If you just bought a new video camera, the following tips will help you get the most out of your video experience. If you have been shooting for a while, there are several advanced tips as well.
If your camcorder uses tape to record, do not use Long Play, or LP. While you get more video for less tape, it often stretches the tape, and ruins the tape in the long run. Preserving your footage should be the most important long-term goal. Keeping your video in a cool dark place will help it last longer. A good place to keep it is the closet.
Murphy's law has never been more true than when you are getting ready to film something important like your child's performance. Always carry 2 to 3 extra batteries, because your main battery will go flat at the worst possible time.
Don't use the camera built-in special effects. If the core footage is shot with special effects, you can not remove it later. If it is shot in normal mode, you can experiment with the special effects of post production software.
Whenever possible use a tripod. Your hand is not as stable as a tripod, and will result in jerky video that is hard to watch. In some cases, it may make your audience sick to their stomach.
Always set your white balance before you shoot. Most camera manuals will walk you through the process, but keep a piece of white paper in your camera bag. Before your shoot, put the paper about a foot or two in front of the camera, and press the white balance button. This will set the camera to recognize what is true white, and will help your video not look yellow.
The biggest video mistake people make is constantly panning and zooming. Be conscious when making adjustments, don't zoom or pan without a reason. Take a solid shot of your subject via a tripod and leave it there for 10-20 seconds. The only time to zoom or pan is when making a cut to clip, NOT during the subject matter being filmed. If you are going to zoom, move the camera, do not use the built-in digital zoom. When you are panning and zooming, use slow and smooth motions. This will make your home videos much more watchable.
If your camcorder uses tape to record, do not use Long Play, or LP. While you get more video for less tape, it often stretches the tape, and ruins the tape in the long run. Preserving your footage should be the most important long-term goal. Keeping your video in a cool dark place will help it last longer. A good place to keep it is the closet.
Murphy's law has never been more true than when you are getting ready to film something important like your child's performance. Always carry 2 to 3 extra batteries, because your main battery will go flat at the worst possible time.
Don't use the camera built-in special effects. If the core footage is shot with special effects, you can not remove it later. If it is shot in normal mode, you can experiment with the special effects of post production software.
Whenever possible use a tripod. Your hand is not as stable as a tripod, and will result in jerky video that is hard to watch. In some cases, it may make your audience sick to their stomach.
Always set your white balance before you shoot. Most camera manuals will walk you through the process, but keep a piece of white paper in your camera bag. Before your shoot, put the paper about a foot or two in front of the camera, and press the white balance button. This will set the camera to recognize what is true white, and will help your video not look yellow.
The biggest video mistake people make is constantly panning and zooming. Be conscious when making adjustments, don't zoom or pan without a reason. Take a solid shot of your subject via a tripod and leave it there for 10-20 seconds. The only time to zoom or pan is when making a cut to clip, NOT during the subject matter being filmed. If you are going to zoom, move the camera, do not use the built-in digital zoom. When you are panning and zooming, use slow and smooth motions. This will make your home videos much more watchable.
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