Filming Guide: How to Know What You’re Creating While You’re Still in the Moment
Maybe you can relate. Some of the best content comes when you’re out and about and you feel compelled to make something on the fly. That instinct is real. And it’s one every creator should trust. When you feel activated by something, when a moment hits you, pull out your camera and record it.
The confusion often comes when you embrace spontaneous creativity without much advance planning. That's not a bad thing. But it is helpful to have a mental menu of different video formats to choose from. This way, you're not just capturing footage aimlessly, unsure of your north star or where your video is headed.
When you're capturing footage, you're building the video you'll edit later—in real time. Even if you don't realize it yet. The more clearly you understand what kind of video you're creating while filming, the better your footage will be for the edit.
This post is your quick guide to those formats: what they are, when to use them, and how to choose on the fly.
Why Your Content May Feel Awkward (Even When the Footage Is Good)
Most clunky videos don't fail because of bad clips. They fail because the creator didn't decide what the video was until after filming.
If you don’t know:
whether you’re making a vlog
a montage
a single clip
or a reflective piece
your footage will feel disjointed. Your content needs direction.
Your Quick “In-The-Moment” Video Menu
You only need a few formats to make confident decisions while filming.
1. The Clip
This is for tiny, beautiful, specific moments that become aesthetic through music:
carrying groceries inside
turning on the Christmas lights
coffee on the counter in morning light
These almost always work best paired with music to elevate the moment and give it feeling without needing any explanation. There’s no formal beginning or ending here — just a snapshot set to sound.
Mental cue: This is just a moment.
2. The Montage
Many small moments stitched into a single mood.
This is your go-to when:
nothing big is happening
but the feeling/vibe is strong
These usually live under music, with no talking required.
Perfect for:
Saturday morning farmers market or “Sunday reset routine”
Organizing the pantry, rearranging the living room, watering plants
decorating for a dinner party, seasonal porch refresh, setting up a cozy reading nook
folding warm laundry from the dryer, morning walk with the dogs before work, making a pour-over while the house is still quiet
Mental cue: This is a feeling, not a story.
3. The Vlog (Original Audio + Music)
A story that moves through time.
Use this only when there is a clear sequence:
before → during → after
leaving → doing → coming home
A simple structure keeps it from feeling clunky:
Start with orientation: where you are, what day it is, what’s happening
Middle: a few real-time beats, tension, plot twists
End: a soft landing (back home, a reflection, or quiet movement)
If a video feels clunky, it’s often because it started in the middle without context.
Mental cue: This has a timeline.
4. The Vlog II (Original Audio Only)
Real interaction as the backbone of the video.
This works beautifully when:
something is actually unfolding in real time
there’s laughter, tension, decision-making, or connection
conversations happening in real time
It doesn’t work when nothing is happening — and that’s okay. You don’t have to force this format.
Mental cue: Something real is unfolding right now.
5. Talk-to-Camera or “Talking Head” Video
The anchor.
Use this when:
the meaning matters more than the visuals
you need to explain what’s happening
you’re processing something in real time
Even 10 seconds of direct framing can transform an entire video.
Mental cue: This needs context.
6. The Voiceover
Your voice narrating clips, usually paired with music.
This is your best catch-all format for when you have a lot of random footage.
You lay down music for mood, then use your voice to:
give context
create cohesion
tell the story after the fact
It’s perfect when:
the footage was captured over different days
the moments don’t follow a linear timeline (or do!)
you didn’t fully know what you were making while filming
The voiceover becomes the thread that ties everything together.
This format is especially powerful because it lets you make meaning in retrospect. You don’t have to know the story in the moment, you can discover it later in the edit.
Mental cue: I have the footage. Now I’ll find the story.
The Three Questions to Ask Before You Film
When you pull out your phone, ask yourself:
Is something unfolding over time?
If yes → vlog.
If no → montage or clip.
Am I showing a feeling or a sequence?
Feeling → montage.
Sequence → vlog.
Does this need explanation to make sense?
If yes → add talk-to-camera.
These three questions alone will clean up 90% of on-the-fly content confusion.
The Takeaway
Spontaneous creativity is about instinct. Trust it. But pairing instinct with a few simple mental structures will make your content feel clearer, cleaner, and more intentional — without killing the magic of the moment.
You don’t need a full plan. You just need to know what you’re making while you’re making it.
If you want more guidance like this—plus monthly calls, challenges, support, and feedback to help you become a clearer and more confident creator, join us inside Personal Brand Accelerator. It’s where creators sharpen their skills, stay accountable, and grow with a community that gets it.
