Shoot Video EFFICIENTLY

Batch shooting is one of the video production techniques that separates the Pros from the Joes.

Some of the most popular YouTubers will record an entire month (or quarter) worth of content in one day.

It saves them loads of time, maximizes the flow state you can get in on camera, and requires a framework to prepare correctly.

In this newsletter, we will spill the secrets of Effective Batch Shooting Content.

What is a Batch Shoot?

A Batch Shoot is a technique where creators record a high volume of content in a short period of time. That content can then be edited and dispersed over the course of a week, month, or even a quarter.

At Piper, we’ve been batch shooting our content for years. Depending on the amount of prep we do beforehand, we can shoot anywhere between 5-20 shortform vertical videos in 1 hour, once a week.

We also do batch shoots with our clients. We encourage them to keep a shared list of content ideas that their team can access and edit. Whenever a shoot day rolls around, they'll have a plethora of topics and will be able to use their time on-set effectively.

Why Batch Your Shoots?

Batch Shoots save you Money and Time compared to scheduling a shoot every time a content idea strikes. Whether you hire an outside agency or an inhouse videographer, every hour they operate the camera costs you money.

Why scramble to shoot a video every single day? By prepping topics beforehand and riffing on-camera for a few minutes per topic, you allow content to be scheduled weeks in advance on the platforms that matter.

If you are producing content internally, Batch Shoots make sense because the creatives on your team most likely have a workflow that should not be interrupted by random shoots throughout the day/week. Setting up camera gear takes time, and post-production is the most time-consuming part of editing video.

By decreasing the number of internal shoots, you are allowing your creatives to dedicate more time to learn and implement the latest editing techniques.

Batch shooting has been the most efficient and cost-effective way to produce content for us and for many clients over the years.

When Should You NOT Use Batched Shoots?

If you’re a solo-preneur who wants to become a thought leader in your industry, you have to learn to talk directly to your phone camera.

Many successful influencers build their brands and gain popularity by being able to riff on topics in real-time, wherever they may be.

If you’re a team of one, you still can batch your content, but depending on the type of gear you’re using it most likely would bode well for you to be flexible.

How to Successfully Execute a Batch Shoot

1. Prep

There are no bad ideas in brainstorming, so dump every video topic you can think of onto a document or your favorite notebook. What are the most common questions you get asked on a daily basis? Who has your greatest inspiration been? What book have you been obsessed with recently, and what were your biggest takeaways from it?

If you don’t know where to start when it comes to video topics, answer questions.

1. Shoot

Choose 1-3 backdrops in the same general location so your content doesn’t look exactly the same in every video. Bring a few changes of clothes. Make sure you have extra camera and mic batteries on deck.

Be intentional about the people on-set with you. Do you perform best on camera alone, or with someone prompting you?

Start with the *easiest* most low-hanging fruit topics. The ones you can talk about in your sleep. That is the best way to get into a creative flow.

1. Schedule

If there are industry-specific events coming up on the calendar, keep those in mind when scheduling your content.

Make sure the most timely & culturally relevant pieces get edited and scheduled quickly, because the internet moves on fast.

Final Thoughts:

With the right prep, Batch Shoots maximize efficiency and keep costs low. 

Try it out, let me know how you like this method.

Have an ELITE week,

Hannah