In short
- A fair has many small moments, so choose a few that matter most to the school.
- Name one school contact who tells volunteers, parents and stallholders about the filming.
- Outside stallholders and sponsors are asked, not assumed. Their consent is separate from the school's.
- Plan filming windows around the stage items and key stalls instead of covering everything.
A school fair involves many people, so the camera needs a plan that everyone knows about. Choose what the film is for, name one school contact to speak for it, and ask outside stallholders before the day.
What is the film for?
The answer shapes everything else. Common purposes for a fair or fundraiser:
- A short film to share with the school community afterwards.
- A thank-you to donors, sponsors and volunteers.
- A clip to invite families to next year’s fair.
- A record of a stage performance or prize draw.
You do not need all four. Each one asks for different moments, so pick one or two.
Who needs to know about the filming?
| Group | What they need to know | Who tells them |
|---|---|---|
| Volunteers (teachers, parents) | Crew will be around, and who to ask if they prefer not to appear | School contact |
| Families | A notice at the gate or in the invitation that filming takes place | School office |
| Outside stallholders | Whether they may be filmed, and whether branding may appear | Fair committee, before the day |
| Sponsors | What coverage they can expect, if any was agreed | Fair committee |
| Performers on stage | Which items are recorded in full | Programme lead |
An outside stallholder’s consent is their own. A school cannot give it for them. If a stall prefers not to be shown, we frame around it.
How do we cover so many things at once?
Take the programme and mark what must be caught. For example, the opening speech, the stage items, a prize draw, the busiest food stalls and the closing thank-you. We build filming windows around those moments and use the quieter gaps for atmosphere shots.
The simultaneous coverage planner helps if two things happen at the same time, such as a stage item and a stall demonstration. Where both really matter, a second camera operator can be arranged on request. See multi-camera recording for what that involves. A fair spread over several locations needs more crew, which is what moves the quote most; see how pricing works.
What about children and crowds?
Fairs are busy and children move quickly. In crowded areas we keep to wide and medium shots and avoid following individual children. If the school has pupils who must not appear, give that list to the one school contact so the crew can be told quietly. Our guide on filming areas covers clear boundaries and alternatives.
How do we avoid getting in the way of the fair?
A fair earns money from people stopping at stalls, so the crew must not block them. We stay out of queues, keep cables off walkways and ask stallholders before filming close to their tables. Sound is the hardest part, because music, announcements and crowds overlap. Tell us where the loudest areas will be, and we will plan stage recordings near the sound desk where possible.
If volunteers will also take photos or video for the school’s social pages, agree who films what, so the same moments are not covered twice and nobody is left unsure.
What we confirm for your event
- A stall that prefers not to be filmed is framed around.
- A stage schedule that runs late is covered by adjusting the filming windows.
- Sound near loud stalls and music is recorded close to the sound desk where possible.
- A wet-weather plan changes camera and sound positions, and we adjust to it.
See school event videography for how we work with schools. The event video brief tool is a quick way to write down your answers before you message us.
If you have a rough programme and a sketch of where stalls and stages will be, we can suggest where to film and for how long. Send the date and school and we will check whether we can be there.
WhatsApp us