Shoot days are always longer and more abundant than people anticipate. From the amount of gear that arrives early in the morning to the amount of time it takes to get the simplest of shots in the can, everything can compound to slow taping. For that reason, it's good to familiarize yourself with what to expect and how to handle a single shoot day.

Your Involvement
     If possible, attend all shoots. Once the footage is shot, it is difficult and expensive to replicate. Your participation will give you and your vendor peace of mind.

Hours
     All video crews are paid a day rate based on a ten-hour work day, portal to portal. This means that when the crew picks up the camera gear before traveling to the shoot location, the clock begins. This rule also applies to returning the gear at the end of the day. Overtime is charged after ten hours, which can impact your budget if you don't plan for it.

Load-in
     During this first activity of the day, your production crew and gear arrive at the shoot site. You should budget at least 30 minutes for gear to be unloaded and carried to the shoot location.

Set-Up
     Once the production gear is on-site, set-up begins. The crew will assemble the camera and audio package and begin lighting the set. This is a very important part of the day because it is when the look of your video is created. Good lighting design is the responsibility of the director of photography (or DP), and it is a truly artistic and complex endeavor. This process takes up to two hours to complete.

Costumes/Props/Make-up
     Often the producer will have costume, propping, or make-up considerations that will add time to the day. You should factor this into your shoot schedule. Additionally, no matter how simple the shoot seems, it is always smart to use make-up on your spokespeople or actors. Everyone looks better on camera with make-up.

Shooting
     When the camera starts rolling, it is the director's responsibility to create the best camera angles and bring out the on-camera personalities' best performances. How quickly any one shot is completed depends not only on the performances, but on any factors that can affect the video's lighting or audio quality.

Crew Meals
     All production crews are governed by rules that affect the number of hours they can work before they must have a meal break. These meals are the responsibility of the producer. Generally, crews expect:

• Coffee and a snack in the morning while setting up
• An hour for lunch (which is considered off-the-clock)
• Beverages and a snack in the afternoon

Wrap & Strike
     When the last shot is finished the director will call a wrap. This is the crew's indication that the day's shooting is complete. They now begin to strike the set and pack the gear, a process that generally takes about 90 minutes.