These days, you’re working from almost everywhere – not just the home office, but your deck, the car, and the VRBO. With Idea Kit remote video, there’s nothing stopping you from taking your show on the road, too.
For Ari Baum, an advisor from Brooklyn and an Ironman triathlete, getting outdoors was a no-brainer. He spends most of his non-working, non-family time racking up miles on streets, paths, and trails or through pools, lakes and oceans. With some help from what we call a “key grip” in the video business (played in this case by Ari’s daughter Michelle), Ari packed his gear off to a scenic location in New Jersey.
Shooting outdoors comes with some extra challenges, but it can really be worth it. Here’s what you need to know before you go:
1. LIGHT LIKE A PRO
Getting your lighting right can be one of the biggest outdoor challenges. You don’t want the sun glaring directly in your eyes or you’ll squint. Not a good look. You can’t be in the shade with a bright background or you’ll be hard to see. It can be especially tricky in the middle of the day when the sun is overhead.
Ari was able to find a shady spot on the trail, which helped a lot! Though he did have to reposition a few times to keep the rays shining through the trees from hitting his face.
2. LEAVE YOUR RING LIGHT
Plugging in your ring light probably won’t be an option outdoors, and you really won’t need it. So leave the ring light at home! To do that:
- First, remove the c-clamp that holds the phone by spinning the notched wheel at the base of the phone holder and sliding it out of the ring light.
- Next, loosen up the clamp at the top of the light stand and take off the ring.
- Finally, spin the c-clamp onto the top of the light stand and Voila!
3. SOUND ADVICE
The world may be a stage, but it’s not a sound stage. Controlling audio outdoors can be tougher than you might think. Sounds of nature in your video are okay. Sounds of trucks on a highway, low-flying airplanes overhead, or people talking nearby are going to distract from your message.
While many outdoor sounds are hard to control, you can do some sound scouting. Visit your location before your record session and simply stand and listen. Will your voice be competing with the background noise? If so, keep scouting for a better location.
4. AVOID THE EXTRAS
It can be hard to control who walks through your shot. Ari experienced this as other walkers, joggers, and bikers rolled in and out of frame on the trail. Remember, you’d need a signed photo release for anyone in your video who is recognizable. So, be prepared to be patient until you have a background free of “extras.”
5. PLAY IT SAFE WITH PERMITS
There’s no free pass for shooting everywhere. Private property is just that. James Claywell, an advisor in Alton, Illinois, has recorded his Idea Kit videos from coast to coast. Recording on a beach in Naples was no problem. Figuring out how to get the background of the golf course at Hilton Head wasn’t as easy.
For the most part in public, you won’t have security shooing you off. But if you want to record in a specific location and think you might run into a problem, consider finding out if a photo permit is needed.
6. FIND A STRONG SIGNAL
Can you hear me now?
Can you hear me now?
Don’t play this game on your record session. Nobody wins when your cell phone signal is weak.
When you’re out and about, you may find you need to untether from wifi. If so, it’s a good idea to go to the location in advance and test your data to make sure your signal is strong enough. You’re going to need at least LTE for the app to work. 5G would rock!
Recording your video in a storm is not a good look. Mother Nature will be a big factor in pulling off the perfect outdoor shoot. Keep an eye on the forecast and keep in contact with us. Ari’s shoot got rescheduled at least 3 times as storms (even a tornado!) swept through New Jersey.
Shooting outside takes flexibility, but you can create something unique and memorable that really helps you connect with your viewers. Ready to start planning your remote record session with Idea Kit? Get started here.
