Video Tips

Tripod:  

• When at all possible use a tripod.  It will make your pans and tilts more professional.

Panning:

• Before starting a pan, figure out your start and end points of the pan.
• A pan should have a beginning, a middle, and an end.
• If you do not have a tripod, spread your legs apart to distribute your weight, then swivel from your hips.

Lighting:

• When shooting video, keep the light source behind you, so that the light shines on the subject.
• Avoid videotaping scenes were the strongest light is behind the subject.

Outdoor lighting tips:

• Shooting outdoors on a bright day can cause harsh shadows on the subject's face.
• To improve this, simply move subject out of direct sunlight and use a "bounce card". 
• A "bounce card" can be made of white art board and it will illuminate the subject with a softer light.

Composition:

• Good shot composition uses the "Rule of Thirds."
• To do this divide the screen into a tic-tac-toe pattern and frame the subject onto a dividing line.

• This will help you to frame any shot to make it more visually pleasing.

Perspective:

• Don't limit your shots to one angle.

• You want to try and use all angles if possible, this will give you more options when editing your footage.

• Approach from the top, from behind, etc.