Corporate Event Recap Video Process: How We Plan, Film, and Edit Event Videos That Work
Corporate event recap videos have evolved far beyond simple highlight reels. Today, the most effective recaps serve multiple purposes at once: showcasing company culture, supporting recruiting, reinforcing brand identity, and extending the life of an event long after it ends.
Below, we break down our full process of creating these strategic storytelling videos from pre-production to final delivery.
Candid moments can make or break a client event recap video
How We Prepare for a Corporate Event Recap Video Shoot
The production process starts long before the camera comes out. Before the event, we always start with the same question: who is this video for, and what is it meant to do?
An internal culture recap is very different from a recruiting or marketing-focused video. Understanding the client’s purpose for the video, helps us align on what moments actually matter on the day.
We usually talk through:
The goal of the event recap video (internal culture, external marketing, etc)
Who is their target audience for the video
Where the video will live (social, website, internal use)
Must-capture moments like speeches, signage, or planned highlights
This pre-production conversation sets us on the right path without over-complicating it. Experience and expertise drives us from there.
Filming Corporate Events Without Disrupting the Experience
Most corporate events benefit from a fly-on-the-wall, documentary-style approach. The goal is to capture real moments without turning the event into a production.
As Zach puts it:
“For capturing fly-on-the-wall B-roll, we recommend bringing a positive attitude and a smile to the shoot. It goes a long way in making people feel at ease when you point a camera in their face.”
A big part of our job is balancing when to simply observe and when to gently direct. If someone is clearly comfortable on camera and we miss a great moment, we’ll ask if they’re open to doing it again. This could be something small such as a toast or a simple action, being cognizant of things looking too staged or over-directed. In these social or celebratory settings, we’ve learned that authenticity matters more than perfection.
From a technical standpoint, this means keeping our setups lightweight and flexible:
Capturing on-the-fly interviews at a corporate event
“We find that for the majority of event coverage gigs, clients want the raw energy that handheld camera shake gives the footage.”
Handheld shooting also lets us respond to moments as they happen instead of being locked into rigid setups.
What We Do When People Don’t Want to Be Filmed
Not everyone wants a camera in their face, and that’s totally okay, but it’s our job to know and work around them.
The pre-production meeting with our clients typically let us know of any specific people that are not to be filmed, but sometimes it comes down to reading the room. When we notice someone is uncomfortable or prefers not to be captured, we adjust. Often that means switching to a longer lens so we can keep our distance while still documenting the energy of the room.
This approach is crucial, as it lets us respect individual boundaries while still capturing the overall story of the event.
The Shots We Always Look For in an Event Recap
While every event is different, strong corporate event recap videos are built on a consistent foundation. These shots give the edit structure and flexibility later on.
We always try to capture:
Branding and signage
Establishing wide shots to set content and scale
Key speakers or important figures
Reactions, interactions, and small details
Those little “in-between” moments like glasses clinking, hands shaking, people laughing, are often what make the recap feel alive.
Audio, Lighting, and Working in Real Event Conditions
Corporate events rarely happen in perfect environments. Audio can be noisy, lighting can be low, and things move fast.
For audio, we usually run a shotgun microphone on our camera to capture cleaner ambient sound than a built-in mic. This gives us usable natural audio such as laughter, applause, and crowd reactions, that we can subtly layer into the final edit.
If we’re capturing on-the-fly interviews, we’ll add lavalier microphones to ensure voices are clean without drawing attention to the setup.
Lighting is handled carefully. Rather than overpowering the space with bright lights, we rely on fast lenses that perform well in low light. When clarity is critical (such as for interviews), we’ll use small LED panels sparingly to enhance the scene without changing the atmosphere.
Why Corporate Event Recap Videos Matter for Your Company
A great corporate event recap video doesn’t just document your event– it sells the experience of being there. It shows your culture, your energy, and what makes your company worth paying attention to.
When done right, these videos help potential hires, partners, and clients feel like they should have been in the room — and make them want to be part of the next one. Instead of living as a one-off post, an intentional event recap becomes a long-term asset for recruiting, internal culture, and brand storytelling.
Planning a company event?
If you’re planning an event and want the recap to actually reflect the experience, we’re always happy to talk. Just schedule your free consultation with us to see how we can capture your big event.
Curious to see how this process works in practice? Check out our case study with CLS Living
