High Weald AONB

Here are a few tips to help you shoot better videos using any small pocket camera.

• Composition of shoots
• Using a tripod
• Light
• Sound

Aim to shoot plenty of material, use the following tips to help you.

• Shoot more video than you need
• Use a tripod or other support
• Hold shoots in the same place for a minimum of 10 seconds

Composition of shoots

Compose your shots carefully, choose the right shoot type for the situation.

• Wide
• Medium
• Close

There is much more information at the Media College about types of shoot and when to use them

• Make the shoot interesting, movement is good, a person walking, talking, a sign swinging in the wind, a kettle boiling etc
• Remember the rule of thirds
• Always playback your shoot before you finish the field, its much quicker to re-shoot now than later on.

Using a tripod

Using a tripod will give a much more professional look. If you don't have a tripod, putting the camera on a solid flat surface will give you much more professional results.

• Don't forget you can vary the height of the tripod
• If you don't have a tripod use a flat surface like a fence post or table
• Move the camera and tripod rather than use the zoom button
• Consider buying a gorillapod

Light and shade

• Always shoot with the sun behind you if possible
• Watch for your shadow being in the shoot
• If shooting inside turn all the lights on and try and wait for a bright sunny day
• Shooting either first thing in the morning or later in the afternoon will often give you the best results

Recording Sound

The Flip Video camera only has a internal mic so audio quality will be worse as you move further away from the camera.

• Watch out for traffic noise
• Aeroplanes
• Switch off mobile phones
• Avoid rustling clothing
• Allow gaps of silence between each piece of speaking to camera (this helps later when editing)