Tips for Better Home Video
Summer is here, and so is vacation time!
Undoubtedly, you’ll take your video camera along. Whether it’s your first trip to Disneyland or your last hurrah before your kids leave the nest, you want to capture and cherish it all. Avoid arriving home to discover your video isn’t what you had hoped for. Try these helpful tips to make your home videos fun to watch and relive those happy memories.
Tell a story.
When you leave on your trip, get a brief shot of getting on the plane, or driving down the road. Capture at least a 10 to 15-second clip of each activity or part of your trip, and at the end of your trip briefly interview each person: how did they like it, what was their favorite part, etc.
Narrate.
Twenty years from now even you may not recognize someone or know how old a child is in the video you’re taking. Don’t be afraid to verbally state who, what, where, & when. Don’t just film, document!
Shorter clips more often.
It’s hard when your kids are so cute not to film them endlessly playing on the slides or eating at the highchair. Avoid later asking yourself why you did that by counting to 10. That’s usually long enough to get the idea – and that’s all you need.
Avoid “Firehosing”
"Firehosing" – panning all over the scene. Plan your shot and use the zoom to compose your shot before you turn on the camera. Also avoid over-use of the zoom. When zooming in or out, zoom slowly and hold the camera steady. Pretend like the camera’s a very full cup of hot coffee.
Get their reaction.
Film the activity, but also get your subject’s reaction – the look on their face when they open the gift, get off the ride, see something for the first time.
Use discretion.
Memory has a wonderful way of forgetting the bad stuff – the complaining, crying, fighting (if you have kids!) As time goes by, our minds tend to filter that out and remember more of the fun and nostalgia – unless, of course, you caught it on tape! Do yourself a favor. Aim the video camera the other way, or pause it when someone’s having a bad moment. You’ll be happy you did.
Be familiar with your equipment.
Bring the manual with you. Practice before you go. You want to be able to turn the camera on and grab a shot in a quick hurry and without having to think about how to operate your camera.
Label it!
When you get home, use those handy sticky labels that come with your tape. It takes little effort and will save you headaches later.
Transfer it!
Photos and video have a wonderful way of refreshing our memory and reinforcing time spent together. Especially if you have kids, have your tape transferred to DVD so you can enjoy it. A good habit to get into is archiving your camcorder tapes onto DVD once a year.
Enjoy your trip, and don’t forget to role with the punches! §