1. Shootsta Help
  2. Video Best Practices & Templates
  3. 6 Basic Video Types: guides and templates

How to shoot a piece to camera

Once your plan for your piece to camera is ready, it’s time to get filming. Here are a few tips around setting up your piece to camera and directing your presenter on how to look and feel confident on camera. Check out our article on how to plan a piece to camera and our handy planning template.

Variants of the piece to camera:

  • Business updates

  • Personalised video messages

  • Sales videos

  • Explainer videos

Setting up for a piece to camera

Here's a great example of a piece to camera made by Shootsta:

  1. Set up the camera and the shot, by following the 7 steps to film on the Shootsta Kit. For this type of video we recommend using the autocue.

  2. Position your presenter in the middle of the shot, eyes and shoulders facing the camera.

Directing a piece to camera

Partner up

For best results, give the presenter your full attention during the shoot. If you’re filming and directing at the same time, you likely won’t spot both technical issues (e.g. the subject going out of focus) and content issues (e.g. incorrect product name). We recommend partnering up to film a piece to camera by having:

  1. Camera Operator

  2. Director

What to direct

A piece to camera is a video message from your presenter to your audience and it needs to look and feel like he or she is addressing your audience directly. Here are a few tips to help get your presenter comfortable and natural in front of camera.

1. Rehearse the script

Have your presenter read over it a few times before shooting and if possible change what is written into their own words to help them sound as natural as possible.

2. Make it conversational

Encourage them to speak as if they are having a conversation with someone rather than presenting to an audience. This will ensure they come across more real and genuine.

3. Slow it down

Direct them to speak slowly and articulate what they are saying. Make sure they take a deep breath before they start. Adjust the speed of the autocue so the script will scroll at the perfect speed for your presenter.

4. Big smile

A normal smile just won’t cut it in front of camera. Have them practice speaking with a smile on their face and remind them to start and finish their takes with a big smile.