Why Kids and Animals are Worth the Effort

My camera was nearly nibbled by an alpaca. And a couple weeks later, a toddler almost caught hold of the lens. The unpredictability of kids and animals makes them extremely difficult to film, but it is always worth the effort. Videos with kids and/or animals in them consistently get more views than videos with adults. I think people love watching our tiny and furry friends because they are so unpredictable, so uninhibited, so full of joy.

#ProTip: Kids and Animals are Video Gold.

If you can make it work for your project, consider crafting a story that would include kids or animals. You will need to allow plenty of extra time for mistakes, breaks, and retakes. Have someone (or multiple people) on hand that the child or animal is familiar with to calm their nerves and coax them into doing what needs to happen. You’ll likely need a full videography crew to help capture the shot – because it might not happen again! – and they should have lightweight equipment that is easily moved and adaptable. The final project will be worth the effort. But don’t take my word for it – watch our alpaca video or the video with the toddler.

Katie Rutter is the executive producer of Thing in a Pot Productions. She has received multiple awards for her videos and the overall quality of her work, including being honored as Video Producer of the Year in 2018 by the Catholic Press Association. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive our video Pro Tips in your inbox every month!