Shooting Photo & Video At the Same time (With success)
Why one person can’t shoot photos and video well is a common question when planning a shoot. While it may seem efficient to have one person handle both roles, photography and video each require different timing, technical focus, and creative attention.
It might seem efficient to have one person shoot both photos and video at an event. Modern cameras can do both, and that sounds like a good value.
But the truth is this: doing both at the same time usually means losing quality in both. The result is often missed moments, compromised content, and disappointed clients.
Why One Person Doing Both Falls Short
1. Missed Moments Are Almost Guaranteed
Events move quickly. Real emotions don’t wait while someone switches shooting modes or camera settings. When your photographer is thinking about video, photo opportunities can slip away. And vice versa.
2. Cameras Can Do Both, But Settings—and Minds—Can’t
Yes, cameras can shoot stills and video. But the settings and mindset are very different.
Photographers think about shutter speed and composition. Videographers think about frame rate, audio, and continuity. Switching back and forth reduces the quality of both.
3. Video Rules Limit Coverage
In video, there’s a filmmaking guideline called the 180-degree rule that keeps on-screen motion consistent. Following it means staying in one part of the room — which reduces photo coverage.
4. You’ll Receive Half the Content (or Less)
Trying to do two jobs at once usually means getting half the good photos and half the usable video — instead of excellent coverage of either.
5. Good Audio Requires Extra Gear and Time
High-quality video needs external audio gear — lavalier mics, recorders, boom mics. It also means longer editing time. That’s a whole production in itself, not just a camera mode.
6. Still Photos Suffer Without Flash
Video shooting typically turns off the flash. Without flash, photos in low light can end up grainy or flat. That’s not what you want from your images.
So What Does Work?
If one person doing everything doesn’t deliver great results, here are better options:
1. Hire a Photo + Video Team
The best choice is a team where one person focuses only on photography and another focuses only on video. This ensures expert coverage in every medium.
2. Split The Day
If a team isn’t possible, choose when you want photo coverage and when you want video. That way, your photographer can focus on one task at a time, without switching back and forth.
3. Prioritize One Medium
If budget constraints mean choosing only one service, decide what matters most:
memories in still images, or
storytelling through motion and sound.
Doing one thing well is better than doing both poorly.
You Deserve Better
Clients are often surprised how different photography and videography actually are. Understanding this helps you make informed choices, avoid frustration, and get work you truly love.
A professional who refuses to do both at once isn’t holding back — they’re respecting the craft. Invest in a team that honors each medium. Your memories are worth it.
Take a look at Margo’s video portfolio to see some of her work and contact her with questions on this website.
Hi, I’m Margo. I’m a visual storyteller specializing in photography and video for nonprofit organizations in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
I founded my company in 2019 to continue working with the people I met during my time at The Philadelphia Inquirer. That work often includes direct collaboration with creative and PR directors at healthcare, arts, and education organizations.
I partner with clients on editorial and marketing campaigns, focusing on capturing honest stories that reflect the legacy of their organizations. Real moments build lasting trust with an audience. By blending the core principles of photojournalism with modern audio and visual techniques, we create stories that are truthful, thoughtful, and built to last.
My approach resonates with clients who choose real people over actors in their marketing. It’s for organizations that see photography and video as part of a larger narrative—whether for a publication, campaign, or annual report.
These are timeless stories meant to be seen by large audiences.
My work has been featured in People, The New York Times, NPPA News Photographer Magazine, Associated Press, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, among others. Some of my frequent clients include Penn Medicine, Drexel University, Berks History Center, Curtis Institute of Music, Stage Step, and The Philadelphia Orchestra.
I’m a proud member of the Professional Photographers Association, the National Press Photographers Association, the Freelancers Union, and the Video Consortium. You can read more about my photographic ethics here.
When I’m not behind the camera, you’ll usually find me renovating my Victorian home in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania.
