Getting Started with Videography
Are you ready to take a step up from making videos on your smartphone? Maybe you want to create better quality home movies—or perhaps you would just like to step up your game on YouTube or Vine. Regardless, you need to know how to get started. Follow these beginner's tips and you will be well on your way to shooting videos like a pro.
Get the right equipment.
You don't have to spend a fortune on professional equipment in order to make great videos. But, you will need to have some basic equipment:
Are you ready to take a step up from making videos on your smartphone? Maybe you want to create better quality home movies—or perhaps you would just like to step up your game on YouTube or Vine. Regardless, you need to know how to get started. Follow these beginner's tips and you will be well on your way to shooting videos like a pro.
Get the right equipment.
You don't have to spend a fortune on professional equipment in order to make great videos. But, you will need to have some basic equipment:
- DSLR Camera – This type of camera will give you much better picture quality and many newer models shoot video. Plus, DSLR's offer incredible versatility because you can outfit them with a large range of lenses. Choose the best DSLR in your budget and be sure to get any necessary accessories, such as extra batteries and memory cards.
- Tripod – Mounting your camera on an adjustable photo tripod will give your videos a movie quality by providing stability and offering different filming angles.
- Wireless External Microphone – Your camera's onboard microphone will capture some ambient noise, so use a wireless microphone to get better audio from your subject.
- External Lighting – A basic three-point lighting kit that includes a key light, a fill light, and a back light will help you get the level of brightness and warmth you want for your video.
- Editing Software – Choose a program that has the features you want, such as drag-and-drop functionality and the ability to share videos to social media websites.
Get familiar with filming methods.
Professional videos are shot from various angles and distances. Give your videos more of a movie-like quality by following these tips:
When you are first starting out, try filming anything you can in order to gain practical experience. Keep your camera with you so that you can capture the action at any time. Be prepared to discard most of what you film in the beginning; it takes a great deal of practice to create a good video. But, with enough practice, anyone can master the art of videography.
Professional videos are shot from various angles and distances. Give your videos more of a movie-like quality by following these tips:
- Follow the 10-second rule of recording by making sure that each film segment is at least 10 seconds long. Switching scenes too quickly will give make your videos seem jumpy.
- Try shooting from different angles. A close-up is a good choice for dialogue, but an action scene might require a wider angle.
- Avoid zooming, as this can make a shot look shaky. For a cleaner look, walk closer to the action.
- Check the background before shooting in order to determine the best positions for filming.
When you are first starting out, try filming anything you can in order to gain practical experience. Keep your camera with you so that you can capture the action at any time. Be prepared to discard most of what you film in the beginning; it takes a great deal of practice to create a good video. But, with enough practice, anyone can master the art of videography.
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