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Photography and Videography Tips

Still Photography Tips

• Tip #1: Set your camera to it’s highest resolution setting.
• Tip #2: Avoid posed group shots. (Great for memories, but they don’t tell stories well.)
• Tip #3: Focus on candid photos that help tell a story.
• Tip #4: Less is more. (A photo of 1-4 people is usually more interesting than one of 14.)
• Tip #5: Get close. (your audience will probably never make it to where the photo is taken so you’ve got to show them what’s happening).
• Tip #6: Document. (Send captions with your photos.)
  

Videography Tips

• Tip #1: Tripod: Friend or Foe? Friend. (No tripod? Not to worry. Try stabilizing the camcorder on a table, stool, or your knees.)
• Tip #2: Get in close (your audience will probably never make it to where the photo is taken so you’ve got to show them what’s happening).
• Tip #3: Talk to the interviewer. (In an interview setting, talk to the interviewer 20/20-style, you’ll look more natural. If you are addressing the video audience, then look right at the camera.)
• Tip #4: Consider the background noise.
• Tip #5: Tell us what we’re looking at. (It’s okay to talk at the beginning of a shot or scene to help the future editor know what’s happening).
• Tip #6: 4:3, 30p (TV aspect ratio, 30 full frames per second. For most people this means using their camera’s default settings.)

Tips for Both

• Tip #1: Don’t shoot into the light source.
• Tip #2: Forecast: Cloudy with chance of good lighting. (The best times for outside photos and video are early morning, early evening, and overcast days.)
• Tip #3: “Who is my audience?” (Always keeping this question in mind will help you best tell your story.)

photo-video-tips.pdf