Capturing Live Footage
Using the camera and lens you have, you likely have a dial that changes your settings to ‘video mode’. You’ll need to check for your specific camera where that is and how to use it, but usually it’s an easy flick of a switch and your settings automatically adjust over from still photos to video.
If you find that you love it, then you can make purchases, but for now, as long as your camera offers video, use that for this project.
Planning for Video
Identify the goal + purpose | Like in photography, it’s beneficial to have a goal in storytelling. Are you shooting a specific subject, to showcase an event, to capture light, or tell a story? Think of what your intent is before you begin.
Make a list of stories you’d like to tell | As you begin preparing to capture video, think of ideas that you’d like to shoot for. This helps create that structure for your goals.
Note what attracts you in films | What sort of scenes are you drawn to in films? Do you like the moody indoors, golden light outside, simple how-to style, a lot of people or none at all, plenty of movement?
Be realistic | You’re just starting. You can’t capture it all and you likely can’t make an award winning film right away.
Be flexible | Take footage when you have the time. Know that it will take longer than composing a still image.
Don’t be afraid of making mistakes | Learning a new art is challenging for everyone. You are going to make mistakes. As much as I enjoy capturing little film clips, I’m still learning and make plenty of mistakes
Plan for the hard drive space to back up your footage | Videos naturally take up more space and you’ll need to plan for the space to save your raw footage, then your final edits. If you aren’t using an external hard drive, now is the time (Costco has great options).
Taking Footage
Be mindful of movement | While side to side and occasionally up and down are best practice for footage, do NOT rock back and forth or sway.
Overshoot, don’t undershoot | Shoot more than you think you’ll need. It’s better to have too much than not enough.
Don’t use the same clip twice | If you’re out of footage, go re-shoot if you must, or overlay photos, but don’t re-use the same twice.
Don’t use the same style shot back to back | You don’t want to use multiple (or constantly the same) motions over and over, as you can make viewers feel dizzy or visually exhausted.
Use various zoom lengths | Using a mix of focal lengths (micro to macro) to have the most appealing visual experience.
Be mindful of audio | Your audio and added music shouldn’t be so distracting that you lose the viewer.
Don’t overexpose | Until you’re ready to learn video editing software, trust your histogram to get your light data as even as possible (not too bright or dark).
Watch your depth of field | Check that your depth of field isn’t proving to be distracting or difficult to focus while you’re shooting. Most filming is manual focusing, so you’ll want to ensure that you aren’t trying for too shallow dof and too soft of focus.
If you use narrative… | A cinematic approach – Take photos/video of the person who is talking doing the thing they’re talking about, so that you can overlay their actions to their words and it isn’t just that person sitting and talking.
Editing Footage
Limit your clips (around 3 seconds) | You’ll quickly lose attention by having clips that are too long.
Don’t over edit | Just like in photography. You’ll want to keep your footage simple. Take breaks when you’re done and come back later with fresh eyes to review your footage.
Detach your audio | Unless you’re talking to the camera or your audio is intentional, then don’t worry about the noise. It’s a simple step in editing to detach audio, delete it, and overlay with music.
Trial and error | It takes time and practice to get going. If your computer has a free software, use that to get started and play with the settings to figure out the basics.
Use whatever you have | Most computers come with a video editing software already installed, so before investing in anything, play around with what you already have and practice with the clips you’ve filmed.
Copyright free music | Again, as you get started, search for the freebies out there until you’re truly ready for more. There are numerous websites with easy access to copyright free audio clips that are easy to overlay with your video footage.
Ask me any questions you need | This is a month of communicating with one another, asking questions, researching, trial and error, and learning together. Please don’t be afraid of reaching out when it comes to anything you’re experimenting with and might need to talk out.
I can’t wait to see what you come up with!