How to Overcome the Challenges of Filming in Unpredictable Weather
Filming in bad weather can be a challenge, but controlling the forecast is a superpower we haven’t yet mastered, so it’s important to plan your healthcare film with the Great British (albeit unpredictable) weather in mind. You can’t simply delay production because of poor weather, and you shouldn’t have to.
During the colder months, it can feel like you blink and the day is overtaking the light with it and leaving less opportunity to film in natural light. So, filming outside is often highly dependent on not just the weather, but also the time of day. You’ve got a lot less time at your disposal so meticulous planning is essential.
Shooting on location can become difficult – you might be prevented from being able to transport equipment from one location to another, extending the filming day (into those dark by 4pm afternoons), or even preventing the shoot from happening altogether.
And in more extreme conditions, filming outside comes with added safety concerns, possible damage risk to equipment, and potentially poor footage if your content cannot be clearly seen or heard due to blustery conditions.
You wouldn’t be the first person to cancel plans because of the forecast – but when it comes to your filming, that’s often not an option. So how do you overcome these challenges, so you don’t end up wasting time and money producing a video that doesn’t meet your vision or serve its full purpose?
Work With the Weather, Not Against It.
The most practical solution is, of course, to film indoors. But if you need to film outside in unpredictable weather then it’s important to choose your location wisely; assess your environment and take necessary precautions to ensure optimal safety is at the forefront of production.
Aerial filming is a great way to add something extra to your film – but when it comes to bad weather, these are an absolute no-go! Save any aerial location shots for clearer days when drones can be used safely to capture a better image. Spring and summer are a great time for this. Not only will your shots look nicer, but you’ll also remove the risk of severe safety concerns. Bad weather can cause major issues for even the most experienced drone pilots.
If you can film indoors, do so and opt for bright spacious rooms, rather than small office spaces. Speaking to your film crew about how to use artificial lighting to give the illusion of daylight will also help with overcoming poor lighting. We might not be able to control the weather for you, but we can try and fake it! Not only will this mean that you’ll potentially be able to film for longer (making the most of your filming day) but soft natural light is a great way to make your film feel more inviting.
For public awareness films or PR films this is particularly important as the viewer may already feel apprehensive about the content, or nervous about their visit to your practice. The use of soft light is likely to help them feel more at ease when watching your film.
Repurpose Old Content
If you need to film outside but the weather Gods had other plans for you, then repurposing old footage to create new content is a brilliant way to get those shots without the worry of logistics, or concerns around safety when filming in bad weather. Repurposing old footage is also a tried and tested way for your practice to save both time and money – you already have the basis of what you need, without having to start from scratch. Accessing stock footage is another brilliant means of getting the shots you need even when it’s pouring outside (do you have any links to where you might get stock footage, Chris?)
Plan to Your Advantage
As we’ve established, the UK weather likes to keep us on our toes – blue skies and sunshine are never guaranteed – but this needn’t interrupt your filming schedule!
Here’s a few things to consider, so you’re prepared to film whatever the weather;
- Film inside if possible – but be sure to choose inside rooms carefully – avoiding smaller, darker, less inviting spaces will be advantageous to your end result
- Have a detailed shooting schedule which utilises as much daylight as possible – even when inside, natural light flooding in through windows will brighten the space.
- Use the weather to your advantage. Are you able to practically change the shooting day if required? If not, are you able to improvise and use it to your advantage instead? Maybe the bad weather could be used in your film as a mechanism of showing a certain kind of mood (for instance, bad weather could personify a patient’s sadness before receiving the help they need from your practice?)
- Get the shots you need without the worry of logistics or concerns around safety when filming in bad weather by repurposing old content.
- Have a back-up plan. If the forecast changes, can you easily and effectively move your shoot to a safer/indoor location and still achieve the same result?
- Hire a professional film crew who specialise in producing video content all year around, so you don’t have to worry about the challenges of filming in unpredictable weather.
Time is Money.
As healthcare film specialists, we don’t believe that the erratic Great British weather should be a reason to postpone production. If we did, we’d never film another video again!
Having been producing stunning films for the NHS and private medical practices since we launched in 2014, we understand the pressures medical professionals face to get their healthcare video right, first time around. We know your time is valuable.
Luckily, our crew here at Healthcare Films by Wildwood can offer practical solutions so you can film in even the most challenging of conditions – weather or otherwise.
So if you need an experienced team to produce your video and offer tailored advice around the best ways to bring your vision to life, then get in touch today. We are here to remove the stress and make filming easy – whatever the weather.