( CNN ) -- Video storytelling can be a very powerful thing . Moving images coupled with compelling sound can transport a viewer to a different place , inside the story . To achieve this level of storytelling you must be a technically sound shooter . Here are the basic tools and tips needed to become a great video storyteller . Have a plan . Before you actually start shooting , be sure you have a game plan . Think about your subject and what kind of shots you need to best tell the story . Thinking ahead will help you avoid being overwhelmed when you start shooting . Also , be sure to think about your equipment ahead of time . Be sure to have enough charged batteries and spare memory . There 's nothing worse than setting up a shoot only to realize you 're out of juice . Do n't forget about composition . One thing that is easy to lose sight of during a fast-paced news gathering shoot is composition . This can result in bland , forgettable material . Thoughtful shot composition can really make your footage stand out . Generally , it is boring to just center the subject of your shot , so instead , use the rule of thirds . Pretend your frame has evenly spaced lines running throughout it , two horizontally and two vertically . The points where the lines intersect are where you want to have the most important elements of the shot . If your shot seems boring , try to get up high or down low . Presenting your viewer with an alternative to the shoulder/tripod-height view will help create a more dynamic shot . And do n't forget to be creative ! Think about what angle a person would not normally see and see how it looks through your camera . Have a focal point . Each shot should have something for the viewer to focus on or else the viewer will focus on nothing . Use the rule of thirds to decide where to put this focal point in your frame . Capture action . It is very important to capture action in your shots , but do n't get sucked into following every movement . Allow your subjects to move in and out of the frame , as this gives a much better sense of motion . Get a variety of shots . Always make sure you have the following shots : wide shots to set the scene , medium to give context and to tell the basic story , and tight shots to give details that the viewer would n't normally see . Once you have a variety of shots of different scenes , you can start telling a cohesive visual story . Stabilize EVERY shot . Train yourself to always use a tripod or monopod when shooting . Shaky footage can totally distract the view from an otherwise great shot . This takes discipline and tripods can be cumbersome , but your material will improve greatly if stabilized . Limit camera moves . Zooms , pans and tilts . When done carefully and deliberately they can be OK , but most of they time they distract from what should be the focal point of the shot : the action . Pay attention to light . Light is your friend . Beautiful light during the golden hour ( first and last hour of sunlight during the day ) will be warm and soft , shooting at that time of day will make footage pop . Be aware of light . You can use it to silhouette your subject or create a nice rim light effect . Also look out for low light situations and try to have an external source of light if possible . Hold your shots . Try to hold your shots for at least five seconds , this will make life-in-edit much easier , and do n't talk while holding these shots ! Do n't forget about audio . Poor audio can kill video . Always use an external mic when possible . If you ca n't , be sure to find a very quiet place to conduct your interviews . Use manual settings as much as possible . Yes , there are a lot of buttons and features on your camera . Learn them and use them ! Manual controls are much more reliable and give you total control over your shots , more than any auto features your camera may have . Practice , practice , practice . Like most things in life , the only way to become a better shooter is to practice . The more you shoot , the more comfortable you will become with your camera so you can focus less on camera settings and more on getting those perfect shots . For more tips on capturing video , check out last year 's boot camp piece on shooting video . Then show us your video skills in this week 's boot camp challenge on capturing images . Submissions are due Tuesday , September 6 , at noon ET . Until then , if you have any questions , feel free to ask in the comments section , or join us for a round-table discussion of this iReport Boot Camp topic on Thursday , September 8 .
CNN 's iReport Boot Camp challenges iReporters to improve storytelling chops . CNN 's Nick Scott shares his advice on capturing video . Show us your video skills by September 6 .