Why have multiple cameras on a video shoot?
Have you ever gotten a quote from a video company for multiple cameras and wondered why that’s necessary? Your first thought may be that cutting out cameras will cut costs. While that can be true in some cases when investing in video, it’s also important to think about the increased risks you’re taking and the quality, value—and footage—you may be losing.
When is it ok to just have one camera?
We actually believe that there are very few times when only having one camera makes sense. The biggest issue is that you are solely relying on it to work perfectly and for the single videographer to get all of the footage you want while being limited to one shot and location at a time. Also, without any other footage, you have less flexibility in editing.
That said, if you’re capturing high-resolution 4K video, you can punch in on the footage to create closer and wider shots in editing. This is what most YouTubers do. It allows them to cut out errors and create smoother audio but still creates a bit of a single-angle, chopped up look that may be acceptable for social media but probably not for a video that you plan to use on your website.
It’s better to have one camera to capture video than none at all if that’s all your budget allows, but it’s important to keep expectations realistic. The videographer will only be able to grab one shot at a time and the video will likely be less dynamic and possibly miss some shots you wish you had or some that you are unhappy with that you can’t include.
What are the benefits of multiple cameras?
There are some good reasons to have two cameras on your shoot. The major advantage is that we can capture something from two angles to allow for more flexibility in editing and create a more professional-looking video. This is especially helpful in interviews where people aren’t particularly polished on camera. Knowing that we can make edits helps take the pressure off them to get everything perfectly right.
Going back to the live event example, having two cameras allows capturing multiple speakers or demos happening simultaneously so you can ensure you have footage of both. With two cameras, you're decreasing your risk of missing something important that you want to include.
Having two cameras can really create efficiency. This can not only make the shoot more cost-effective but also convenient. For example, if team members are coming into town for a meeting, having two cameras can make the best use of their time, getting B-roll and interviews at the same time and adhering to tight schedules.
Time is always a factor, even outside of events. For example, in some manufacturing shoots we may need to capture multiple processes in the same location but at different ends of the manufacturing facility all while the operations are running. With two cameras, we’ll split up and send a team down to one end to see how the sausage is made while another goes to the opposite end to see how it’s packaged. Having multiple cameras and a team allowed us to maximize our team’s and our client’s time.
Why have two operators?
Each camera should ideally have an operator. While it may seem to make sense to just set up a camera to capture a wide shoot and leave it running while you move around with another, this does elevate risk of something going wrong and coming back to see that nothing has been recorded. This is not a situation you want to be in. When investing in a video, is this really a chance you want to take to save a few bucks?
Work with a partner you trust
As always, the right video approach depends on what you’re trying to achieve. If you’re ever unclear about anything in a video scope, feel free to be curious and ask questions without jumping to conclusions that you’re being cheated. As always, you should develop a strategy and work with a video partner you trust to help execute your vision within your budget.
To learn more about using one vs multiple cameras, listen to or watch our podcast “Elevating Your Video Production: Why Two Cameras Are Better Than One.”