Many companies that have great social media channels with lots of followers are still afraid to venture into the world of video. Once upon a time, video was expensive and required a lot of training and practice to produce professional results. In a digital age where every smartphone has a video camera, video is very affordable and accessible. With the right tips and a small collection of relatively inexpensive equipment, you’ll be well on your way to shooting and using informal video at events.

• Be aware of the surroundings. Any time you shoot spontaneous video to capture real-time office events, take note of the setting. A cluttered workspace or even a brightly colored poster in the background can be distracting. When you’re shooting a single person or a small group of employees, consider using a conference room and setting up a solid colored backdrop. It can look weird to have a CEO in front of a brick wall with fake plants behind him, and plain white backgrounds can be boring. For less than $70, you can buy a roll of seamless colored paper from a photography supply company, such as Savage Universal. You can mount this paper on a stand or simply tape it to the wall.
• Use studio lighting. Overhead fluorescent lighting can be harsh. Whenever possible, use a simple studio lighting set-up that will be more flattering. You can get all of the supplies that you need for a basic three light set-up for under $100 at Home Depot or a similar store.
• Use sound dampening techniques. When you’re recording a meeting or other conference room happening, it can be tough to get good sound quality without some sort of sound dampening measure. Sound dampening panels are ideal, but there are a number of simpler techniques that can work in a pinch, such as bringing couches into the room or hanging quilts from the walls. Be aware of noisy vents (i.e. heating, air-conditioning) that can make it hard for people to be heard.
• Create a permanent set-up. It is not possible for every company to have a permanent video set-up. However, if you have the capacity for it, you should go for it. You’ll find that shooting and using informal video at events will happen much more frequently if you don’t have to create a set-up every time you have an idea. If you get an idea the day of a big conference and want to put a video together quickly, a permanent set-up will be a huge advantage. You don’t want to avoid shooting video for upcoming events because you can’t make time for the set-up.