How to Utilize Time-Lapse Videography in Your Next Event
Covered in this post—
Tell A Story In 60 Seconds Or Less
Planning For Time Lapse Shots
Creating Storylines
Time Lapse Videography With MCP
How do you tell the story of an entire event in a single video? Believe it or not, it is actually much easier than you might realize, thanks in large part to time-lapse videography. While it is not a set-and-forget type of videography, it is one that can create extensive video content that can be packaged in a fast-paced, action-packed video that can highlight a variety of aspects of your next event.
Time-lapse isn’t anything new, yet it remains a largely untapped medium for most event marketers. Most focus on hard-hitting shots of keynote speakers only to discount the powerful imagery of a video that spans the entire event encapsulated in 60 seconds or less.
Like other types of event videography, the key to getting these amazing shots right is planning and coordination. Essentially you only get one shot at getting time-lapse videos correct, so it pays to work with a professional team that can help you get it right.
At Mark Campbell Productions, our videographers have extensive experience in both planning and executing amazing time-lapse videos to help illustrate events across Chicago and Denver. Backed by a full production staff, we can make sure these shots and more go off without a hitch making your event shine.
Tell A Story In 60 Seconds Or Less
It’s no secret that we consume an unbelievable amount of content on a daily basis, and the average person has an attention span that continues to shrink. Despite this, we still crave storytelling. We want to be part of the story and to see things unfold. It doesn’t matter if it is a company outing or an industry-level event, we feel the need to be a part of the action.
Condensing an entire event into a single clip that can be shared on social media, your company website, or through other marketing channels makes time-lapse videos one of the best ways to tell the story of your event. They accomplish this by capturing an immense amount of footage and squeezing it into an easily digestible format.
Better yet, time-lapse videos can be used at every stage of the event, making them chock full of ROI. From behind-the-scenes to event wrap-ups, these shots consistently deliver.
Build Anticipation
We all know that a lot goes into the planning and execution of each event, but getting that across and building anticipation isn’t always easy. The setup process in the days and hours leading up to the event is a great time to leverage time-lapse technology. It can give viewers an insider's perspective on all of the things going on to make the event memorable, helping to boost audience engagement and generate buzz before everything gets underway.
Show Scale
Looking to show off how much your event has grown in recent years? Whether it is a camera strategically positioned at the entrance to a venue, or an eagle-eye view from above, few shots can highlight the rush of attendees flooding into an event space. Not only does it capture the scope of the event, but it creates its own energy.
Pro Tip → Share these on social media at the end of Day 1 of a multiday event for even greater ROI.
Double Impact
It can frequently feel like planning for the next event starts before the current event wraps up. Finding footage and content that can work for both simply becomes an added bonus. Time-lapse videos check this box and much more. Recapping the event through lightning-paced footage is a great way to keep the conversation going that can naturally roll into promotion for the next event on the calendar. It can even be used in event announcements and save the dates for annual events.
Planning For Time Lapse Shots
Now that we have covered the why, it’s time to turn to the how. As we said before time-lapse might seem like a set-it-and-forget-it type of videography, but that is far from the case. The process of getting great time-lapse footage requires careful planning and an understanding of how it will fit into the overarching storyline of the event.
Location
Think of time-lapse videography like real estate – it's all about location. Of the items on this list, location is perhaps the most important. It will dictate what is captured, and ultimately the success of the content.
When it comes to location, two different strategies are usually involved. The first is to strategically place cameras at natural funnel points to capture movement. It might be that one is at the front entrance or a central point within the event space. It is best to visit the venue before the event with the videographer so they can get a clear lay of the land and provide directions on where traffic will be heavier, thus making a better option for footage.
The second option is from an elevated position. Bird's eye shots give a unique perspective that can’t be captured from the event floor. These are ideal for large-scale events that take up a significant amount of space, like a music festival.
Creating Storylines
As mentioned above, the goal of any video footage is to tell a story. Doing so through a piece of content that spans hours or days, is no small feat. This is a component that the videographer should be able to weigh in on, early in the process. Even before the venue is scouted, they should have a clear idea of what they will want to get across for each unique event.
Like all great stories, there will be a build-up and ultimately a climax. For an outdoor music festival, the focal point of the video might be the energy of the crowd throughout the day, culminating with the transition from day to night. A sea of spectators can quickly transform when the glow of thousands of smartphones appears, giving a completely different experience and vibe for the viewer.
Time Lapse Videography With MCP
Event marketers looking for impactful videos that can tell a story and generate long-lasting ROI should take a close look at time-lapse videography. Few pieces of content can be as dynamic and show the buzz around an event as these high-speed clips whether they are leveraged on social media or any other marketing channel.
Getting time-lapse footage correct is all about attention to detail, but leading up to the event, and once the cameras start rolling. The Mark Campbell Productions crew is well-versed in leveraging time-lapse technology to create unique stories for events in Chicago and Denver. With a full production staff supporting our efforts, we can help make your next event magical.
Connect with our team to get a full rundown of all of our services, including time-lapse videography.