One of the most common questions marketing and communications managers ask when planning a video shoot is: “How much can you film in a day?” At first glance, it may seem straightforward—set up a camera, record a series of interviews, and capture a few extra scenes for context. Yet, the real answer is more nuanced, influenced by a variety of factors such as preproduction planning, on-camera talent, shot complexity, and the number of locations involved. Understanding these variables will help you recognise when you’re getting the most out of your budget and when claims might be too good to be true.
Our goal here is to provide a realistic framework so that you, as a client, can make informed decisions. By balancing efficiency, quality, and cost, you can avoid the pitfalls of overly ambitious shooting schedules and ensure that your final video reflects the standards and values of your brand.
The Importance of Preproduction
Preproduction is the strategic foundation of any successful shoot. Location scouting, securing permits, confirming interview spots, and planning camera angles and lighting setups in advance are critical steps. These efforts help avoid surprises and delays on shoot day. For example, if you already know where interviews will be filmed and have tested camera positions, you won’t waste time scrambling to find the right angle. Instead, you’ll hit the ground running, maximising productivity from the start.
Preproduction also aligns everyone’s expectations. The client, director, camera operator, and production team share a common vision. This clarity reduces last-minute changes and ensures that when the shoot begins, everyone understands the plan, knows what is required, and can focus on execution rather than figuring things out on the day.
How Many Interviews Can you Film in a Day
A typical full shooting day allows for 10 hours. Of that, expect about 1.5 hours for setup—adjusting lights, arranging audio, and framing your initial shot—and 30 minutes for lunch. That leaves roughly eight hours of filming time.
If you’re shooting straightforward interviews in one location, with a static background and consistent lighting, it’s possible to record a high volume of interviews in a single day. In theory, it’s possible to film 30 interviews if each takes exactly 10 minutes. However, this seldom happens in practice. Most subjects need some encouragement to relax on camera, or might need a moment to think through their answers. That same 10-minute interview could easily become 15 or 20 minutes.
By planning for those natural delays, you might capture only 20 interviews instead of 30, but the trade-off is worth it. The talent are less rushed, there is time to compensate for delays or unforeseen challenges, and there is time to back up files and swap batteries. This careful pacing ensures both quality and a positive shooting experience.
How Much Can You Film in a Day When Incorporating B-Roll
B-roll—those supplemental shots that provide visual context and help tell your story—adds complexity. Unlike interviews, which can often be done in a single location, b-roll may involve moving the camera, adjusting lighting, and changing settings frequently.
On a day that includes interviews and b-roll, you might spend 1.5 hours setting up, 1.5 hours interviewing, 30 minutes on lunch, and about 5 hours capturing b-roll. Factor in time for packing down and any minor moves between setups. Under these constraints, aiming for around four distinct b-roll scenes is realistic, assuming they’re all close together. When your scenes are clustered in one area, you save valuable time that would otherwise be spent traveling and resetting equipment elsewhere.
Generally, shooting with this format is sufficient for creating a fast paced 30-60 second edit, or a slower 2-4 minute video. It’s important to note that planning for a longer video generally means shooting longer b-roll clips rather than short montage clips. This allows the b-roll to be stretched further, like in a documentary.
How Many Locations Can you Film at in a Day
If you need interviews and b-roll at several locations, each move adds complexity. Travel, re-lighting, and rigging gear all chip away at your available filming hours. As a result, you’ll likely capture fewer total interviews or b-roll shots in a single day. Multiple locations aren’t inherently problematic—it simply means you may need to consider multiple days of shooting. Many high-quality videos are shot over multiple days to accommodate multiple locations, different lighting conditions, or specific storytelling elements.
For most videos we recommend a maximum of 4-5 location set ups (including interviews if required) for a full day shoot. If you’re looking for reference videos, you can count the number of unique locations to roughly estimate how many days of production were required for the shoot.
Commercial Shoots
Commercial shoots tend to be more complex. They often demand careful lighting, refined camera moves, and multiple takes to capture the perfect shot. In a single-day commercial shoot located at one location, you can usually capture between 20-30 shots with 4-5 unique setups. That’s plenty for a 15–30 second ad spot. In fact, with solid preproduction and streamlined scheduling, you could produce two unique 30-second commercials in a single day if each ad requires around 15 shots.
Example of 2x 30-second commercials shot in one day at the same location:
Balancing Quality, Efficiency, and Cost
The temptation to pack as much filming as possible into one day is understandable. After all, more footage might seem like more value. But when quality suffers, you risk damaging your brand’s image or failing to communicate your message effectively.
By understanding what’s possible, you can strike a healthy balance. Rather than pushing for 30 interviews, settle for 20 well-executed ones. Instead of cramming in a dozen b-roll scenes, focus on four that truly enhance your story. Rather than shooting in multiple locations in one frantic day, consider spreading the load to ensure you never compromise on production value.
Good preproduction planning is the key to making all this possible. When everyone agrees on the locations, interview angles, and shot priorities in advance, you start your day with purpose and clarity. You’ll avoid the pitfalls of “figuring it out on the day,” which often leads to confusion, delays, and weaker footage. Preproduction sets the stage for a productive shoot day, ensuring realistic expectations and aligning all team members.
Investing in Better Results
In the end, knowing what’s achievable within a single shoot day allows you to invest your resources where they’ll have the most impact. With informed planning, you’ll produce content that engages viewers, supports your brand message, and stands the test of time. Quality often matters more than quantity, and the right balance of efficiency, realism, and preparation will help you get there.
If you prefer a more high-speed, do-it-all approach, you can find that—but you may sacrifice quality and clarity. Or worse, find yourself requiring a reshoot. If you value measured, professional efficiency, look for a team that prioritises realistic goals, careful planning, and disciplined execution.
A Quick Summary to Guide Your Expectations:
- Interview-Only Day (Single Location): About 20 short interviews if you plan for natural delays.
- Interviews Plus B-Roll (One Location): An interview plus around 4-5 b-roll scenes in a single day.
- Multiple Locations: Expect fewer total setups per day or plan for multiple days to maintain quality.
- Commercial Shoots: 20–30 shots and 4-5 setups in one day at a single location.
By setting realistic expectations, planning thoroughly, and working with a team that values quality as much as you do, you’ll get the most from each shoot day—no matter the scale of your project. To speak to an expert about your project contact us by clicking here.
