The best shoots we do have one thing in common: the owner spent about 30 minutes getting ready the week before. Not hours. Just a little thinking about what they want people to see. That prep is the difference between "nice footage" and a month of posts that actually bring people in.
Here is the checklist. It works for restaurants, shops, contractors, gyms and pretty much any local business.
1. Decide what you want people to do
Before anything else, pick the one action you want a viewer to take. Book a table. Call for a quote. Walk in this weekend. Order online. Everything we shoot gets built around that one goal, so it helps to know it up front. If you are not sure, that is fine. It is one of the first things we talk through on your free quote.
2. Pick your hero items
Choose the 3 to 5 things you are proudest of or that sell the best. For a restaurant that is your signature dishes and drinks. For a shop it is your best sellers or newest arrivals. For a contractor it is your best finished job. Focusing on a few heroes gets you better content than trying to show everything at once.
Restaurants: have those dishes ready to come out fresh and hot, one at a time. Food looks best in the first minute or two. If you want ideas on what works, take a look at our restaurant video and product photography pages.
3. Clean up what the camera will see
Cameras notice everything. A quick reset makes a huge difference:
- Clear counters, tables and shelves of anything that is not for sale or part of the look.
- Wipe windows, glass cases and mirrors.
- Turn on every light, sign and display.
- Hide cords, boxes, trash cans and personal stuff.
- Check the outside too: entrance, signage and parking area.
4. Pick the right time
There are usually two good windows. Before you open gives us a clean, quiet space for product shots, food close-ups and interviews. During a busy stretch gives us energy and real customers, which is what makes people want to come in. Many businesses do a little of both on a content day. Tell us your slow and busy hours and we will plan around them so the shoot does not get in the way of business.
5. Get your people ready
Your team is a big part of what makes you different, and customers want to see real faces. Decide who is comfortable on camera. Logo shirts or a clean uniform look great. No scripts needed. We will ask simple questions and keep it natural. The best clips almost always come from people talking about what they love about the place.
If customers will be in the background, a small sign letting them know you are filming that day is a good idea.
6. Have your brand stuff handy
Send over your logo file, your colors, your current menu or price list and links to your website and social accounts. If there are any must-have shots, a list of them is perfect. It helps the edits match the rest of your marketing.
7. Tell us where the content is going
Instagram Reels and TikTok need vertical video. Your website and YouTube need horizontal. Your Google listing needs clean photos of your storefront, inside and products. When we know where everything will live, we shoot for all of it in one day so nothing has to be reshot later.
8. Planning drone shots? Read this first
Aerial footage is amazing for showing off a property, a big job site or where you are located. Drone flights depend on weather and on airspace rules, and some parks and areas need permission. Our Hudson Valley drone rules guide covers what to know, and our drone page shows what it looks like.
What we handle for you
You do not need to know anything about cameras, lighting or editing. We plan the shot list, bring the gear, run the shoot and deliver finished, edited content sized for every place you post. Your job is just to show us what makes your business great.
After the shoot
The content only works if people see it. Post on a steady schedule instead of all at once, add the new photos to your Google listing, and put your best video on your website's homepage. If you want it handled for you, our monthly plans keep fresh content going out every month.
Ready to plan yours? Get a free quote and we will send a custom content plan within 24 hours.