Video Production Guidelines
Anyone is encouraged to post content on VidSF. Videos that meet our guidelines will be featured on the front page.
Featured videos are local, relevant, and quick with clear context. They follow a reasonable code of ethics.
Local and Relevant
Your video content should be directly relevant to the community of San Francisco or, even better, directly relevant to your local City neighborhood.
Quick
We recommend your videos last 3 minutes or less.
Clear Context
Clearly include context about your video — who, what, when, where, why.
Assume viewers are only moderately familiar with the City, as if they’ve lived here for about a year.
Objective or Indicate Opinion
Present your video objectively or clearly state your video as an opinion piece.
Code of Ethics
Videos should follow the National Press Photographers Association Code of Ethics.
Maintaining a code of ethics is important to avoiding liability for libel. Read more about LiabilityProtection.
Tips
- Join our team! We gather VidSF videographers to meet in real life — flesh and blood — each week to offer feedback, support and to brainstorm new content. If you’re uploading a video, you’re qualified.
- Enjoy this experience! Report on things that make you smile. Report on issues that matter to you. Report on the people that make your neighborhood home.
- Don’t worry about making the perfect video. We want you to explore your local community through video, not win production quality awards.
- Iterate and improve. Produce lots of quick projects, don’t spend too much time on one.
