Photo/video guidelines
How we capture people
At Precis, photography and videography are two sides of the same story. One freezes a moment, the other lets it unfold. Both aim to show who we are and what we believe in: that growth is human, and connection is everything. When we capture people, we want it to feel real, present, and unpolished. These pillars guide how we see, approach, and translate moments into visuals that reflect the warmth, curiosity, and sharpness that define Precis.
Our three content principles
Be present
Every frame begins with awareness. Whether it’s an event or a quiet moment, the photographer must be present. Stay curious. Notice interactions and shifts in energy. Presence allows you to capture people living in the moment.
Seek truth, not perfection
We don’t believe in staged smiles or flawless edits. Real moments, with their quirks and imperfections, tell the truest stories. Focus on honesty over polish. Let natural light fall unevenly and people move. The beauty of our brand lives in the authenticity of unplanned seconds.
Show connection
Precis thrives on people collaborating. Look for eye contact and gestures that show teamwork. Capture the connection between individuals; that’s where warmth meets intellect and our brand comes alive.
Photography guidelines
Most (if not all) content that gets produced with a camera nowadays gets published online in one form or another. Therefore it’s good to keep in mind where the photos or video actually end up down the line. Below is a nifty guide on our most common deliverables.
Keynote speakers
When shooting speakers, we want to showcase connection to the audience and genuine positive emotions. The speaker is on stage to inspire the audience or share exciting news, let’s make the photos and video reflect that.
Look for genuine joyful reactions
Look for reactions showing connection to the crowd
Find angles to show the crowd engaging with the speaker
Use the crowd in the foreground to create depth
Avoid awkward angles
Avoid stale expressions
Avoid eye-contact with camera
Avoid angles that don’t show faces and reactions properly
People at events
Try to move around a lot and focus on capturing moments at the event, find angles that can freeze moments in time. These moments should reflect inspiration, engagement and authenticity. Not every pose need to be perfect, as long as the moment feels authentic.
Look for people connecting
Find creative angles that capture emotion
Find the fun
Look for engagement in the crowd
Beautiful shot, wrong emotion
Avoid alcohol and tobacco
Avoid shooting a crowd without a clear focus on a subject
Avoid negative or awkward reactions
Photography styles
Our photography shows the real people and energy behind Precis. We work with three styles — Life at Precis for authentic everyday moments, People shots for clean and consistent portraits, and Editorial for more composed imagery used in storytelling and press.
Life at Precis
Capture people in their element: collaborating, creating, connecting. Focus on genuine moments, emotions and interactions that show the real energy of life at Precis. Skip the staged setups and let authenticity lead the shot.
Natural over perfect - avoid ring lights and cool studio tones.
Use daylight through windows, open offices, soft reflections. Add lights when needed.
People shots
Portraits should feel natural and approachable. Frame from the chest up, keeping the focus on the person’s face and expression. Use soft or natural light for a clean, consistent look, and choose backgrounds with a splash of colour to add warmth and character while keeping the subject in focus.
1 large key light + rim light
Have fun with poses, we’re not doing school photography here.
Natural light + soft key light
Editorial
Editorial shots are about storytelling. These images often support articles, interviews or press features, so it’s fine for them to feel more posed. Photograph the subject in a setting that connects to the story, and experiment with light and mood, from natural tones to more dramatic contrasts when the narrative calls for it.
Explore going wide if it fits the story
2 large keylights and darker shadows for dramatic effect
Natural light + soft key light for softer effect
Shot list
A shot list helps you plan and prepare for a smooth shoot. Use it to make sure you have the right gear and to capture the moments that matter. Below are some of the shots we usually look for.
Featured speaker: A happy or engaged speaker in the middle of the shot.
Connection shot: People connecting and enjoying themselves.
Abstract closeup: Great shot with space for graphics, using foreground objects for depth.
Food shot: Don’t forget about capturing delicious treats.
Crowd closeup: Great shot showcasing of one person's reaction amid the crowd.
Portrait: Great shot type to use for capturing a single person winning an award or similar.
Activity shot: Use this shot for activities participants can connect around.
Video guidelines
Video has become one of the most powerful ways to bring our brand to life. From social clips to larger productions, each piece should reflect our tone, quality, and attention to detail. Below you’ll find guidance on editing, grading, and maintaining a consistent look and feel - plus notes on music and sound design to complete the experience.
Editing
Every edit should have intent. If an effect doesn’t add meaning or enhance the story, leave it out. Film burns, grain and overlays can be used, but only in moderation. Aim to capture the best possible shot in-camera, and use effects only when they serve a clear purpose.
Slow motion
Use slow motion to capture fast moving scenes, just remember to shoot in a higher frame rate to ensure things are smooth.
Motion graphics
Cut to moving assets to explain complex topics or concepts. Remember to ease your keyframes and that less is more.
Overlays
Film burns and other overlays work great to add some extra flair to transitions. Use with care, maybe once or twice in the cut.
Grade
The same principle of getting as good of an image in-camera as possible also applies to grade. When grading an image, always keep in mind that we want a natural look and nothing too stylised. In the instances of when a shot looks off in its colours, always aim to bring back a natural and neutral look. We’re not doing sepia filters over here.
Soft & cool
Muted teal and green hues give a calm, modern tone. Low contrast and light desaturation keep it soft and clean.
Watch full videoCool & clean
Cool blue and grey tones bring a crisp, modern feel. Natural skin tones and gentle contrast keep it simple and clear.
Watch full videoWarm & natural
Subtle amber and brown tones give a soft, natural warmth. Balanced contrast and true skin tones keep it clean and realistic.
Watch full videoSoft bloom
Warm amber tones with gentle bloom add softness. Balanced shadows and detail create a calm, cinematic mood.
Watch full videoWarm teal
Teal shadows and orange warmth blend evenly. Natural skin and smooth contrast give a rich, cinematic tone.
Watch full videoNeutral cool
Cool greys and soft light create a clean look. True skin tones and subtle depth keep it calm and neutral.
Watch full videoMusic & SFX
Music is a cornerstone of a video, we all know that. The songs we pick sets the tone of the overall video and can be quite tedious work if not specified beforehand. To better help you see what reflects Precis, review the guidelines below and peak into the music library of previous used songs for real examples.
Our top genres
Pop
This genre usually works well for events with high tempo cuts and lots of people. Think videos with that “yay-factor”.
Funk
Funk is great for capturing a retro vibe, especially for internal events or employee spotlights. This genre also work well for explainer videos.
Hip-hop
If everything fails, hip-hop prevails. Jokes aside, hip-hop is such a vast genre but in contrast to pop picking a good beat can really make your video feel less corporate and more authentic.
Our top moods
Happy
Using happy to filter on the genres above is great to get upbeat songs that aren’t too fast nor too boring.
Hopeful
Filter on hopeful moods if you’re looking for something slightly more inspirational.
Laidback
Laidback works great if you’re trying to find that perfect lo-fi beat or.. you guessed it. A more laidback song.
Most used SFX
Shwooshes
Explore adding swooshes to fast-paced cuts for extra depth. Be careful though, don’t let the effect drown out the rest of the audio.
Risers
Adding risers are great for getting tension in between cuts and intros.
Ambient
Sometimes a cut with just a song can feel just a bit flat. We love to add ambient sounds to fill out the soundscape a little bit more. Think crowds, parks or even just the ocean from afar.
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