Fellow creators, here is the third part in Video School Online’s Make Better Video Series. So far we looked at:

1. Choose Better Video Topics
2. Better Video Pre-Production

Today we’re going to look at:

Shooting Better Video

There are only so many things you can read to become a better cinematographer. Truly, the best way to shoot better video is to practice. With all things in life, practice makes you better. In film, practice is truly the only thing that actually makes you better. Even reading this article isn’t going to actually make you a better video creator. What will make you better is practicing and implementing the tips I give you into your practice. That being said, here are a few basic video-shooting tips that will get you ready for shooting better video.

Tip 1 – Camera Choice

Do you already have a camera? If you do or if you don’t, this is an important tip for you. The type of camera you have doesn’t really improve your video. Whether you are shooting on your iPhone or on the RED camera, you can still make great videos. Some of you may be saying, ‘What are you talking about?! The Canon 5d Mark ii is way better than the Canon 60d.’ I will agree that the 5d has a lot more features, a bigger sensor, and more options when shooting a video. I do not agree that all of these features automatically make a video shot on the 5d better than a video shot on the 60d.

So if you don’t have a camera and are in the market for one, my best advice for picking one is to shop within your budget. I’ve personally spent too many hours pouring over countless comparison websites.

Which camera is best? Which lens is best? Canon vs Nikon? 5d vs 7d? What lens should I use?

These are too many questions, especially if you are starting out. The quality of the cameras won’t dramatically change from one to the next. As long as you have an HD camera (definitely a must in today’s video creating community), you’ll be fine. If you have any concerns, just ask. The best thing would be to go to your local camera shop and ask. In Southern California, we have a small chain of Samy’s Camera shops. Everyone there is very professional and very knowledgeable about cameras. They never try to sell you on anything extra; they just give great advice. Hopefully you have a store like this near you. It’s always better to actually go in person rather than do all of your research online. You’ll even be able to check out the camera you want and actually hold it. You’ll see how to work it and if you have any questions, someone is right there to answer them.

If you don’t have the budget to buy a camera, you can either rent one or borrow one from a friend.

Tip 2 – Stabilize Your Camera

Use a tripod or a monopod. Don’t think that you’re going to be able to get great shots without one. It’s not impossible to do so, it is just highly improbably especially if you are new to video making. Aside from your camera, a good sturdy tripod is the next best piece of equipment to invest in.

I currently own a $40 tripod from Best Buy that is meant for photography. It doesn’t pan or tilt well, but it holds my camera still when I need it to. This guy gets me through many of my own shoots but if I’m doing something professional like a wedding or a corporate video, I always try to get my hands on a tripod that has a fluid head. This allows me to get smooth pans and tilts, which add to the production value of your video.

If you’re doing interviews or shooting business videos, most of your shots are going to be static (non-moving). So any tripod will do.

If you are moving around a lot, doing documentary style shooting, a monopod is a good tool to have. I find that lugging a tripod around can get in the way of your surroundings. It takes a little while to set up. And when all you need is more stabilization than your arm, a monopod is perfect. Monopods allow you to run around with your camera attached to it. You can set it up in three seconds and still get great shots.

So depending on your video style, make sure you have a tripod or monopod to stabilize your shots. Obviously if you are the only crewmember and you are doing interviews, you’ll need a tripod to hold your camera. If you don’t have anything at all, you can use a sand bag or stack of books to set up stationary shots. But hauling a bag of books around doesn’t seem too fun to me!

Tip 3 – Learn the Manual Camera Settings

Learn your manual settings. It is very easy to just turn on your camera and flip it to the automatic mode. But this limits you greatly. Your camera is just a machine. It’s a robot that doesn’t have an eye for moods or style. While your camera can judge how bright a shot should be and try to white balance your shot according to what it sees, it won’t let you overexpose or underexpose the shot if it is in auto mode. It won’t automatically know that you want a short depth of field or that you want to focus on the thing in the background, not the subject in the foreground. These are things that you do as a cinematographer. These make you a great video maker.

So please learn how to use the manual settings on your camera.

A quick guide to the most important manual settings: