The current needs of the paper are for stills and video for every job.
Sounds fun right?
Given roughly 10-15 minutes at a job and sometimes as little as half an hour at the other end turn around*, the fun tends to fall away as efficient processes take over.
If you are lucky, there is a sit down, where both are possible. Then you just need a little B-roll.
Shooting both at the same time, because my process is to avoid the cliche shots, leaning to my strength of capturing people in action, not posed, I have a basic process.
Not posed, found. She was sitting to the side waiting for the ok to go and I grabbed this portrait. Semi-posed I guess.
Start with video (G9), but switch between stills (EM1 mk2) and video as able. If there is an “anchor” shot for video, that is an interview or presentation, then that settles the process. All you need then is some B-roll or stills for a slide-show.
The other togs recommended to me that I wait until after the interview and ask three questions, but I reject that, because the questions have been asked, the natural responses made. Video can be a natural result of the journalists interview, not its own thing. Revisiting this space has little appeal to anyone and the big difference is, the interviewees are looking to the journalist, not to camera.
Spontaneous moments either video or stills are golden.
Trying to shoot stills at the same time takes two shapes.
Video must be the priority, stills the tack-on, because video is based on the audio and a linear for, stills have no time stamp, no order needed.
Sometimes TV are there also, lights and all.
The first idea was to place the video camera on an ifootage monopod and shoot stills at the same time, but that had issues of stability, the need for a tilt head (I bought the 120cm) that did not then fit in the supplied bag (frustrating) and it did not weigh any less than the Velbon tripod I already own. I may revisit this on occasion with a proper tripod.
Performers perform, simple as that.
The second is to hold the camera as still as possible, which with the static stabiliser mode in the G9 is very still, then shoot stills with the other hand. If I get some nasty drift or jumps while doing it, I use B-roll or stills to cover it up, just as long as the sound is clean. I will carry the feet and head of the ifootage unit as a mini tripod option, but rarely have that luxury.
Some moments are not repeatable.
Processing then becomes a two pronged thing.
Process stills to support the words.
Do some video to tell a short version of the story, but not at odds with the written content.
To be honest, I feel we are headed towards a video only dynamic, but then that would be TV wouldn’t it.
Occasionally, you walk in and everyone performs.
I won’t pretend I have this knocked yet, but something gets done every job unless there is simply nothing to get.
All good practice.
*We roughly budget 2hrs perk job on average including travel, but some are much shorter, a few much longer.