Video Tips

General Shooting Tips

Each shot should be 10 to 15 seconds or less, unless you’re moving with the subject
Use your tripod whenever possible and always use your earphones.
Let the camera run for about 20 seconds at the beginning and let it roll a little at the end as well.
Get as close as you can to your subjects and shoot close-ups whenever possible.
Divide up the frame mentally into three vertical strips and place your subjects within those strips in such a way as to create screen balance.

Best Tips for Shooting Better Video

By following some simple rules for video editing you can make your movies flow together smoothly, in a classic style, without resorting to multiple transitions.
Of course, rules were made to be broken and creative editors take extreme artistic license. But, if you are new to the craft of video editing, learn these rules and consider them a foundation from which to develop your skills.

B-Roll • B-roll refers to video footage that sets the scene, reveals details, or generally enhances the story. For example, in the office or work place, besides shooting your Actual Person, you could get B Roll of the front of the building, equipment, office interiors, and other co workers.

These clips can be used to cover any cuts, or smooth transitions from one scene to another.

Don’t Jump • A jump cut occurs when you have two consecutive shots with the exact same camera set up, but a difference in the subject. It happens most often when editing interviews, and you want to cut out some words or phrases that the subject says.

If you leave the remaining shots side-by-side, the audience will be jarred by the slight repositioning of the subject. Instead, cover the cut with some b-roll, or use a fade.

45 Degrees • When editing together a scene shot from multiple camera angles, always try to use shots that are looking at the subject from at least a difference of 45 degrees. Otherwise, the shots are too similar and appear almost like a jump cut to the audience.

Cut on Motion • Motion distracts the eye from noticing editing cuts. So, when cutting from one image to another, always try to do it when the subject is in motion. For example, cutting from a turning head to an opening door, is much smoother than cutting from a still head to a door about to be opened.

Change Focal Lengths • When you have two shots of the same subject, it’s easy to cut between close and wide angles. So, when shooting an interview, or a lengthy event such as a wedding, it’s a good idea to occasionally change focal lengths. A wide shot and a medium close up can be cut together, allowing you to edit parts out and change the order of shots without obvious jump cuts.

Wipe • When the frame fills up with one element, it makes it easy to cut to a completely different scene without jarring the audience. You can set wipes up yourself during shooting, or just take advantage when they happen naturally.

Match the Scene • The beauty of editing is that you can take footage shots out of order or at separate times, and cut them together so that they appear as one continuous scene. To do this effectively, though, the elements in the shots should match up.

For example, a subject who exits frame right should enter the next shot frame left. Otherwise, it appears they turned around and are walking in the other direction. Or, if the subject is holding something in one shot, don’t cut directly to a shot of them empty-handed.

If you don’t have the right shots to make matched edits, insert some b-roll in between.

Motivate Yourself • Ultimately, every cut should be motivated. There should be a reason that you want to switch from one shot or camera angle to another. Sometimes that motivation is a simple as, “the camera shook,” or “someone walked in front of the camera.”

Ideally, though, your motivations for cutting should be to advance the narrative storytelling of your video.