1. Plan for the Videotaping to take place over 1-2 Days

If you plan on having interviews and footage of your client going about their daily routine, split it up into (2) days of shooting. Interviews can be emotionally exhausting. Shooting a daily routine can take longer than you or the client anticipate. So instead of trying to get it all in one day, make it easier on everyone and spread it out over a couple of days. Make sure you are present at the entire shoot!!

Your videographer will need to time to scope out the location and decide where to set things up. Lighting will need to be adjusted. Sometimes furniture has to be rearranged. This might be done several times during the course of the day. Sometimes, this can take up to an hour, so plan accordingly and let your client know also. Don't plan a lunch meeting at 12pm if the shoot starts at 10am. Block out your whole day to be on the safe side.

When shooting a Day in the Life, plan on shooting the daily activities on one day and any interviewing on another day. Never schedule more than (4) interviews for one day. It can be a long and emotionally draining process.

2. Visit Your Client's Home a Few Days Before the Shoot!

Ten minutes before the videographer arrives is not the time to discover the house has an accumulation of (15) years worth of newspapers piled in the living room, a rabbit hutch in the kitchen or mildew covering the shower chair in the bathroom. These are some situations I have confronted and repaired in the past. Videographers don't come cheaply and neither do you, so makea point of surveying the home beforehand. Ask your client to tidy things up or hire a cleaning service if they are unable.

Also, windows are the enemy!! Natural sunlight can read as blue on videotape. It can also create glare and shadows as the Sun moves throughout the day. People sitting in front of a window end up looking like a shadowy figure in a "60 Minutes" expose. Make sure that windows have blinds and curtains that can block out the Sun's effects. DO NOT ASSUME that people will have them. You'd be surprised at how many people spend their lives giving free shows to their neighbors.

While you are there, check out the noise factor. Is there construction going on in the neighborhood? Are there loud neighbors living next door or upstairs? Are your clients on good terms with these neighbors? Do they live near an airfield or across the street from train tracks? Is it a weekend that people might be out mowing their lawns? These are factors that can make shooting a misery, especially if interviews are being conducted and Sound quality is of the utmost importance.

If you are shooting in the Summer, ask your clients to have the air conditioning on all morning before the shoot begins. It will have to be turned off once shooting begins because of the sound, but at least the house will start off comfortable. The lights that will be used create a lot of heat and can get downright unbearable on a hot day. Reconsider changing locations if the client does not have air conditioning.

If your client's home is unacceptable, conduct interviews in your conference room. Purchase a tall colorful bouquet of flowers and a bunch of Eucalyptus leaves to use in the background to create a warm "set". Shoot the client in front of a wall of exposed brick if you have that in your office. The camera is usually tight on the client's face, so not much is seen in the background. Watch "20/20", "60 Minutes" or "Dateline" for more ideas on set designs. This brings us to Tip #3:

3. Watch Some Documentary -Style Television Shows Beforehand
	I am always surprised by questions I get regarding the style these pieces are edited in. I usually find out that my client doesn't have time to watch TV and they are often mystified by what are standard dissolves, cuts or captioning. Watch some episodes of "60 Minutes", "20/20" or "Dateline" to get an idea of what the pacing and overall appearance

4. Curious Young Children and Pesky Pussycats
	You gotta love them, but they can get in the way or distract. Find out if young children can visit a relative or daycare. Or try to arrange the shoot around school schedules. See if Fido and Fluffy can be confined to one part of the house or see if they can go on a "Playdate" too.

5. Make Sure Everyone is Dressed Appropriately
	No, they don't need to be in suits, but they don't have to look destitute either. Understandably, someone who is in a wheelchair and is fed through a G-tube will be more comfortable in sweatpants and a T-shirt. Just make sure clothing is clean and in good condition. Make sure there are no offensive or questionable slogans on their clothes.

Family members or friends who are being interviewed can look a little more formal. Men should wear collared shirts and women should wear a nice blouse as they would in court. Fine stripes, loud patterns and colors like red, black, navy, dark brown and white should be avoided. Shiny jewelry will affect the camera's white balance. Solid colors such as medium to light blues, greens, pinks, tans and cremes work best. Have women wear an earth toned lipstick- no frosty pink or blue-red tones!!

6. Try to Make Activities Look Natural

Yes, easier said then done. There are extra people in the house, a camera, hot lights and microphones. Who wouldn't look like a deer caught in headlights? You really do need to make an effort in order to have footage that is usable. One thing that can help, if time allows, is to have the client meet the videographer. This will let them see who is coming to their house and ask her all the questions you can't really answer. On the shoot day, do a few initial "takes" so your clients can get used to the videotaping process . Be willing to do whatever it takes to help your client look and feel comfortable. It will be a better experience for all involved.

7. Avoid Dramatic Scenes
	Your client's daily struggle is sympathetic enough. Show what your client can do and how that's a struggle rather than what they can't do. You want your client to appear likable and that they still try to do as much as they can for themselves. And please stay away from the sad background music since there is no added value to it. It will only annoy the viewer and make them feel manipulated.

8. Send a List of Question Topics to Your Client
	Send this a few days before so your clients can think about things they would like to say . This will help alleviate any anxiety they might have about speaking on camera. This will make them prepared, NOT rehearsed.

Get them to discuss specific incidents or tell stories. Avoid "sound bites" or glittering generalities. The idea is to get (2) or (3) good stories from each person. These stories can be funny, touching or painfully true. Your client is/was human, not a saint. What mischief did they get into as a kid? What habit drove the husband or wife crazy? These are details that make your client likable and someone we can relate to.

Every family also has one or two "Black Sheep". Don't be so quick to avoid interviewing them. I find, they have the most poignant and touching reminiscences.

While your clients are deciding on what to discuss, they can also startlooking through photo albums for pictures that can illustrate their story. Or maybe get topic ideas from the memories the photos evoke. The more confident and comfortable your clients are on camera, the better the final video will be.

9. Raw Footage Can be Subpoenaed
	Please remember this before giving any "helpful" suggestions while tape is rolling. Make sure to say "Stop Tape!" before giving any directions. Also keep in mind that videographers can be called to testify at trial, so keep it real.

10. Treat Your Clients with Dignity
	Remember that your client has suffered a loss and deserves to be treated with respect. They should not be asked to do anything they are uncomfortable doing. They should not be shown in a state that you yourself would not want to be seen in.

They will be nervous, so be patient with them. You are not dealing with professional actors. They are looking to you to help them make the right choices. Keep their best interests at heart and treat them as you would want to be treated.