- You should always have a minimum of two people taking part in the shoot. You will need to adopt separate roles – one person filming, one directing and ideally one for continuity/overview.
- It is good to have a variety of shots from different angles to splice together - this looks better than shots from a moving camera. Once in position keep the camera still.
- Always use a tripod or equivalent, regardless of the equipment you are shooting with, to ensure your footage remains steady. Handheld footage is not acceptable.
- Always use an external microphone to ensure good quality sound, not the one built into the camera.
- Avoid zooming in and out – this can distracting/disorientating, and looks unprofessional.
- Do not use special effects. For transitions, we recommend only using dip to black, dip to white, and crossfade.
- We would recommend using a dedicated video camera rather than a smartphone or similar. The web team have a camera which you can use.
- Over-shoot – lots of footage will give you room to edit.
- We are aiming for competence, not art.
Extensive preparation is crucial before you pick up the camera. Know what you want to achieve and an idea of how you want to achieve it. A storyboard – a step-by-step visual respresentaion of your video - is a good start.
Four key areas to consider: Exposure, Focus, White balance and Sound