Video Tips

Want to capture the perfect "outrageous" moment? Or just shoot better video? Follow these four simple tips culled from hours of research and expert interviews (ie: stuff we stole off the Web.)

1. Get a Grip on Lighting
Limiting your light sources will offset any weird color tints on your subjects. Unless your coworker really IS green, use your camera's white balance setting to adjust to the current environment.

Another common lighting mistake is having your subjects backlit. Just like with still photography, if your video subject is in front of a light source (ie: the sun, a lamp, headlights) he/she/it will appear in shadow or silhouette. Unless you're going for that "iPod campaign" look, this is not good. Try using a reflector or additional lights in front of the subject to even out the light. Stay fixed on your correctly lit subject — avoid panning — to avoid altering the background.

2. Don't Let Lens Flare Happen to You
Lens flare is when a bright glow appears in your picture, causing it to appear washed out. It's kind of like when you're driving into the setting sun and you flip your visor down so you can see better...same concept. A lens hood attached to your camera's lens will help reduce and/or eliminate this. In a pinch, use your hand to block any glaring light source that you can't remove.

3. What? I Can't Hear You!
Bad audio can kill the impact of an interesting/funny/outrageous moment. Try using an external microphone. Most cameras provide accessory mics...use it! Or if you're fancy, try a small lapel mic on your subject (warning: this option does not work well on pets).

4. Calm Down
The idea is that you want people to watch the people/places/things in your video, not get motion sickness. So stand still already! Nothing is more distracting than a hyperactive camera. Stay fixed on your shot long enough to let the action play out. Or try using a tripod or monopod (one-legged tripod) to guarantee steadiness.

Now that you're practically a professional, get out there and shoot some outrageous videos.