7 Rookie Filmmaking Mistakes to Dodge (Straight Talk from a Pro)
Hi there, if you're just dipping your toes into filmmaking, maybe gearing up for your first corporate event or putting together a promo reel, pull up a chair because I've got stories and advice that'll save you a ton of headaches. There are endless mistakes you can make in this game, we're only human, and messing up is part of the deal. And to be honest I see pros making these mistakes so some are not solely rookie ones. Time is where I see most mistakes happening. Pressed for time is where mistakes will often happen so budget enough time for your project before the shoot getting your kit ready and tested as well as on location. Sometimes, you have to feel the sting of a screw-up to never repeat it, but hopefully this guide gives you a heads-up to avoid the pain.
I've been at this for 14 years, from chasing wildlife through the wilderness to capturing high-pressure boardroom moments, and I've flubbed plenty. Like forgetting to hit the record button once? That was a gut-punch I'll never forget. Clients pay for results, and when an event goes live, there's no turning back, you've got to get it right. Let's talk about seven less-discussed mistakes I see beginners make, plus practical tips to avoid them. My advice is just real talk to help you perform your best.
Real-Life Stories: Learning the Hard Way
Before we dive into the mistakes, let me share a story that still makes me wince. A producer and their team were creating a music video and hired an Atomos external recorder from me. The DP didn't test it properly beforehand, so when they started rolling, the monitor baked all the camera's settings (histogram info, audio meters) right into the final recording. Nobody caught it until post-production. An entire day's shoot (hours of choreography and setup) went straight down the drain. They had to reschedule a full reshoot, costing time and money. Had they done a quick test run, they'd have spotted the issue and saved the gig. That's why prep, as you'll see in point one, is everything.
1. Showing Up Nervous or Unprepared
You know that sinking feeling when you walk into a shoot and realise you're not quite ready? Maybe your gear's acting up, or you haven't fully grasped the client's brief. I've seen beginners tank gigs because they didn't test their kit or know the brief inside out. Clients want someone who looks like they've got it handled, not someone figuring it out on their dime.
Prep like your career depends on it, because in a way, it does. Test your cameras, mics, and batteries the night before (nothing's worse than a dead battery mid-interview). Get crystal clear on what's expected. Walk in with confidence, even if it's your first gig. That calm energy sets the tone for the whole day.
Why it matters: Poor prep can cause delays, and in my experience, it leads to about 25% of production hiccups (based on what I've seen from places like Column Five reports). No one wants that.
2. Overshooting Like Crazy
Imagine you're at a five-hour event, and you end up with 300 clips. Sounds productive, right? Wrong, it's a nightmare waiting to happen. You'll spend forever sifting through footage, and half of it will be junk, like someone scratching their head in the background or a shaky frame that you can't use. I've been on shoots where overshooting turned editing into a week-long slog.
The key is to be selective, you know? Plan your shots around the must-haves (the keynote speech, crowd reactions, that one killer moment). For a 60-second promo reel, aim for 20-30 solid clips, not hundreds. If you nail the perfect stage shot, don't re-record it 20 times; move on. Quality over quantity always wins, and it saves you time in post.
Why it matters: Bloated videos lose 50% of viewers in the first 30 seconds, according to stats from Forbes. Keep it tight, and your audience sticks around.
3. Messing Up Framing and Background
Ever watch a shot and get distracted by something silly in the background, like a random coffee cup or an extra picking their nose? It's a total buzzkill, and I've seen promising footage go down the drain because of sloppy framing or clutter stealing the focus.
Before you hit record, take a second to scan the frame. Is that awkward element in the way? Move it or reposition yourself. Frame like a photographer (every detail counts). Use the rule of thirds, maintain headroom, and clear distractions. It's simple, but it makes your work look pro. I once shifted a chair during an event setup, and it saved what could have been a mediocre clip.
Why it matters: Bad framing reduces the professionalism of your video and can lower shares by 20%. Viewers notice, even if they don't say it.
4. Botching Exposure and Lighting
Dark conference rooms or bright outdoor stages, these can wreck your footage if exposure isn't on point. Beginners often end up with faces lost in shadows or blown-out highlights, and it makes the whole thing look amateur.
Practice shooting in tricky spots, like dim bars or sunny parks, to get comfortable with your camera's ISO and aperture. If you're filming an interview, you don't always need a full three-point lighting kit; sometimes one well-placed light does the trick. I've nailed event shots with minimal gear by adjusting on the fly.
Why it matters: Poor lighting causes a 40% drop in viewer retention, per HubSpot. Get this right, and your videos keep people watching.
5. Messing Up Camera Settings
Imagine you've got two cameras rolling, but one's colour profile is warm and the other's blue. Good luck fixing that in post, it's a headache I caught just before a keynote once, and it saved me hours.
Always check your settings before you start. Match white balance and profiles, like Canon's C-Log, across all cameras. Test a quick clip to confirm everything's synced. And don't forget colour correction in post, tools like DaVinci Resolve can make footage pop if you grade it right. Neglecting this leaves your video looking flat or inconsistent. Shoot at a good enough bit rate with your film camera so that you can make any small adjustments to exposure if required. You basically want to give yourself an opportunity to make some corrections. Not everyone nails it on the moment, but this is where, you know, at least if you filmed it in a decent format, you can make those adjustments post.
Why it matters: Ungraded videos can reduce perceived quality by up to 30%, based on industry insights like HubSpot's 2025 Video Marketing Report. Polish matters.
6. Acting Like You Don't Care
If you're glued to your phone mid-shoot or slouching like you'd rather be anywhere else, the client's noticing, and it's not a good look. I've seen crews lose repeat gigs for seeming distracted. Energy is contagious, and clients remember who brought the right vibe. Trust me, when you're on shoot and you're filming, the client's watching, so they're watching all the little things that you're doing, which can determine whether or not they're gonna have you back for the next gig. This is about how comfortable you are with equipment, your professionalism, and all the other things that come into play.
Show up like you're thrilled to be there. Smile, engage with the team, and focus, it's all about building relationships. Treat everyone like a rock star. Carry blotting paper to fix shiny foreheads or a lint roller for dust on clothes. Small gestures like that build trust. I once switched a nervous CEO's mindset by asking about their dog before an interview, nailed it. And for interviews, arrive early to set up your equipment (tripods, lighting, the works). You don't want to be fiddling when the interviewee shows up; respect their time, as it's often precious and they're not always media-trained.
Why it matters: Distraction kills repeat business; pros who show they care get the callbacks. No one wants a videographer who's still setting up when the action starts.
7. Ignoring the Client's Brief and Formats
Not clarifying frame rate, resolution, or portrait mode? That's a fast way to frustration. I've seen footage shot in low res, only for the client to want TikTok clips, scaling it up kills the quality.
Nail the technical brief upfront. 4K for YouTube? Full HD for LinkedIn? Portrait for socials? Shoot in 6K or Open Gate for flexibility. Plan for platforms: Long cuts for YouTube (7-15 minutes), short for TikTok (15-60 seconds). Get it clear to avoid reshoots, use analytics to refine lengths. Shoot in enough resolution to cover the types of content that you're filming. For example, shoot in a lower res 1080p with an expectation of delivering in a higher resolution portrait mode, you're going to have to scale up, which means softer images and potential pixelation.
Why it matters: Wrong formats waste time; mismatched lengths lose 50% of viewers early, per Forbes insights like their 2024 Short-Form Video Content article. Stick to platform norms to keep your audience hooked.
Bonus: Quick Checklist to Nail Your Shoot
Here's a simple table you can print or save (my go-to checklist for avoiding these mistakes on every gig).
| Mistake to Avoid | Quick Fix Tip |
|---|---|
| Nervous Prep | Test gear night before; know brief inside out. |
| Overshooting | Plan out those essential shots to make sure you capture your brief. Remember quality over quantity. |
| Bad Framing | Scan background; use rule of thirds. |
| Exposure Issues | Practice in low/high light; adjust ISO on the fly. |
| Camera Settings | Match profiles/white balance; test clips. |
| Low Energy | Bring enthusiasm; use blotting paper/roller for polish. |
| Wrong Brief | Clarify formats (4K, portrait); plan for platforms. |
The Journey Continues
Nail these basics, and you're already ahead. Each mistake is a lesson, learn, adapt, create. For custom advice, hit our contact page or check workshops. Let's make your next video a success. Contact us here for further information.
