What is meant by “never zoom” in video shoots?

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What is meant by “never zoom” in video shoots?

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Customers want to feel they are in the room with the models, so close they could reach out and touch them. To achieve this feeling, we position cameras close to the action, zoomed out wide. This emulates the peripheral vision a person has when they are close to another person (more detials about the no-zoom principle in the GGT3 Always keep viewers close to the action SDLP, 11 minutes).

To be clear, the alternate approach (being further away from models, and zooming in) is never appropriate for abbywinters.com shoots.

These principles apply to all Shoot Types at abbywinters.com.

Achieving correct framing

Camera set up

At the start of the shoot, when cameras are set up, SPs ensure cameras are set to the shortest lens lenth (widest angle) possible. This is the zoom position the lenses will stay for the entire shoot day. For Solo shoots this is managed by the SP.

IM shoots are captured using a single frame from a tripod. SPs ensure the camera is set to the widest possible frame during the set up, moving the tripod and camera closer to models to achieve the desired framing.

On multiple camera shoots (GG, GB), SPs talk to SCOs to ensure that they understand that under no circumstances are they to alter the lens length during the media capture process.

Positioning camera operators

When camera operators are standing far away from models it is impossible to place customers close to the action, while maintaining the widest possible frame.

The below examples all reference GGT3 shoots but the same principle applies when framing for Solo shoots or GBT3.

Wrong approach, far and wide

Relevant to Solo, GG or GB

ABOVE: The camera operator is standing on the far side of the room to the models. They have remained on the widest-angle lens possible (good)… but customers are no longer able to imagine they are involved in the action, they are relegated to watching the models from the far side of the room. Bad!

Wrong approach: far and zoomed in

Relevant to Solo, GG or GB

ABOVE: In this incorrect GGT3 set up, the camera operator is standing on the far side of the room to the models. To get a closer-seeming frame (to suggest customers are close to the action), the camera operator has “zoomed in” (used a longer lens). This is never acceptable.

Correct approach: close and wide

Relevant to Solo, GG or GB

ABOVE: The camera operator is positioned close to the models, on the widest-angle lens possible. This is correct, it helps customers feel like they are right there with the models.

Wrong approach: One close-and-wide, one far-and-zoomed-in

Relevant to GG or GB.

During GG or GB shoots, the SP can only clearly see the content they are recording on their own camera, but they can monitor how far away from the models the Second Camera Operator is from the action. The SP can extrapolate what the SCO is recording, and assess if it will serve customer needs.

ABOVE: If the SCO is on the far side of the room, the SP can conclude that the SCO is unable to acheive the correct frame; either they are so wide they are capturing the models and SP themselves, or they are zoomed in. Both approaches are inappropriate. In such situations the SP directs the SCO to move closer to the action, while ensuring that they are on the widest lens / zoomed fully out.

Correct approach: Both SP and SCO are close-and-wide

Relevant to GG or GB

ABOVE: When both cameras are close to the action, SPs can be assured that both cameras are capturing content correctly; on the widest possible lens, in the best positions for customers.