Grab extra shots while the camera is already on

Whenever I am already set up to record, I take a few extra minutes to grab background shots I do not need yet, hands typing, a notebook, a walk down the street, a workspace shot. None of it is for today's post. It goes into a folder I pull from later, when I need a cutaway and do not want to set up a whole new shoot for one small clip.

This matters because the setup cost of recording is the expensive part, not the extra minute of filming once the camera is already rolling anyway. Grabbing a few spare shots while everything is already in place is nearly free, and it saves you from scrambling for background footage later when you actually need it.

Try this today: the next time you record anything, spend a couple extra minutes capturing simple background shots you do not have a use for yet. Save them in a labeled folder. The next time you edit a clip that needs a cutaway, check that folder before you set up anything new.