In the fast-paced world of videography and photography, it’s common for clients to optimize their budgets by booking the minimum time needed for a shoot. While this might seem like a cost-effective strategy at first glance, there are several compelling reasons to consider booking a longer shoot. In this blog post, we’ll explore the advantages of extending your shoot and how it can actually save you money and time.
Eliminating Rushed & Stressed Sessions
One of the primary benefits of booking a longer video or photo shoot is the elimination of rushed sessions and unneeded stress. When clients book only the minimum required time, there’s a significant risk of everyone involved feeling pressured and rushed during the shoot. This can negatively impact the creative process and moods of everyone on site. This results in less-than-optimal outcomes that often show up on camera. By considering additional time, the crew and client will be fully focused on the work itself and not the clock!
Flexibility for Creative Exploration
Creativity thrives in an environment of flexibility and exploration. Booking a longer shoot allows for unexpected creative breakthroughs and experimentation to occur. It enables the team to try different angles, lighting setups, and poses without the constraint of a tight schedule. This flexibility often leads to the discovery of unique and captivating elements that might have been missed on a shorter shoot with a looming deadline. Invest in your shoot, give the appropriate time, and your videographer or photographer will often exceed your expectations.
Overtime & Back-to-Back Bookings
Even if your videographer or photographer has an “overtime” rate and you’re able to authorize the overtime on-the-spot, it might be dangerous to assume their availability is open-ended. Chances are if you’ve booked a quarter day or half day shoot in the morning, your videographer or photographer has another shoot booked in the afternoon. After all, your cameraperson has to make a living and that means filling their schedule with bookings. It is always more cost-effective, convenient, and productive to schedule a single full day rather than two half days.
Handling Unforeseen Challenges
In the unpredictable world of video and photography, unforeseen challenges are bound to occur. In fact, it’s probably safe to say that something “goes wrong” with every shoot whether it’s obvious or not. Technical issues, weather conditions, or unexpected changes in the shooting location can disrupt even the best made plans. Booking a longer shoot provides enough buffer to handle these challenges without compromising the quality of the final product or needing to book additional shoot days.
While it may seem counterintuitive to book more time than strictly needed for a video or photo shoot, the benefits of doing so are evident. From eliminating rushed sessions to fostering a relaxed and creative atmosphere, a longer shoot time can significantly enhance the overall quality of your content. Whether your project can be completed in quarter or half day, the investment in additional time can pay off in the form of stunning, well-crafted visuals, happy crew, and happy clients. Oh, it can also save you money!