5 can’t-miss Shots Every Event video Reel Needs
Let’s talk about the one thing people love to skip when they’re filming their live event: The shot list.
Whether you’re capturing your yearly corporate conference, shooting rooftop live event videography in Brooklyn, or filming experiential event video in Manhattan, you need a clear plan. You can’t just show up and wing it.
Here are the 5 can’t-miss shots every event reel or recap video needs in order to feel dynamic, impactful and memorable.
1. The Event Reel’s Hero Moment
All event reels need a “hero moment.” This is the scroll stopping moment that hooks people.
Think of it as the shot that captures the peak of excitement or significance of the day. Maybe it’s a keynote speaker delivering a powerful line, a reveal of the product that’s launching or the focal point of the brand activation, or maybe it’s just a celebratory champagne bottle popping off at the end of the night.
Why it matters: The hero moment is what opens your video and catches viewers’ eyes, so naturally, it determines whether they’ll watch the rest of your video. A strong hero moment communicates the event’s energy and gives your event reels a clear focus.
Pro tips for capturing the Hero Moment:
Shoot options: Don’t just get one product reveal or a confetti cannon going off and call it a night. You will want options to choose from when it comes time to edit your highlight video.
Multiple angles: Don’t rely on single static shot. Move around or set up multiple cameras if possible.
Slow-motion shots: We always recommend getting hero moment options in slo-mo. These can make the shot feel cinematic and emphasize the drama.
Timing is everything: Know the schedule and anticipate the peak moments so you’re not scrambling. There’s nothing worse than missing the founders’ welcome speech!
Example: When we’re shooting brand activations at some of the top experiential event venues in NYC, especially rooftops, we make sure to capture the product reveal with a quintessential Manhattan skyline shot. Also make sure to capture the hero shot from several angles, including audience reactions, to make your event video reel feel as immersive as possible.
Have a look at some of our recent experiential event video work in New York City.
2. The Crowd Reaction
The energy of an event isn’t just in the stage, it’s in the people. Capturing audience reactions during live event filming—cheering, laughing, or applauding—is essential for making viewers feel like they’re part of the experience.
It’s easy to focus on the stage or feel like you can’t cut away from a panel of speakers, but without capturing how your audience is reacting to these people, your events sizzle reel can fall flat.
Why it matters: Authentic crowd reactions show that the event is engaging and that attendees are genuinely excited. This can influence viewers’ emotions and make your New York live event videography more shareable.
Pro tips for capturing it:
Mix wide shots and close-ups: Wide shots show the scale of the crowd, while close-ups capture emotion and detail.
Candid is key: Don’t stage reactions; real, unscripted moments resonate best.
Use b-roll creatively: Reaction shots can be intercut with hero moments for pacing and flow.
Example: The Nova House Productions team recently shot the Designpreneurs Hackathon at Parsons School of Design. By capturing students reacting to the teams on stage presenting their projects, the event reel maintained as sense of liveliness and engagement the entire time.
Have a look at the event reel we made for them below.
3. The Detail Shot
Details matter, especially in video where they serve to tell the story in a way that your wide shots can’t. Detail shots are the close-ups that highlight branding, décor, food, or even people’s hands interacting with products or materials. These small moments give your event reel texture and depth.
Why it matters: Detail shots make your reel look polished and professional. They allow viewers to notice subtleties that add to the overall story, and they often carry emotional weight that wide shots can’t capture.
Pro tips for capturing it:
Slow pans and macro shots: These can make even small details feel cinematic.
Highlight your branding subtly: Shots of logos or signage can reinforce the brand without feeling like an ad.
Mix textures and colors: Visual variety keeps the reel engaging.
Example: When we’re shooting corporate video production in New York, at say a conference or an expo, we like to gran close-ups of attendees interacting at a booth or with a new tech product. This can make clients or guests who couldn’t attend the event feel like they were there and getting a feel for what they missed through your event highlight reel.
Not sure what type of event recap video your need? Take a look at our recent blog that breaks down the difference between the event sizzle reel or the event recap video.
4. The Action Sequence That spices up Your Event Highlight Reels
Static footage is boring. It sticks out like a sore thumb, and when we’re cutting event reels, we avoid using static shots at all costs. Your reel needs action and movement to feel alive.
Action sequences capture this movement: performers on stage, speakers gesturing passionately, guests participating in activities, or interactive installations. Even groups of guests laughing or telling an engaging story constitute an actionable moment.
Why it matters: Action keeps your event video reel dynamic and engaging. It creates pacing, builds energy, and makes editing more flexible. A reel with no movement can feel sluggish and stale, even if the hero moments are strong.
Pro tips for capturing it:
Short, punchy clips: Don’t draw out the live band sequence. Instead, try to grab a dynamic shot for about 5-10 seconds and then switch up your angle. Move your camera or even physcially move your body. You want shots that feel easy to cut together for rhythm and flow.
Think in sequences: Capture mini-stories within the event, like a speaker intro, demonstration, and audience reaction.
Use movement creatively: Panning, tracking, and handheld shots can give a sense of immersion. Whip pans and fast movement with your camera give a sense that the event has momentum and energy.
Example: A member of our team recently shot the IPO launch party for Coreweave AI at the Standard Hotel in New York. When the live band joined the crowd and performed in the middle of hundreds of people, we made sure to get intimate angles that truly captured the vibe.
5. The Closing Moment that every event reel needs
Every event video reel needs a strong ending. The closing shot could be the final applause, a group shot, a product reveal, or a speaker signing off.
Why it matters: The last shot leaves a lasting impression. It can reinforce the event’s key message, celebrate the outcome, or subtly prompt viewers to take action—like visiting a website, signing up for a newsletter, or following social media channels.
Pro tips for capturing it:
End on high energy or emotion: Make the final shot memorable. Think founders popping a bottle of champagne, or the CEO signing off by delivering a big thank you or words of wisdom on the stage.
Consider your CTA: A simple action (like a shot of your website on screen or a social handle overlay) encourages viewers to continue engaging.
Tie it to your hero moment: Looping back to the opening moment in your event video coverage can give your sizzle reel a satisfying sense of closure.
Example: At the M Factor film screening in Mahwah, New Jersey we captured live event video that ended with everyone who planned the event and was involved with the film, taking a photo in front of a step and repeat and then cheering to celebrate a successful event.
Here’s a look at the event recap video we made for the M Factor x Night of Wellness event.
Bonus Tips for an Engaging Event Video Reel
Plan your shots ahead of time: A shot list can save you from scrambling during the event.
Mix wide, medium, and close-up shots: Visual variety keeps your reel interesting.
Use natural sound and music wisely: Background audio can enhance energy and emotional impact.
Keep it short and punchy: Aim for 15-30 seconds for social media sizzle reels and 60 seconds for a long form event highlight video — often designed for websites, paid media or Linkedin.
Edit with pacing in mind: Cut fast-paced moments with slower ones to maintain viewer attention.
Don’t be afraid to repurpose your live event video coverage: With the right strategy and a team that understands event video marketing, you can turn one night of live event videography into months worth of content.
Read our recent blog that walks you through exactly how we maximize and repurpose our clients’ event video footage to be used on social, web and more.
final Thoughts
Capturing these 5 essential shots for your event reel—the hero moment, crowd reaction, the detail shot, action sequence, and closing—will give your event videography everything it needs to capture your audience, and promote future events.
Still have questions?
Nova House Productions is a leading New York video production company that specializes in live event videography and event recap videos for brands, businesses and corporate productions.
👀 Learn more about our event video production services in New York.
Frequently Asked Questions about Event Reels
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An event reel is a short, highlight-style video that captures the best moments of your event in a fast-paced, engaging format. Think of it as a movie trailer for your event. Quick cuts, upbeat music, and the energy of the day all rolled into a 30–90 second video, depending on the type of event video you choose.
Check out this recent blog where we break down the two most popular types of event videos and help you decide which is best for you.
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Not exactly, but shorter is usually better. There are sizzle reels which are typically designed for social media. They are short teaser style videos of your event and run between 15-30 seconds. Then there’s the longer form event recap video which is typically 45-90 seconds and is meant to tell the full story of your event. These do well on your website, landing pages, on LinkedIn and in paid ads.
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The length and style of your event video really come down to your goals. If you want to capture the full story, go with a longer event recap video. If you’re focused on promoting future events or keeping your audience engaged on social, shorter sizzle reels work best.
Not sure which direction to take? Send us a message, we’ll figure it out together.
