When planning your next event, it’s a no-brainer to hire a videographer to capture the highlights. But have you thought about hiring a director to ensure the video truly serves your needs? A director’s role is to guide the vision, making sure every important aspect of your event is covered, and the final product works for all its intended purposes.
Plan for Usage Beyond the Event
Before the cameras roll, think about how the video will be used in the future. Will it be a master storytelling reel to promote your next event? A highlight reel for social media? Clips to satisfy sponsor agreements? Knowing this in advance is key, and a good director will help you plan. They’ll ask questions and might even suggest formats or angles you hadn’t considered.
Cover All Your Bases
Sponsors are often a major part of event funding, so ensure they’re prominently featured in the footage. Work with your director to pre-plan the shots you’ll need — whether it’s signage, branded activations, or sponsor representatives interacting with guests.
Pre-Meeting is Key
Have a pre-meeting with the director to go over the event flow, key moments to capture, and any specific visuals you’ll need. This ensures the team is prepared and the shoot runs smoothly.
Consent is Critical
Let guests know filming is happening on-site. A simple poster at the entrance stating, “Filming in progress: By entering, you consent to being recorded,” is a common practice.
Finding the Right Director
Sometimes your videographer can recommend a director, or you can hire an agency to provide one. What should you look for?
- Strong Pre-Production: A good director has clear processes in place, ensuring everyone is aligned before the event.
- Confident On-Site Direction: At the event, the director should be assertive and organized, guiding the videographer and asking guests to pose, interact, or participate in interviews when needed.
Audio Expectations
While event audio can be tricky to capture, sound bites are often enough for most storytelling needs. Don’t overly rely on audio-heavy interviews unless you’ve planned for professional audio equipment and setup.
Uniformed Crew
For events where aesthetics and professionalism matter, consider asking the video crew and director to wear staff uniforms. This helps them blend in and keeps the event looking polished.
Hiring a director isn’t just about making sure the video gets done; it’s about getting the right video for your goals. With thoughtful planning and a skilled team, you’ll have content that tells your story, showcases your sponsors, and keeps your audience engaged long after the event.
Sean Beckingham is partner of Branding & Buzzing, a branding, digital and social media agency. Sean is a food marketing expert with over a decade of experience in the industry. His keen insights and innovative strategies have made him a respected figure in the culinary marketing world. Sean’s engaging articles and deep understanding of food trends and consumer behaviour position him as a trusted authority in food service marketing.
