Recording Video
The most common mistake made by novice videographers is that they behave as if they are making a feature film. Home movies are to collect memories and help sustain them. To so this, they need to be able to hold the attention of the people watching them. As a rule of thumb, shots longer that 45 – 60 seconds are probably too long. A home movie that compiles, in a logical order (any editing software can be easily used to order the shots you have taken), a series of brief clips is the most effective, the most fun to watch and, generally, the most appreciated by those who have agreed to look at them. This experience falls into the category of a Great Home Movie! Leave the lingering long shots to the pros who are creating moods and get paid whether or not the audience is bored to tears.
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Keep The Entire Movie Short
Although a DVD-R or DVD+R will hold up to two hours of good quality video – DON’T DO IT. A reasonable standard for a great special event home movie is under 30 minutes. I have some that are five minutes long that are some of the family favorites. Media is cheap enough, these days, that the length of the movie should have nothing whatever to do with the capacity of the media.
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Keep Camera Motion Minimal
The best and easiest to watch clips come from cameras in fixed positions. Every time the camera is moved, some jerkiness shows on the finished product. Your home movies will go from good to great if you resist the temptation to be a ‘roving’ camera person. Great home movies do not challenge the brains and eyes of the viewers to keep up with the eyes and hands of the camera operator. On the contrary, great home movies are easy and fun to watch!
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If You Must Move, Do It S…L…O…W…L…Y
Fast changes are distracting and difficult to follow. This principal applies to all types of camera motion: physically moving the position of the camera while shooting, panning (moving the camera from side to side to capture a broader perspective,) or zooming in or out. Fast, abrupt shifts in any or all of these ways can cause your home movie to be unwatchable – even possible headache producing for your viewers. Great home movies leave the motion to the subjects, not to the camera. As often as possible, leave all of the motion to your subjects while you keep the camera as still as you can, and if movement is necessary, always do it sparingly and slowly.
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Avoid “Art” Shots
Remember the goal – To capture and preserve family memories. The creation of art is a different activity. Trying to mix and match them, more often than not, leads to an unsatisfactory result that is apt to mystify (at best) and thoroughly bore (at worst) your audience of people who want to see and enjoy watching themselves or others about whom they care.
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