Making The Game Easier, Sports Videography Tips: How to Stop Overshooting Video (Shoot Less, Get Better Footage).

There’s a habit that sneaks into almost every videographer’s workflow at some point: overshooting. More clips, more angles, more “just in case” footage. On the surface, it feels like you’re protecting yourself. In reality it usually leads to slower edits, weaker storytelling, and a final product that feels scattered instead of intentional.

I’ve come to see filming through two very different philosophies. The first is simple: you put the bullseye up before you shoot. You know what the video will be about, what moments matter, and what shots are actually needed to tell that story. Every time you hit record, you’re aiming at something specific. You’re in a sense making decisions with the end result already in mind.

The second approach is where most overshooting happens. Instead of starting with a target, you just start filming anything that looks good. Nice lighting, interesting movement, a cool angle? You grab it ALL. Then later, in the edit, you try to build a story out of whatever you ended up with. In other words, you take a bunch of shots first and then place the bullseye wherever the footage happens to cluster. You are, for lack of a better word, hoping. The problem is that good-looking shots don’t automatically mean useful shots. A clip can be technically perfect and still do nothing for the story.

This is where overshooting starts to hurt you. Editing becomes a grind because you’re digging through piles of footage trying to justify why something should be included. I have been in this exact spot; scrolling through HUNDREDS of clips in Davinci Resolve from ONE softball game. Whenever this happened, I didn't feel like I was building a story but instead I was searching and praying for one. Whatever story is made gets diluted because you start including shots simply because they look good, not because they move anything forward. Too many options lead to worse choices, not better ones. And without realizing it, you begin shooting for your own satisfaction instead of for the final piece.

I have found that the shift is understanding that not every good shot is a valuable shot. The value of a clip isn’t in how cinematic it looks, but in what it actually does. Does it move the story forward? Does it reveal something new? Does it reinforce a key moment? If it doesn’t, it probably doesn’t belong, no matter how much you like it.

Stopping overshooting doesn’t mean becoming rigid. It just means having a filter for yourself. You don’t need a full script every time, but you should know the core message of the video and the key moments you need to capture. If you can’t clearly explain what the video is about, you’re almost guaranteed to overshoot because you don’t have a target to aim at.

In my experience, a lot of overshooting also comes from fear. For example the fear of missing something or not having enough coverage. But shooting everything isn’t a real solution. It just pushes the problem into the edit. Instead, you have to trust your plan and let shots earn their place. Before you hit record, it’s worth asking where that clip fits in the final video. If you can’t answer that, it’s usually a sign you don’t need it.

There’s also something to be said for constraints. Limiting the number of shots you take forces you to think more critically and shoot more intentionally. You become more aware of composition, timing, and purpose because you’re not relying on volume to carry you through. Fewer shots, when chosen well, will always outperform a pile of random footage.