviting, but sadly, they can also make photos awkward and cheesy. Because of this, it is important to choose wisely which images are made into parallaxes.