Tips to help you create better videos
1. Eye Candy.
Think about some of your favorite videos, ask yourself, what interesting shots and b-roll need to be captured to make your video entertaining to watch.
2. Good Lighting.
The main difference between amateur and professional videos is the quality of the lighting. Poor lighting creates graininess and poor quality videos too. (*Hint* In most studios, the lights and the cameras can be adjusted up and down to get the correct amount of light.)
For your home studio make use of fluorescent light bulbs. These bulbs produce a nice soft light with no harsh shadows. You can buy fluorescent light kits or you can save a lot of money and make your own fluorescent light box. It is best to use a three point lighting system which is fairly standard in most studios.
3. Tripod.
Use a tripod for shake free shooting. Tripods come in all sizes and quality. Most camcorders used today are only small and weigh very little so there is no need to buy a tripod to suit a heavy professional video camera.
4. Microphone.
The built in microphone on your camcorder is not the best to use if you can avoid it. Buy a directional one that can be mounted on top of your camcorder. Otherwise mount the microphone on a boom or support just out of view of the camcorder but close to the subject. Another option is to use a microphone that clips onto your lapel and as used by newsreaders on television. These are very effective and can be purchased for less than $50. No need to buy a wireless unit, but you need enough cable to run from the camcorder remote microphone, up the inside of your shirt and to your lapel. Bear in mind that you will normally be seated within six feet of the camcorder so the microphone should have plenty of cable.
5. Avoid Zooming and Panning.
Avoid zooming in and out and panning from side to side as much as possible. It is recommended that you set the zoom prior to recording.
6. Pre-Roll and Post-Roll.
Allow a few extra seconds after starting and before stopping the camcorder and the actual start and finish of the action you want to record. This allows for better editing once the shooting is over. Not allowing for the pre-roll and post-roll can make editing difficult. If you are filming yourself then start the camcorder recording with the remote control, wait six seconds before you start talking and at the end let the camcorder run an extra six seconds before stopping. This will give you plenty of time when editing.
7. Remember It is A Small Screen.
When shooting videos to add to your web site, normally the player will be 320 x 240 so avoid wide scenes, keep it close to see the detail. If you are filming yourself talking, you should be within six feet of the camera and preferably from the waist up. Keep the content simple and uncomplicated, do not have much happening in the video and keep it quiet-on-the-set.
8. Think Like a Photographer.
When shooting a video, do it like a photographer taking individual shots. Plan your video shoot, record for a short while from one position then stop recording, reposition the camera or yourself then shoot again. This will reduce excessive camera movement in your video.
Using these tips will ensure that you can shoot and produce quality website videos of a better quality than most people. Remember, practice makes perfect and soon you will be getting great results on the first take.
9. Look at the Details.
Sometimes, you are so focused on your subject that you do not notice the surrounding elements of the scene. Only later, when you are reviewing the footage do you notice an unsightly trash can in the background or a tree sticking out of your subjects head.
I like to scan the video screen carefully before shooting to make sure there is nothing in the shot that I may have overlooked. You may be surprised what you find!
Use our search feature, at the top of the page, to find videos about your favorite topics. There are tons of videos, for example, type in "Bikini contest", "Body building", "Guitar lesson", or "How to (anything)". Search for "Commercial", you will see cool ads and funny commercials. Notice the video techniques used to capture each video, you may very well find many helpful tips and tricks to use as well as many techniques to avoid when making your own videos... have fun.
Ron Paul '08
Ron Paul '08
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