What equipment checks should I do before every shoot?

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What equipment checks should I do before every shoot?

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We recommended that a”roadworthy”-style (MOT test, DOT test, smog test – a vehicle inspection) check of piece of camera equipment is done every 12 months – to make sure there are no small issues waiting to become big issues mid-shoot!

It is also important to do smaller checks every single time a camera is picked up to be used.

  • Is the DSLR sensor clean?
  • Is the windsock attached (if shooting outside or in a breeze)?
  • Does the audio sound clear (wear headphones)?
ABOVE: Everyone is human and everyone makes mistakes. Honest mistakes are forgivable, but not putting in place safeguard to protect against mistakes, less so.

Is the DSLR sensor clean?

Customers come to abbywinters.com to see naked models with nothing in the way. Customers get frustrated when this is not the case.

Dust, dirt, fingerprints or similar on the sensor of the camera not only looks unprofessional (low quality) but also masks part of the otherwise nude model from view.  😱

ABOVE: The red circles ring dust and dirt on the camera sensor. Coincidentally dirt is not covering the anus or vulva in this specific image, but there’s so much that it will be in other images. It is still distracting and unprofessional.

The solution is simple;

  1. Change lenses hygienically
    1. Don’t change lenses in less-dusty environments (think, kitchen instead of on the floor in a bedroom)
    2. Hold the DSLR with the lens opening facing down when changing lenses (so falling dust cannot enter the mirror compartment)
  2. Test for dust on the sensor regularly
    1. Set up camera to shoot at f22 with a correct exposure (higher ISO is fine for this test), with a shutter speed of 1/100th or faster. This puts dirt on the sensor more in-focus, and reduces the chance of camera-shake affecting the image.
    2. Capture a single colour – a wall is ideal – correctly exposed
    3. Check the image on a computer (not just the back of the camera) – look for smears, grey spots, hairs, etc. There should be none
  3. Clean the sensor
    1. Remove the lens, lock the mirror up
    2. A few puffs from a blow bulb should be enough to dislodge most issues – be sure not to touch the sensor with the tip of the blow bulb
    3. Repeat the test for sensor cleanliness, and review the image
    4. Consider a professional camera cleaner if dirt cannot be dislodged

 

ABOVE:  One of the cameras had an uninvited guest crawling across the lens during Laney and Nichole GGT3 @40.24. Obviously very different to dirt being on the lens prior to shooting. If this were a Solo shoot, unless the action was unrepeatable – for example the model’s orgasm or achieving four handsprings in a row – something she said before she started she had never done before, the shot should be halted while the insect is removed. For T3 shoots, the affected camera needs to alert the other camera and ensure they have a usable shot before quickly removing the invading insect.

Is the windsock attached when shooting outside or in a breeze?

ABOVE: Naked models are encouraged, naked microphones are not – always cover microphones whenever shooting outdoors!

Even the lightest breeze will be auditable on the sensitive shotgun mics required for producing abbywinters.com content. It does not need to be blowing a gale for these to be required! When working outdoors always pause and check the windsock has been attached before shooting begins.

Does the audio sound clear? (wear headphones!)

ABOVE: Masie, a very sheepish Shoot Producer Trainer shares; “The second shoot I did unsupervised for abbywinters.com was Yale Solo. The reason this video is only 22 minutes long is because the cable connecting the microphone to the camera became loose in the middle of the shoot, making the audio unusable! If I had worn headphones I would have picked this up straight away but unfortunately, being new and disorganised, I did not. I consider myself very lucky that the cable was pushed back in at some point so the whole shoot was not lost. Having the editor call me to their desk to show me the error was horrific. Needless to say, I never forgot to wear headphones again!”

Anyone capturing media for abbywinters.com with a video camera (Shoot Producer, Second Camera Operator, Model etc) is required to wear headphones at all times. The headphones hear more precisely what the camera is (or isn’t) capturing. Do not take the risk, put them on!

ABOVE: Headphones are a requirement whenever video cameras are capturing media.