Videography Tips & Tricks for Community Producers

• Power and Setup: Find the camera’s on/off button, audio and visual settings, record button, battery, and memory card slots. Always check that the battery is fully charged and you have enough storage space before filming—failure to do so may result in lost footage.
• Prepare Your SD Card: Always format your SD card using your camera’s built-in formatting option before you begin filming. This can help prevent data loss and corrupted files.
• Power Source: For the most reliable power, plug in your camera using the AC adapter, which is located near the battery slot. Your camera’s battery will provide about an hour of power. Ensure your battery is fully charged before heading out, and keep a backup battery on-hand, if possible. The battery is inserted copper-to-copper and is removed using a button near the battery area.
• Lens: Take the lens cover off before filming. We send our equipment out clean and ready to go. If your lens is dirty, you can clean it gently using a lens cloth dampened with leaner or a lens brush—but never apply cleaners or chemicals directly to the lens.
• Viewfinder/Monitor: Your viewfinder includes indicators for available SD card time, battery life, and sound levels. When filming, check and adjust your framing via the viewfinder or LCD screen.
  • Note: If you do not see a picture in the viewfinder, the camera is not on or your lens cover is still in place.
• Audio Inputs: Locate the audio inputs (2) and plug in your shotgun microphone or external audio equipment. To test the sound levels, snap your fingers in front of the microphone. The sound should register on the sound meter.
• Headphone Jack: Plug your headphones into the headphone jack. For the most accurate adjustments to your sound levels, use your headphones rather than the camera audio.

• Resolution: Set your camera to record at 1080p (Full HD) or 4K if available. This will give you high-quality footage that can be edited and used across various platforms.
• Frame Rate: The number of frames your camera captures per second is called the Frame Rate. In video production, a video’s frame rate is expressed as frames per second (fps).
  • 24 frames per second (fps) creates a cinematic feel and is most common for feature films and television. It mimics how your eyes see the world, creating a natural feel.
  • 30 frames per second (fps) is considered the standard frame rate and provides a smoother feel. This is the GNAT-TV standard.
  • For film intended for slow motion, adjust to a higher frame rate—60 fps or higher.
  • More resources: Wistia: What Is a Video Frame Rate and TechSmith: Frame Rate: A Beginner’s Guide.
• White Balance: This setting defines your scene’s true white, and adjusts other colors accordingly to prevent harsh yellows or blues. Because different light sources (natural sunlight vs artificial light) and light temperatures affect color tone, either choose auto white balance or manually set your white balance to match your lighting conditions. White balance can be fixed in post, as well.
  • More resources: Studio Binder: What Is White Balance?
• ISO: Lower ISO values (100-400) are best for well-lit environments. In low-light situations, you can increase the ISO for more sensitivity, but be mindful that higher ISO values can introduce noise or grain.
  • Quick Tip: It’s easier to brighten too-dark footage than to reduce excess brightness.
• Iris: The iris setting adjusts the aperture, which controls how much light reaches the camera’s sensor. A wider aperture (lower f-stop) creates brighter footage, while a narrower aperture (higher f-stop) results in darker footage. The ideal range is between 2.4f to 8f.
• Focus: While autofocus can be a helpful tool, learning how to focus can greatly improve your video quality.
• ND Filter: This setting acts like sunglasses for your camera lens. The higher the filter, the darker it is. If your frame is too dark, it may mean that your ND filter is on. You won’t need your ND filter for filming inside, but it may be helpful if you are filming outside while it’s sunny or snowy. Using the ND filter can affect depth of field and may unblur your soft focus background.

Familiarize yourself with these key camera movements.

• Static Shots: Keep the camera still for interviews or shots that focus on a subject. Use a tripod to stabilize the camera.
• Panning: Slowly move the camera left or right on a tripod. This is effective for following a subject or capturing a wide scene.
• Tilting: Move the camera up or down to adjust the framing or capture vertical subjects.
• Zoom: Use zoom sparingly. In the studio, the three established shots rarely need zoom adjustment. Avoid excessive zooming, which can be distracting.

Gather this essential equipment before heading to a field shoot so you’re not missing anything when you’re ready to film:

• Video Camera
• Power Adapter
• Microphones
• Headphones
• Tripod
• Lighting
• SD Cards
• Audio Cables
• Fully Charged Spare Battery

If you’re borrowing equipment from GNAT-TV, a producer will ensure you have all of the equipment and accessories you need to support your project. If there’s anything else you need beyond the basic camera kit, let us know and we will provide additional options.

Framing is key to capturing engaging video. Some basic principles to get you started include:

• Rule of Thirds: Placing your subject in the center of the frame can look stale. Instead, balance your shots with the Rule of Thirds. Imagine a grid dividing your frame into nine equal parts (like a tic-tac-toe board). Position your subject along these lines or where the lines intersect to create a balanced shot.
• Headroom: Leave a little space above the subject’s head to avoid making them seem cramped in the shot. Too much headroom makes your shot look empty, so strike a balance for the best composition.
• Look Space/Lead Room: When filming someone talking, leave more space in front of their face (the direction they’re looking), for a natural feel. It helps create a sense of direction that grounds viewers.
• Close-Up, Medium, and Wide Shots: Vary your shot types to create interest. Close-ups focus on details or expressions and individual speakers, medium shots show people from the waist up, and wide shots establish context or location.

Good lighting is essential for quality video. In general:

• Three-Point Lighting is a common technique where you use three lights:
  • Key light: The main light source, placed in front of the subject.
  • Fill light: A softer light used to reduce shadows.
  • Back light: Positioned behind the subject to separate them from the background.
• Outside of the studio, natural light is your friend! Avoid backlighting your subjects. Your subject should face toward the light, not away from it, to reduce shadows. A reflector can help angle natural lighting for better results.

Take a deeper look at video lighting with these resources:

• Tips for Lighting Ratios
• Natural Light in Filmmaking
• White Balance for Video

Audio is just as important as video quality. The main types of microphones are:

• Lavalier (Lav) Microphone: For interviews or presentations, a clip-on lavalier mic delivers clear audio and keep your hands free.
• Shotgun Microphone: For capturing audio from a distance, such as when filming a panel discussion or event, use a shotgun mic.
• Boom Mic: This refers to the way the mic is used rather than a specific type of microphone. A boom operator holds a mic attached to a boom pole and moves it as needed to capture directional sound. The mic always remains outside of the frame.

Always monitor your audio levels during filming. Too high, and the audio will distort; too low, and it may not be audible. While audio can be adjusted during editing, it’s always best, and less time-consuming, to start with the cleanest audio.

1. Mount the Microphone: Attach the shotgun mic to the camera mount and check that it is secure, then plug in the shotgun mic using input 1 or input 2. Check your camera’s settings to ensure the correct input is selected.
2. Position the Mic: Point the microphone toward the speaker, keeping it at an angle. A shotgun mic picks up sound from one direction—the front—and not the sides or rear.
3. Check Audio Levels: Before recording, always check your audio levels to avoid distortion or low sound. You can snap your fingers in front of the mic to check the camera’s built-in audio meters. 
4. Keep the Mic Close: For the best sound, keep the microphone as close to the subject as possible without entering the shot.
5. Monitor Sound: Use headphones to listen for any background noise or issues with the sound during recording and adjust your audio settings as needed to capture the best sound.

• Start Simple: Begin with easy, open-ended questions to put your interviewee at ease. An open-ended question allows the interviewee to respond and expand on the thought, while yes or no questions can halt the conversation or make it feel empty.
• Follow-up Questions: Listen actively and ask follow-up questions based on their responses to create a more natural, conversational flow.
• Respect Time: Don’t overwhelm the interviewee with questions. Keep your questions concise, and avoid multi-part questions that can be difficult to answer, but cover all necessary topics.

Find more interview and journalism advice in BBC Academy’s Learning Resources for Journalists and NPR’s Public Media Journalism Training Website.

• Eye Level: Position the camera at eye level to create a natural and engaging shot.
• One-on-One: Position the interviewee slightly off-center to allow space in the direction they are looking (see “Look Space,” above).
• Cutaways: When editing (or via the switcher), you can include B-roll (secondary footage). This could be context, reactions, details, or visuals that help tell the story.

• Prepare Your Subject: Remind your interview subject to answer your questions with a full sentence, restating your question. For example, if you ask their name, they should reply with “My name is…” This is because you’ll likely edit out the portion of the footage where you ask the question, and it will provide enough context for an engaging interview.
• Active Listening: Show interest in what they are saying and keep your body language open and welcoming.
• Don’t Interrupt: Let your interviewee speak fully before asking the next question.
• Encourage Authenticity: Create a comfortable atmosphere. This will help your interviewee feel at ease and provide more natural responses.

For more information and tips about how to interview for film, explore these resources:

• Interview Techniques from Videomaker

• Use a Tripod: Keep your shots steady with a tripod whenever possible.
• Avoid Handheld Shots: If you must shoot handheld, try to brace your elbows against your body to reduce shaking.
• Don’t Walk While Filming: Unless your scene requires it, it’s best to use a tripod for stability, frame your shot, and stay still while you film. Cut to reposition your camera.

In a conversation or interview, keep the camera on one side of the subject to maintain spatial consistency. Crossing the “line” between subjects can confuse the viewer and make the scene disorienting.

More resources:

• Adobe What Is the 180-Degree Rule?
• StudioBinder: What is the 180 Degree Rule in Film & How to Break It
• Video Collective: 180-Degree Rule in Filmmaking

Manually focusing gives you sharp footage, and more control over what you’re capturing. Zoom way in, focus on the eyes until the view is sharp, then zoom back out. While filming, adjust your focus, if necessary, to prevent hazy footage.

It is important to get the focus right while filming because, even though you can sharpen in post production, the quality just won’t be as good.

Soft focus can give your footage a smoother look, and it’s worth learning the technique. ISO and aperture (or f-stop) settings can help you achieve a softer, glowing focus—give it a try using StudioBinder’s guide to Soft Focus Shots!

• Think About Every Shot: Whether establishing a location or zooming in for a close-up, your shots should have a reason.
• Plan Ahead: A shot list can help you get all of the shots you need for your project.
• Capture Relevant B-Roll: When editing, B-roll can be used to cover awkward cuts, provide context, or emphasize a point.
• OVER SHOOT!: You can never have too much footage, so film plenty of B-Roll until you feel like you can’t possibly get any different content or angles.

Not having a clear idea of what you want to film results in the cameraperson moving the camera around a lot to capture everything, creating shaky, too-busy footage. This is called “firehosing,” as in, the camera’s moving around like a firehose to capture footage.

Instead, frame your shots ahead of time using a storyboard or shotlist, film each framed shot long enough to let the viewer understand what they’re seeing, and stop the camera. Then, frame your next shot, and your next…

Some videographers use the “Three Second Rule,” in which they film three seconds of each shot, while others say you need ten seconds of each so you can make sure you get what you need. Experiment to see what works for you!

• Rule of Thirds: Divide your frame into a 3 by 3 grid (like a tic-tac-toe board), then place important subjects along the lines or where the lines intersect to create a balanced, visually interesting shot. Some may prefer centered composition, where their subject is in the exact center of the shot, but the Rule of Thirds is often preferred.
• Negative Space: The empty or open area around your subject. Using negative space helps your main subject stand out and can create mood, isolation, or simplicity in a shot.
• Leading Lines: Physical lines (artificial or natural, including roads, shoreline, tree trunks, walls, hallways, fences, shadows) in a scene that guide the viewer’s eyes toward your subject. They help create depth and direct attention within the frame, either left to right (horizontal) or up and down (vertical).
• Framing: Using elements in the scene (doors, windows, trees, mirrors) to frame your subject and add depth to naturally draw attention to a specific portion of your shot.
• Depth: Placing elements at different distances (Foreground, Midground, Background) from the camera to create a sense of three-dimensional space instead of a flat image.
• Headroom: The space between the top of a subject’s head and the top of the frame. Too much feels awkward; too little feels cramped.
• Lead Room or Look Room: Extra space in front of a person in the direction they’re looking or moving. This makes the shot feel natural and balanced.
• Balance: Distributing objects of interest within the frame. Balance is created using props, set pieces, light sources, and subjects.
• Blocking: How actors move and position themselves within the frame. Good blocking makes scenes visually dynamic without moving the camera.
• Camera Angle: High angles can make subjects look small or vulnerable. Low angles can make them appear powerful or intimidating.

Get more composition tips in The Elements of Composition: The Complete Guide from Studio Binder. Also check out Studio Binder’s Ultimate Guide to Film Composition!

• Match the Action: When cutting between shots, try to match the movement or action in each clip. This creates a smooth flow and prevents the viewer from noticing the cut.
• Color Correction: Adjust the color balance, brightness, and contrast to make your footage look more vibrant and consistent across different shots. This helps create a professional look.
• Audio Levels: Ensure that your audio is balanced throughout. Avoid sudden spikes in volume, and use fade-ins and fade-outs for smooth audio transitions between scenes.
• Use B-Roll Effectively: Insert B-roll footage (extra shots that complement the main footage) to cover jump cuts, add visual interest, or provide context to the narrative. It keeps the video dynamic and engaging.

We’re gathered some of our favorite editing resources to get you started. Check out these tricks:

• The Only 7 Cuts You Need to Tell Any Story from Tim Runia
• StudioBinder’s Ultimate Guide to Scene Transitions
• DaVinci Resolve 18 TRANSITIONS for Beginners by Jason Yadlovski