Shooting Tips
Videography: Shooting to Edit
- Use the best camcorder available. There are three major video categories:
- Digital transfer (advanced digital television)
- HD Cameras (XDCam, HDV, AVCHD, 1080p, 1080i, 720p, etc.)
- DVCam, DVCPro
- Digital-S-video
- Digital Betacam
- Component analog (broadcast quality)
- MiniDV
- Betacam-SP
- S-video (prosumer)
- Hi8
- S-VHS
- Composite/standard video (consumer)
- MiniDV
- 8mm
- Digital 8mm
- VHS
- Choose a camera that records timecode
- Prosumer, professional and digital cameras record a number with every video frame
- Usually in the format HH:MM:SS:FF or hours:minutes:seconds:frames
- Timecode is required for non-linear editing
- Types of timecode
- SMPTE VITC/LTC (on professional cameras)
- Sony LANC (on prosumer cameras)
- VHS and 8mm do not record timecode
- Tips for prosumer camcorders
- Record continuously. Never leave blank spaces which break the timecode
- Record for 5-10 seconds before and after every shot
- Always use the fastest tape speed (SP) for higher quality
- Use automatic focus, white balance and exposure controls are automatic, unless you have the knowledge and expertise to always adjust them
- Don’t add titles with camcorder onto original tape. Turn off date stamp
- Camera placement
- Change the point of view between shots – shoot from different angles
- Change your shooting height: higher or lower angles add interest
- Be aware of the background and try not to shoot with items that will distract/detract from your subject/scene
- Composition suggestions
- Avoid motion while you are shooting; plan to change shots in editing
- When you do move, do so as slowly and smoothly as possible
- Don’t zoom while recording. Change vantage points with a new shot and edit
- Keep action within the “safe area” in the middle 75% of the screen
- Place the eyes of the subject on a line about one-third down from the top of the screen
- Add some space in front of people
- Lighting suggestions
- Low levels can reduce detail and quality, so shoot in strong light
- Turn on all the lights
- Consider setting up your own soft lights. A strong single light source creates deep shadows. A secondary, diffused light or a reflector fills the shadows. Reflect light off walls or a sheet of foam-core
- Graphics acquisition
- Place all graphics within safe area
- Don’t use 1-pixel lines or objects in graphics. They will flicker when translated into video
- Keep all elements below 70% of total white
- Audio hints
- Use an external microphone or wireless mic
- Place a lavalier mic (clip-on mic) at chest height
- Direct a shotgun mic (directional mic) at the primary source of sound
- Record natural, or ambient, sound (sometimes called “room noise”) at the end of each scene. This helps the editor create clean audio edits