Modern video filming is a complex process in which everything is thought out to the smallest detail. The videographer offers his clients not just creating a video, but a fascinating mini-film. Even when it comes to covering some important event in the life of the city. A beginner will try to do the job efficiently, using a standard scheme: to shoot everything that is important. The professional uses a different scheme. He covers this event in such a way as to present it to the viewer in the form of an interesting video. This applies to filming birthdays, weddings, proms and other events.
Four Backbone Principles
Professional video filming has been developing over the years. Only an experienced craftsman can offer it. In his work, he uses four systemic principles: simplicity, stealth, speed and fearlessness. Let’s consider each of them in more detail.
1. Simplicity
People who are going to make a Hollywood movie out of an ordinary event fail as a result. Professionals take a minimalist approach. They focus on portability and simplicity without sacrificing quality. This in turn provides them with many additional benefits. In particular, much more time is left for editing.
2. Stealth
Let’s say you want to order a video shooting of a wedding and are looking at a portfolio of potential performers. First of all, pay attention to how the operator behaves. If he confidently moves between people, chooses free seats, then his approach can be considered professional. If a specialist regularly attracts attention, it is difficult to call him a pro. He can connect with the public, for example, to make good plans, but his sociability should not interfere with the guests of the wedding celebration.
3. Speed
If a master is filming a solemn event, and not some pre-planned plot, speed is of paramount importance. The more mobile a person is, the more events he is able to capture on his camera. A variety of factors affect speed:
- Clothes and footwear. They should be free, not restrict movement.
- Compact technology. You should give up bulky cameras that are difficult to carry around for several hours.
Experience. The ability to manoeuvre in a dense stream of people is a key quality. If a beginner takes pictures on the side-lines, so as not to interfere with anyone, focusing on general plans, then the pro will pay attention to each person and make cool video frames. In the second case, you are guaranteed high-quality video filming of a wedding.
4. Fearlessness
It’s hard for everyone at first. An abundant stream of people, fear of making mistakes, many requests from different sides – everything fetters a person. He needs to develop fearlessness over the years. And with it comes self-confidence. Let’s give an example of how to identify the pros. The client needs a studio video. He will talk to a potential performer. The more confidently he answers questions, the better for him. No one will order a service from a specialist who stumbles in his answers, tries to assent all the time, does not have his own ideas or is simply not able to convey them to the customer.
Three Techniques to Make Film Making Cooler
All experienced specialists have their own “tricks” and secrets at their disposal. Of course, they can tell a newbie about them. But it is unlikely that an inexperienced person will work better from this. All the “tricks” must be able to apply, they must be correctly integrated into the process. Here are three techniques that make your video shooting better.
1. Perspective
When filming a ceremony, it is necessary to cover the event through the eyes of an ordinary guest. Let’s take a classic example of a wedding. So, the person is making a toast.
Correct Technique. The operator sits down next to him or chooses a place as close as possible to the hero of the frame. He looks at him through the eyes of an ordinary guest.
Incorrect Technique. The technician places the camera higher to capture the person making the toast. One gets the impression that this is not a live wedding, but some kind of video with a pre-planned plot.
Of course, a video camera is of fundamental importance. It must be professional, so that all the nuances of the appeal are then conveyed on the video.
2. Transfer of The Mood of The Moment
The movement of the camera should echo the events taking place. As an analogy, scenes from a regular movie work well. You can see that the scene of the dialogue between two characters in a catering establishment is often filmed in a static shot. But when there is a chase, a fight, the technique begins to move intensively. This is done in order to engage the viewer in the process. Everything is the same with video filming. A professional knows how to convey the mood of the moment. He thinks in advance what scenes will be in the upcoming event. For example, filming a wedding includes:
- Preparation for the main part of the ceremony (minimum number of dynamic angles).
- Solemn speeches, toasts (almost complete lack of dynamics).
- Presentation of flowers, wedding gifts (a large number of dynamic angles).
- Dances and competitions (maximum dynamics).
Important: the choice of camera is of great importance. For shooting dynamic scenes, it is advisable to use a compact technique without a tripod. But it is better to shoot certain moments of the event using auxiliary tools. For example, a tripod can be used for toast video recording, and a three-axis stabilizer for dynamic scenes.
3. Changing Angles
It is she who creates the dynamics. Again, here’s a cinematic example. You are probably bored of watching a scene with the same angle for two or three minutes. Professional video filming of a wedding or other festive event should be covered in such a way that it would then be interesting to watch the event on video. Here’s a simple example of cutting a newlywed cake. You can do four angles:
- The position of the groom.
- Position of the bride.
- A few seconds of cake closeup.
- The reaction of the audience (outside observer).
How fast the master moves are of fundamental importance. If he is mobile and knows how to immediately choose the right angle, this increases the chances that in the future the wedding video will be watchable and interesting. But you pay the performer just for this.
Common Mistakes
The professional is distinguished, among other things, in that he knows how to avoid popular mistakes. Beginners make common mistakes, thereby degrading the quality of their work. Here are the most common mistakes:
Chaos of Movements. In pursuit of a large number of angles, a person makes an unforgivable mistake – he forgets about the norm. The more random, the worse the video.
Shaking Camera. Of course, if the pro is always adept at picking shots and shooting in the thick of things, a little jitter is not critical. Moreover, it creates the effect of presence. But strong shaking spoils the viewing experience.
Incorrect Zoom Play. In general, professional operators try to give up constant magnifications and approximations. This is an outdated technique. They prefer to shoot several shots and then switch between them through editing.
Long Scenes. The emphasis on one guest for 10-15 seconds already leads to unpleasant associations. One senses, if not bias, but the incompetence of the videographer. As they say, everything is good in moderation.
Bad Installation. Yes, it does not directly relate to the video filming process, but it greatly affects the final quality. Suffice it to cite the example of a wedding, where many novice cameramen record funny episodes and then insert them into the video.
High quality video shooting is not within the power of all videographers. If you want to get a high-quality product for your money, please contact any expert.
