Camcorder Techniques: How To Make Home Movies Your Family And Friends Will Be Excited To Watch
Pre-Production:
It's all got to start somewhere, so before you even charge your batteries, rewind those tapes or pack the car, take a seat and have a good think about what you are planning to shoot with your camcorder. 'Planning is the key' to a good production even if you're just shooting a small home movie.
It may sound like overkill if you head out the door to film your children at a sporting event or a family birthday party, but if you are planning to display the video to family and friends or even review it yourself for extended lengths of time, you will want AND need it to be as compelling as possible.
Now if you're filming a longer feature or being paid for a project, pre-production planning is essential. Both in streamlining the production phase of the project and displaying a professional image for your business. This is done by using basic filming techniques.
This may consist of sketching up a storyboard (to download a sample go to www.kmsvideo.com/Resources.htm), detailed notes or an interview/information session with the client.
"But I just want to shoot a home movie, not a production of Ben Hur!" I hear you say. OK then, let's bring it back to basics shall we?
First of all any video you take needs to have a beginning, a middle and an end. Simple as that!
Now, say you were to tell people at work on Monday morning an interesting event that happened on the weekend. How would you go about it? A bit of background information, then the main 'body' of the event and close it off with a punchline or resolution. You're telling a STORY.
Now go out with your video camera and- "Tell a Story on Film". Still unclear?
Here's a practical example... Timmy's first soccer final is on Saturday. It's a big occasion so you are going to capture it on video. Using our basic formula lets make it into a compelling story-
Beginning:
Open with a shot of the alarm clock, Timmy packing his bag, having breakfast then climbing into the car. All less than 5 seconds duration and if your camera has the function, set it to fade in and out to black.
Middle:
The team runs onto the field. Shots of Timmy chasing, dribbling and passing the ball at warm-up. Get the opening whistle and kick off, then move around the field for various angles and shots of Timmy. Film the coaches address to his players at half time followed by more game footage.
End:
Ref blows the full-time whistle and you video the teams shaking hands and walking off the field. Finally, close the video with a shot of our star and maybe a few words.
That's it! A very simplified version so here's a few tips to remember- >
- Don't just keep the camera rolling in the hope that something interesting will happen
- move around so you're not always filming from the one spot
- use close-ups and wide shots alternatively
- don't talk over the footage, let the pictures tell the story
Now with a bit of pre-planning and good camcorder and filming techniques, you'll Have friends and family lining up to watch your home movies!
Mark Sturge is the owner of KMS Productions and webmaster at http://www.video-production-mastery.com A site where visitors can find information, training videos and manuals that help people to better their camcorder techniques or discover ways to earn an income from their video taking hobby.
 Google News Updated : Sun, 06 Jul 2008 00:55:15 GMT Jesse Helms, former senator, conservative icon, dies - Newsday
Newsday - Jesse Helms, the former five-term US senator from North Carolina whose relish for thwarting initiatives he opposed as too liberal earned him the nickname "Senator No," died Friday at age 86. Video: A Look Back At Jesse Helms NC Senator's Hard-Line Conservatism Helped Craft Republican Social ... Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 21:58:21 GMT SAfrica's Mbeki meets Zimbabwe's Mugabe - Reuters Reuters - By MacDonald Dzirutwe HARARE, July 5 (Reuters) - South African President Thabo Mbeki met Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe on Saturday to try to help end a political crisis after a violent election that extended Mugabe's 28-year rule. Germany's Merkel hopes for African leaders' support on Zimbabwe ... South African president arrives in Zimbabwe Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 23:04:03 GMT Argentine Lower House Passes Grain Export-Tax Plan (Update3) - Bloomberg
Bloomberg - By Eliana Raszewski July 5 (Bloomberg) -- Argentina's lower house of congress approved the government's plan to increase taxes on exports of grains and oilseeds, risking a resumption of three months of strikes by farmers. Export Tax That Angers Farmers Advances in Argentina Argentina lawmakers approve farm export tax hike Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:41:30 GMT A Side Competition in Beijing: Island vs. Mainland - New York Times
New York Times - The Taiwanese Olympic table tennis team practicing at Kaohsiung. Taiwanese players have hopes of winning medals next month in a sport China has dominated. Taiwan media, business people welcome charter flights, mainland ... South Africa: Country Should Take Heed of Taiwan's Errors Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 16:16:20 GMT Obama mixes holiday and politics in Montana - Reuters
Reuters - By John Whitesides, Political Correspondent BUTTE, Montana (Reuters) - Democrat Barack Obama mixed presidential politics with parades and barbecue on Independence Day on Friday, celebrating his daughter's birthday with a picnic and fireworks in Montana ... Play of the Day: Malia Obama's "best birthday" On the Road: Montana Outtakes Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 20:13:58 GMT California's priority wildfire in check -- for now - Reuters
Reuters - By Jim Christie SAN FRANCISCO, July 5 (Reuters) - Firefighters in California have fended off a blaze threatening more than 3000 homes in and around the coastal town of Goleta and are turning their attention to preventing its spread toward the nearby ... Video: Wind Keeps California Wildfires Raging California's Wildfires Have Scorched 527000 Acres (Update3) Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 22:04:28 GMT France's Sarkozy Questions If ECB Rate Increase `Reasonable' - Bloomberg Bloomberg - By Simon Kennedy July 5 (Bloomberg) -- French President Nicolas Sarkozy recommenced his criticism of the European Central Bank today, asking it was ``reasonable'' for it to have raised the region's key interest rate this past week. Fighting Inflation, Europeans Raise Rate Euro flat after post-ECB dip Publ.Date : Sat, 05 Jul 2008 18:50:48 GMT Increase Search Engine Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... The digital camera is essentially a computer-based device, whose core... Read More The most important part of buying a digital camera is... Read More Being a professional digital photographer is a dream many people... Read More Most serious photographers and all professionals use a Single Lens... Read More Your wedding day is without a doubt one of the... Read More Did you know that in many cases digital photos are... Read More While analyzing any camera, one of the most important qualities... Read More Understanding light is one of the very basic principles of... Read More Anyone with the right camera equipment, and the necessary skills... Read More Quite often I will have clients bring in old photographs... Read More Disposable digital and film cameras (also called single-use cameras) provide... Read More Photography is a vast world. There are many different types... Read More Good wildlife camera equipment on safari can make the difference... Read More ContentEven if you feel that you already know what kind... Read More Photography comes from the Greek words meaning "light writing" and... Read More Started in a single-room by three Japanese men in the... Read More Candid photography is photography that focuses on spontaneity rather than... Read More George Eastman, founder of Kodak is world renowned today. Digital... Read More Setting up your own photography business it easy, you don't... Read More Choosing a digital camera can be a daunting task with... Read More While digital photography offers you the ability to review photograph... Read More Digital Camera Basics? The VocabularyShopping for a digital camera can... Read More Disposable cameras are cheap and easy to use. If you... Read More Sony was the first company to introduce digital cameras into... Read More There are a large number of digital camera accessories available... Read More
Adsense
websites
Digital Camera Memory - An Introduction
The Beginner Buyers Guide To Digital Cameras, Or The Ins And Outs Of Megapixels
How To Become A Digital Photography Pro
Understanding Digital Photography
Weddings, From a Photographers Point of View
Cropping Digital Photos Into Shape
Digital Cameras & Resolution
Basics of Photography
Start Your Own Photography Business from Home
Sepia Toned Prints from Your Colour or Black and White Photos ? 5 Minute Digital Fix
Disposable Underwater Cameras
Freelance Photography: How to Begin Your Career
The Best Wildlife Camera To Take On Safari
Photography 101 Part 3
Photography: The Basics
Canon Digital Camera - from Humble Beginnings to World Class Company
Candid Photography
Kodak Digital Cameras - The Giant Comes To Digital
Market Your Photography Business
Buying the Best Digital Camera for Your Needs
Your Mobile Digital Darkroom ? Five Tools of the Trade
Digital Camera Basics
The Benefits of Disposable Cameras
Sony Digital Cameras - Always On The Innovation Frontier
Stock Your Kit with Digital Camera Accessories
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
Is your Digital Camera Compatible With Your Computer?
So you recently bought a digital camera or perhaps your... Read More
Video Camcorder Formats and Media
There are way too many tape, disk and stick formats... Read More
Digital Camera Memory Cards
A digital camera accessory you should purchase is a spare... Read More
How To Reduce Red Eye The Easy Way With Any Pro Or Point & Shot Camera
There is one simple technique any body can do to... Read More
Black and White is Beautiful
Think about Laurel and Hardy for a moment, or Charlie... Read More
Photography Has No Gender
Women photographers are fortunate. Unlike other titles, photographer has no... Read More
7 Things You Must Do If You Want To Make That Perfect Camera Shot
Saturate yourself with your subject and the camera will all... Read More
The Truth About Pixels, Part 2-1: Printing 4x3 Inch Photos
Why is a 3 megapixel camera better than a 1... Read More
Sony Digital Cameras - Always On The Innovation Frontier
Sony was the first company to introduce digital cameras into... Read More
Using a Camcorder to Record Family Events Quickly and Easily
Let's start there (but not spend too much time on... Read More
Tips for Purchasing a Digital Camera Lens
Your lens is an essential element to good photographs. It's... Read More
Digital SLR Camera versus a Compact Digital Camera
Digital Single Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras are excellent cameras that... Read More
Creating Printable Photo Greeting Cards
STAY CONNECTED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.Making your own digital photo... Read More
Olympus Digital Cameras - Digging Into The History
One of the oldest companies, Olympus has had a long... Read More
Photography 101 Part 1
Photography 101 Part One Equipment: camera, meter, flash, tripod This... Read More
Fuji Digital Cameras
Fuji digital cameras entered the market in the late 90's.... Read More
Photo Equipment Lists
You arrive at your photo shoot excited about the images... Read More
Weddings, From a Photographers Point of View
Your wedding day is without a doubt one of the... Read More
The Naked Truth on Shooting Nudes
There are major obstacles to overcome to get into nude... Read More
Start Up a Travel Photography Business
Too many people have the idea that being paid to... Read More
Infrared Photography and the Car Thief ? Successful Digital Imaging
Infrared photography is sometimes placed on the outside edge of... Read More
10 Things You Can Do to Protect Your Photographs from Infringement
While it would be nice to live in a house... Read More
Nikon Digital Cameras - Cool(pix) and Functional
Even though Nikon entered the camera world by 1948, today... Read More
Where to Find Cheap Disposable Cameras
There are many kinds of disposable cameras. All disposable cameras... Read More
Transfer The Digital Camera Images To Your Computer
There are a few very important tasks associated with using... Read More
Photography |