Video Shooting Tips

Have a variety of shots.

Variety is the spice of life — and good video. Giving yourself a variety of shots makes editing a lot easier. When you shoot, shoot from a variety of angles and distances. If you are shooting someone working at a desk, for example, shoot them from the side, from the back and from the front. Get in close for some shots — extremely close on their hands, for example. Then get a medium shot of the desktop, then a wide shot of the person and the desk. This will give you plenty of different angles for editing.

Shoot an establishing shot.

Your viewer needs to know where he or she is to become at ease with the video and subject. So give the viewer an establishing shot. In the news, this is the shot of the outside of a building where the action is taking place. Signage helps to tell people where you are. If you are in an office, a wide shot helps to establish the space. Shoot from a tripod and give it a few seconds.

Be aware of the light.

Light is the essence of video and photography. Both are really just recordings of light. So be aware of the light, its direction, its intensity, and what it shows and what it’s hiding. If the light is glaring and harsh, use something white to reflect into the shadows so you can see what’s there. If the light is dim, it’s going to look flat and dull. Bring in some lights or open a window.

Remember that color is important. 

Light comes in different colors. Daylight is blue, incandescent (interior) light is orange and fluorescent light is green. All video cameras have a method of “color balancing." Read the manual and figure out how to properly color balance. Color balance means making the light look nice and white no matter what the source. Natural-looking light color is key to professional videos.

Use a microphone.

Camcorders have built-in mics, which do have their uses such as recording background noise at a football game. But in general, the built-in mics make for terrible audio for interviews or anything important. Using an external mic will make all the difference in your audio.

Use pans and zooms with care.

A good use for a zoom is to focus on the subject when they are saying something important, or emphasizing an aspect of a shot, such as the name in a logo. Random panning and zooming is annoying. Motivate your movement by starting when someone passes by. Give a reason for movement.

Before you move, hold for 10 seconds.

After you move, do the same. You’ll be amazed at how often you need that still shot rather than, or in addition to, the movement itself. Giving yourself that extra footage at the beginning and the end of your shot will help you in final editing.

Steady yourself.

Use a tripod or monopod. Handholding, especially with the new DSLRs, is difficult. Shaky video just looks bad, unless you’re a professional who has chosen it for a style. So get a tripod and use it.

Use movement in the frame.

Video is different from photography because you can see movement, so use that. Watch for movement that doesn’t demand moving the camera. Give the eye something to follow.

Look for a great shot.

Look for a great shot to introduce the video and another one to end the video. The “intro” and “outro” set the tone, so watch for the shots that will really count.