How to Make Sure You Get a Quality Wedding Video Production - 5 Things to Look For

Compared to photography, wedding video production is a relatively young industry. You probably remember when you were a kid looking at your mom & dad's wedding album and imagining what it would be like to be a bride someday. Now that your wedding day is here, you want to have pictures like your parents did. You already have in your mind what you're looking for from a wedding photographer because you've seen what wedding pictures can be. However, there's a pretty good chance your parent's didn't have a wedding video and if they did, it's probably on 8mm film and you have to drag out your projector to watch it. Everything is out of focus and there's no sound except for the clicking of the projector -- not a really enjoyable experience.

However, wedding videography today has come a long way and many wedding videos that are being produced today can rival the quality and emotional essence of a major Hollywood motion picture. A true professional wedding videographer knows how to capture your wedding day and turn it into a Hollywood quality movie that you'll want to watch over and over again for years to come. Then, when your children grow up, they will want to watch it with you.

So how do you make sure you find a good wedding videographer? In this article, I'll give you 5 quick and easy things to look for to make sure you get the best possible video for your money.

1. Personality - When you're interviewing potential videographers, try to listen to the enthusiasm in their voice. If they get excited talking to you about your wedding, they're probably passionate about their job and will do good work for you. As your talking, see if you get excited right back. A good rapport with your wedding videographer will make for a better wedding video.
2. Quality of their work - Make sure you get a demo of their work. The demo should show off a variety of venues, shooting styles and lighting conditions. A quick tip: watch the video twice. The first time you watch it, turn the sound down so that you can look at the technical aspects of the video. You want to look for what a video will look like outside (if you're having an outdoor wedding) or during the dancing when the lights are turned down real low. If you see a lot of shaky camera work or zooms in and out then that's the sign of an amateur videographer. Look for any cheesy transitions between scenes or title work. There's a reason you never see a page turn transition or a star wipe transition in a Hollywood movie. Once you've evaluated the video for technical merit, turn the sound back up and watch it again for emotional impact. You want to listen to the music and make sure the video is timed well with the music and that the music draws you into the moment emotionally.
3. Equipment - A professional will never come to a wedding with only one camera. Find out how many cameras are used throughout the day (both during the ceremony and the reception) and how many they take with them. it's not uncommon to take more cameras than are used. Also ask about audio equipment and how they plan to capture the vows, readings, toasts, etc. Video is more than just a visual presentation -- a quality wedding video will also capture quality audio as well.
4. Staff - Find out how many people will be attending your wedding. A professional videographer can do the job solo but it's very difficult. If the videographer says that he works solo then pay particular attention to the quality of the demo and ask how certain shots were done if he was the only videographer there.
5. Cost - A quality wedding video produced by a professional videographer can be expensive. Make sure that you find the best quality of video that you can afford on your budget. Selecting your photographer and videographer early on can be a huge advantage because you know that whatever you spend on other things will be captured forever. Sometimes you have to ask yourself, what's more important, remembering every detail of my wedding 20 years from now or chair covers?

Steve Bailey is a professional wedding videographer with almost ten years experience and is the owner of Memories Forever Video Productions based out of Delaware. If you're interested in finding out more about wedding video production check out their blog at http://blog.memoriesforevervideo.com

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Corporate Video Production - Corporate Videos High Impact on Business Audience

Any business worth its salt is looking towards enhanced productivity that is effective from the word go-and in changing times with marketing banking on the reach of the Internet and company e-mailing methods more and more companies are looking for answers in corporate video production. The whole business of corporate video production has arisen from the new-age companies realizing the effectiveness of a well designed and compellingly conceptualized corporate video production for various industry segments, be it training, initiation to a company process, upgrading knowledge base of junior or senior level employees or simply motivational messages. Companies doing business online have also realized that successful corporate video production is part of efficient and well-researched marketing as well and therefore, choosing the right video production and marketing agency is crucial to a company’s ethos and profitability from the venture.

The right corporate video production company would be one that allows the client to sort and manage all of its images and artwork from a central location, reach out the best possible content presentation to the appropriate target audience with the right subject portrayed in the right light. Any company that uses innovative use of the cutting edge technology available today for the maximum benefit of the company while also meeting budget and timeline criteria and allows the client to search across multiple stock image libraries and various industry verticals is the right one. While the handling of corporate video production is a specialized field and requires experienced players who are more than a dab hand at developing and strategizing corporate videos as compared to school or training videos, entrusting these to an accredited agency with a proven track record is advisable.

Asking for samples of other corporate video production that the company has done and testimonials from previous clients is one way of resolving any doubts as to the delivery status of the company and a sneak preview offer of the entire project initially is an ideal one to take up. This prepares you with a clear mental picture of what is to come and what the company can deliver. So, whether you are looking to document a management lesson in your corporate video production or condensing the chairman’s speech or company message into a five-minute teaser, by engaging the right video production company you can manage it effectively and innovatively by great visuals and supportive audio that is consistently high quality.

While corporate video productions require a high level of quality and formal creative content management, a experienced video production company can help create training videos that are invaluable in lesson plans and limit it to teaching of specific skills in a specialized manner. These corporate video production programs can be utilized anywhere a business finds tasks, processes or skills that need teaching and wants to teach them best to the audience by creating a how-to video. Creative corporate video production can thus, lead to real lead generation for any market-savvy business. Corporate video production can involve communication about a new product and channel training, demonstration, sales or presentation, compliance/regulatory/HR or even Live training or new course creation.

Shakir A. is independent writer on Internet marketing, PPC, SEO, SEM, Online Marketing, Video Production and other related topics. Video Production Orange County - Video Production Services in California http://www.internetmarketingcalifornia.com/ & http://www.videoproductionorangecounty.com

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How to Get Your Video Production Right the FIRST Time

I’ll cut to the chase. To make your video look right, you have to wear makeup. Sorry guys, be macho if you want, but when you have a five o’clock shadow after you just shaved, don’t say I didn’t warn you. The harsh lights used in studios penetrate several layers of skin that would appear a lot healthier if you had just put on some powder. It gets worse… baldness seems to be highlighted by cameras for some reason, get over it and put on some makeup. Don’t forget your nose and forehead, and always reapply during a break; you’ll thank me later.

While we’re on the vanity of things; clothes. Don’t wear gaudy prints, black, red or white. When you review your video, you want to see yourself rather than your outfit.

OK, now that that is out of the way, onto cameras. You’ll want preferably three cameras to ensure you have captured your speech and your audience from all angles. In order for your video to be of the best possible quality you’ll want to use Beta Cam, mini DV, or at the absolute worst, SVHS or HI8. Also, to have your video look great you should use professional operators and a director if they are using multi-cameras and a control room.

Lighting is the most important element when planning a video production. I have videos that were shot on poor quality cameras, but look great thanks to the right lighting.

If the organization is doing the editing, be right there in the suite as they do it. Ultimately, no matter what you have bartered, this is your finished copy and you should have a say in what is cut and what is not.

Lastly, scatter microphones throughout the audience. This will allow you to hear real reactions without the filters of lapel microphones.

Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book "Wake 'Em Up Business Presentations" and "Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing." It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his client's needs.

http://www.antion.com

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Becoming a videographer

The steps needed to become a videographer are going to vary based on the type of videography services that you plan on delivering. If you plan on offering very basic video services like filming weddings and special events, then chances are you can get by with little formal training. However, if you plan on offering extensive editing and professional video production services, then it is in your best interest to take formal courses in videography, editing and business management.

The first step in becoming a videographer is to determine what type of videographer you plan on becoming. There are a lot of video specialties that you can focus your business on. There are wedding videographers, independent film producers, studio film producers, documentary videographers and legal videographers, just to name a few.

The next step in becoming a videographer is to uncover what education and training you will need to run your video business. People interested in offering wedding filming services will most likely only need basic instructions on how to use a video camera, how to use editing software and how to compose and mix soundtracks for video productions. On the other hand, if you plan on offering more complex video production services then you may want to complete a more comprehensive itinerary of courses. An example of the type of curriculum you may want to cover in your video education include: film producing, film editing, film aesthetics, screenwriting, music composition and editing, after effects, audio mixing, DVD compression, web compression and courses in the use of common filmmaking software programs like DVD Studio Pro and Final Cut Pro.

The third step in becoming a videographer is to acquire the equipment that you will need for your business. To get all of the equipment that you need you will need to have some money set aside to invest. Some of the equipment that you will need include: a computer with multi-media components, digital storage devices and hardware, camera equipment, editing equipment, sound equipment and lighting equipment.

Once you have your video production studio set up, your next step will be to design and implement an advertising campaign. This campaign needs to focus on getting the word out about your services. The marketing devices that you will want to design include: brochures, business cards, price lists and flyers. Finally you may want to put together a demo reel to show potential customers what you can do.

A legal videographer is a video production specialist who is skilled at producing video evidence for legal cases. The services offered by this type of video specialist is in high demand and it pays a very generous salary. Being a professional digital videographer takes more than just knowledge of how to use a digital camcorder. It takes expertise in a variety of business, creative and technical subjects. There are a lot of videography equipment that videographers need including: cameras, tripods, editing software, video monitors, cases, lenses and mixing devices.

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How to Make the Best Training Video For Your Company

Training Videos have been around for decades.

At some stage, we’ve all been made to watch one with a poorly written script, bad acting, overly dramatised narration and of course, bad music (and hair, you can’t forget the hair). And if you’re like me, you probably had lots of fun laughing at them and not learning.

But forget any bad experience you’ve had with a 70’s style training video. Educational videos really do work and they have come a long way.

The reason they have lasted such a long time is that they can quickly and effortlessly get across important training messages. Complex information can easily be understood.

Other benefits include faster staff training, a more productive and efficient workforce and reduced training consultant fees.

Best of all, educational videos will always deliver a consistent message and never have a bad (hair!) day. Important messages can be watched over and over again.

Tailor made productions are an indispensable training tool for companies with a large workforce that have important processes and procedures that need to be undertaken safely and correctly. New inductees can easily be trained to your specific company needs.

So if bad music and poor narration doesn’t work, what does?

1. Keep your Script Simple, Stupid

To get your training video going, it all starts with a KYSSS. Better wise known as Keep your Script Simple, Stupid.

Too often companies will write their own script based on their big (boring) training manuals. This is great if you want people to refresh themselves with a nap during their training session. Not great if you want to grab their attention and teach them something.

The beauty with video is that both pictures and sound tell your story. So you don’t need lots of talking to explain things, as you can show people what you mean.

After all, research has found that people remember about 80% of what they see, not what they hear.

Our advice is to spend a lot of time getting your script right, as it really does drive the quality of the production. Use lots of short sentences and avoid overly technical jargon.

If you can, get the video production house to write the script for you. Often getting a trained script writer to write your script means that it will be written in simple English that is not overly technical (ie: not a yawn creator).

2. Leave your Director Dreams at Home, Buddy

Often we’ve been called in to re-do a training video that was made in-house. An aspiring staff member with (dodgy) dreams of Hollywood believes they can have a crack at the company training video.

By the end of it, their pesky dreams are no longer. Long hours of frustrating editing has seen to that (which is a relief to their manager).

Despite their Scorsese intentions, the end result is often an out of focus, badly narrated production with jarring music. Usually pretty reminiscent of training videos of old or like something your mum would make.

As a training tool, it has little impact because people are too busy trying to work out what the camera is trying to focus on or trying to hear what the narrator is actually saying (which is usually them talking while filming).

Our recommendation is to use a professional video production house with lots of training video experience.

When choosing a video production company, take a look at their videos to make sure that the script is sensible, the narration is clear, the camera work is smooth and at the same quality as what you’d expect on television.

Stay away from production houses with no training video experience or who themselves aspire to be film directors (which seems to be about 95% of them). Too often, they have no business acumen and forget to focus on how to get messages across and improve learner message retention.

3. Reiterate, reiterate, reiterate

Using titles to reiterate your important training messages is incredibly effective. They need to be used generously in a production, as they really do increase your message retention rates.

4. Change what’s on screen……now

Expert training video producers have lots of tricks up their sleeves to grab audience attention and concentration.

One of them is changing what’s on screen every few seconds. The change doesn’t have to be dramatic. It can be as simple as a close up shot, a new title, or even a shot from a different angle.

By constantly changing the on-screen vision, people are more likely to keep watching with interest.

Another important point is to avoid getting your video done through your training consultant. In our experience, they tend to look at the size of their commission cheque (particularly sales trainers) and do not care about the end result. Most training consultants have no video experience which means they do not know the best way to present information in a video format.

Remember, if you need to get a training video produced, focus on the quality of the script and ensure that you choose a video production house that wants to improve learner message retention rather than just provide pretty pictures on the television. And for good measure, take a look at their hair!

Marie-Claire Ross is a Producer at Digicast Productions. A video production house that specialises in corporate training and marketing videos. You can check her out (and her hair) at http://www.digicast.com.au or phone (03) 9696-4400.

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Green Screen Technique For Video Production

Here is a quick response to a question a reader asked the other day about how to green screen. He wondered how far the on-camera person should be from the green background. He said he was very frustrated because he had searched for an answer and everyone said something different. There was no consensus so he was confused. I explained that the reason no one seemed to agree is because the proper distance between the background and the on-camera talent is entirely dependent on the particular situation under which you are videotaping.

When you're making a video using green screen technique, how far away from the green background should your on-camera person be? A reader asked this the other day and said he was very frustrated because he had searched for an answer and everyone said something different. There was no consensus so he was confused.

I explained that the reason no one seemed to agree is because the proper distance between the background and the on-camera talent is entirely dependent on the particular situation under which you are videotaping.

On a technical level, the distance is totally irrelevant. What matters is that the green background is an even color. No variations. Shadows are one of the chief problems that cause variations in color. The darker color of the shadow will cause the green screen effect to be uneven.

If the on-camera person is standing very close to the background, chances are her shadow will fall on the background. But if the on-camera person were twenty feet from the background, the same shadow would fall harmlessly on the floor, which is cropped out of the picture.

Problem is, most people do not have the luxury of that much room.

In an ideal situation, most professional videographers would place the on-camera talent at least five or ten feet from the background. This gives the talent a little breathing room and helps ensure an even background.

However, when I took a tour of ABC news studios, I saw them videotape a news update and the anchor person was smashed up against the wall. They shot the news update from her office, which was tiny. It looked great on the air. I could barely tell it was a green screen. It looked real!

The lighting in her office was extremely diffused so there were no shadows. The green behind her was homogenous in color which gave a beautiful green screen effect.

So if you have some room to play with, go for a distance of about ten feet. If you don't have the room, do not worry about it. Just make sure your lighting is diffused so the shadows will be minimal or non existent.

If you have a video production question you'd like answered, drop me a line a videoproductiontips@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you!

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Video Production - Part II - The Production Stage

OK. You've written your script, got everything approved, organized everything and everyone, and now you're ready to shoot your video. Here are the major considerations for the video production stage.

Safety

Above all else, practice extreme safety measures such as making sure that wires are taped down, that lights have sandbags on them to prevent them from tipping over and other potential accidents are avoided.

Set-up and breakdown

If you're in an unsecured, public area, do what you have to do to secure your equipment when you bring it to the set and when you're done shooting. If it requires two or more trips to your auto so load or unload the equipment, get someone to help you or at least watch over the equipment until you are around to secure all of it.

Make sure you allot time to set up, test and break down the equipment on the set. Unless you need the talent or actors on the set early for some reason, and especially if you're paying them for their time, you can tell your actors to show up later, so they don't get in the way or become impatient while everything is being readied for the shoot.

The set up period is when you are testing equipment, setting up your lights, doing audio checks, setting up props and signage, taping down cables so that no one trips over them, and performing other activities necessary for the production process to take place.

Conversely, allot plenty of time to break down the equipment and load it into the automobile(s), using the security precautions identified earlier.

Lighting

Obviously, you didn't bring your lights to the set when you did your initial site inspection. So here's where the tire hits the road. It's time to light the set. If you want to create professional lighting, you'll need to take time to light the foreground, background and of course the subject. It's not as easy as you would think, as shadows seem to appear from nowhere. So bring more lights than you think you'll need and allot plenty of extra time for this important task. Lights can be rented from video rental companies.

Director

As the name implies, the director directs the production. Generally, the technical people know what to do and won't need hands-on direction, unless there's a problem. But the director will direct the actors and orchestrate the production stage, as he or she is responsible for success or failure at this crucial phase of the project.

Remember, there should only be one director. It's a bad scene (no pun intended) when the director gets into an argument with someone on the set who decides to challenge their authority. So unless it's pre-arranged for this to be a collaborative effort, just give one person the final decision making power on the set. Otherwise, chaos will reign. The time for collaboration is during the pre-production phase. During this action phase, it's time to execute the plan, not rethink it. Of course last minute ideas and other matters happen, but

Don't let them get in the way of sticking to your basic plan and timetable.

Audio

As I mentioned in the pre-production article, try to get redundant audio in case a microphone cuts out or otherwise malfunctions and prepare for a plan B if your initial audio equipment doesn't work for some reason. For instance, if you're shooting in an urban area with lots of skyscrapers and you're using a wireless microphone, you may get interference. When you're trying to shoot an industrial video is no time to be picking up the baseball game on your wireless mic channel! So if you have your wired microphone, you can replace the wireless one and save the day.

Above all else, test the audio level of the presenter before the program begins and have someone monitor the audio with headphones and some sort of meter on the camera or a mixer. Ideally you want the audio to go through an audio mixer so the levels can be monitored and adjusted by a person whose sole task is to do this.

Make Up

If you have the budget to hire one, a make up person is indispensable. It is their sole job to see if the talent is 'shining' and requires make-up due to sweat, oily skin or the way the light is hitting them. They are also responsible for hair and the general appearance of the actors. When you're on the set, it's no time for a bad hair day! The make up artist can also be responsible for wardrobe and making sure all of the little details of the talent's grooming are tended to. Just make sure he or she understands their responsibilities before the shoot. Of course that goes for everyone on the set.

Camera person

It goes without saying that the camera person needs to know what they're doing. They need to know about white balancing, making sure the video is focused, knows the type of camera moves the director wants, has a good fluid head tripod for smooth camera moves, can troubleshoot possible problems, and can otherwise help make the shot look good.

Unless you can re-shoot a scene or a day's worth of production, you only get one chance to get it right. So having a great production team is crucial. This means that everyone is competent, helps out, leaves any personal problems at the door, and has a helpful approach to the day's work.

Sometimes a client will hire my company to do the production phase after they have written the script and done much of the pre-production work. And if the production is done properly, the client may even try their hand at editing the production. There's no problem with this because unless they somehow ruin the original footage, it's impossible to permanently goof up the edit. But the production phase is another story. You generally only get one chance at it - especially if it's a live event.

Often, when we're hired for the production phase, we suggest that the client pay us for a few hours to review their script to make sure that the pre-production phase has been properly executed. If we have to scramble to cover up flaws that haven't been considered earlier, it just makes things more difficult, and the results can suffer. So especially for the first time out, when it really counts, just make sure that you hire professionals to do the work that you aren't trained to perform. Just take good notes and perhaps you can produce your next video yourself. Or at least handle some of the responsibilities.

Best of luck with your production. With proper planning and a competent team you'll achieve your goals. Now read on to the article entitled "Video Production - Part III - Post Production or Editing".

For more related articles go to http://www.video1pro.com
For assistance with your next project, contact us through our website at http://www.video1pro.com or call us at 773 252-3352.

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Script Writing For Video Production

The script is the heart of your video production. So what makes a good video script?

Concise, conversational and easy-to-read.

Video script writing is the exact opposite from technical writing or academic writing. Those forms of writing use complex sentences, ten-dollar words and are usually very wordy. That is NOT what you want with a video script.

First, keep in mind that a video script is to be read aloud. Viewers will HEAR it rather than READ it. Therein lies the major difference. It's called writing for the ear instead of writing for the eye.

On a practical level, it is also writing for your narrator. No narrator, not even the really good ones, sound good stumbling through endless tongue twisters. Convoluted, run-on sentences are not only a nightmare to read; they are also hard for the audience to understand.

So forget everything you learned from those stodgy English teachers. (My best friend is an English teacher; that is not a criticism.) It's ok for video scripts to be full of sentence fragments because that is how people actually talk. If it makes sense when heard, then that is what you want.

The single best way to evaluate a video script is to read it aloud. Have someone listen to you if possible and see how well they understand what you are saying. Do not worry about using short, choppy sentences if that is what SOUNDS good. Inflection, tone of voice and pacing will have a lot to do with how well the script is understood and those things do not come through on paper.

Back when I taught TV production, I told my high school students to pretend they were speaking to a friend. If you wanted to tell a friend this story, what would you say? Write that down. Then, go back and modify it. Cut out the fat. Make sure the meat is prominent. Make sure the words you have chosen are descriptive, colorful, yet easily pronounced and understood.

Video script writing is a style unto itself. Remember too that whatever video you use also conveys meaning. Ideally, the video and the spoken narration work together in order to communicate. So if your narrator says, "Political leaders spoke to the public," and you show a hot air balloon deflating, then you have added considerable meaning without relying on words. That little trick is one of the things that makes video production so much fun!

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Video Production - Storytelling

The best videos tell a story. People love stories and it is the story that draws them in emotionally.

Now, I can just hear people saying, "But I'm trying to sell lawnmowers. That's not exactly a subject that lends itself to storytelling. Storytelling is just for fictionalized video productions."

OK, I understand where you are coming from, but hang with me here.

A story can be woven into ANY subject matter. The lawnmower example? Find a customer who won a landscaping award based in part on their beautiful lawn. Or, find a physically handicapped customer whose life was made easier when they gave up the clunky push mower for one of your fantastic riding lawnmowers.

STORIES ARE BASED ON CHARACTERS

Any decent novelist will tell you that characters are the heart of their story. Most novelists come up with the characters before they dream up the plot. Often, they will say the story writes itself once they know their characters well. What would this person do in this situation? There's your story.

Next time you watch TV, pay close attention to the commercials. Most TV commercials do a fantastic job of developing characters in just 30 seconds.

My favorite example is the series of Apple Computer commercials featuring the Mac and PC characters. Both characters are the personification of the image Apple wants to give to each product. Mac is hip and cool; PC is a nerd. Any viewer sees that immediately.

Exploiting clichés is usually necessary when you are trying to tell a story with delineated characters in a brief period of time. The P.C. police will get mad at me for that but tough beans. It is true.

A one-minute video production is not a novel. To get your point across quickly, you have to rely on pre-conceived notions. You CAN do that without being offensive.

Since video production is a visual medium, visual clichés rule. When they cast the Apple commercials, I'm sure all the fat, ugly actors were considered for the PC role only. Wardrobe probably wanted to add a bow tie and high-waisted pants.

The easiest way to add a story to your video production is to find a person (or make one up) that personifies the idea you are trying to get across. Are you wanting to produce a video on the dry subject of economics? Find a family that is struggling economically and tell their story. Take lots of heart-warming close-ups of their adorable baby.

EMOTIONALISM is the meat of any story, so don't be afraid to go for the jugular.

Even if your video production is just going to be a talking-head explaining how to assemble a bookshelf, you can add emotionalism. You do this by making sure your on-camera host displays personality. Then you add some catchy music and flashy graphics. Those techniques alone will go a long way to adding emotionalism, and a story, to your video production.

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Video Production Lighting Basics By Lorraine Grula Platinum Quality Author

For many novice video producers, lighting causes lots of worry and seems very complicated. Lighting for video production CAN be complicated, but it certainly doesn't HAVE to be.

I specialize in making video as easy as possible while still maintaining a professional look. I can sum up everything you need to know about lighting in just three bullet points:

1. Direct Light = Harsh
2. Diffused Light = Soft
3. What DIRECTION is the light coming from?

If you learn the meaning of these three concepts, I promise your lighting efforts will improve tremendously.

We'll start with the first two points. They are related.
Light comes in two forms, direct and diffused. Direct light is harsh and scary looking while diffused light is soft and flattering to the face.

If you remember elementary school physics, light rays always travel in a straight line. Imagine yourself outside at night with a flashlight. You can see the entire beam of light and it is straight. If you want to illuminate an object, you have to shine the flashlight directly on it. This is an example of direct light It travels in one direction, straight as an arrow.

Diffused light is when the straight light beams hit something reflective and then bounce off it. They bounce in straight lines but usually there are so many straight lines bouncing around that the effect is to have light rays bouncing around every-which-way.

A standard, incandescent light bulb is painted white on the inside in order to diffuse the light The light beams hit the white paint and bounce.

Another prime example of direct and diffused light is to think about being outside on a cloudy day or a sunny day. On a bright, sunny day you have direct light There are lots of deep shadows and the shadows have distinct edges.

On a cloudy day, the clouds diffuse the light If it's cloudy enough, there will not be any shadows at all. Since the light is bouncing around every-which-way, any potential shadow is filled in by the bouncing light and eliminated.

Generally speaking, you want DIFFUSED light in video production. Unless you are doing a monster movie, diffused light will look best.

Most of the gadgets that come in a professional light kit exist for the sole purpose of diffusing the light If you do not have a professional lighting kit, you can achieved a diffused effect by pointing your light toward the ceiling or wall and bouncing it. Do not point it at the on-camera talent. They will thank you for it. Not only will it make them look better, but it will keep them from squinting and being dreadfully uncomfortable.

Now let's talk about the third bullet point. What DIRECTION is the light coming from?

Is the source of light in front of your on-camera person? Behind them? To the side? Behind? What direction the light is coming from will have a huge impact on how it looks.

Generally speaking, you want the light source to be in front of, or to the side, of your on-camera talent. You do NOT want it behind them unless you are trying to hide their identity. Light coming from behind will create a silhouette. Video producers usually reserve that technique for sleazebags who want to remain anonymous.

This is a mistake I see frequently. People will stand right in front of the window thinking that the light coming from the window will add enough light to make their shot look good. It probably would, IF the on-camera person stands so the light falls on their face and not on their back.

There you have it, the basics of lighting for video production.

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Digital Video Production

Inspiration comes in many creative forms. Thanks to the new updates on digital video making, even amateurs are their own videos. There are home videos like bachelor parties, birthdays, marriages, special events, pool events, memorable occasions etc. Digital video production is a hobby for many people and is very creative too. One can subscribe to many magazines, online portals, and join classes to learn how to use them judiciously.

Digital video productions are being used in many classrooms also. They are included in the curriculum of many projects. The audio-visual medium is rich and students can understand better with it. The equipment is also affordable and can be used easily with the help of manuals. But classrooms can teach better use of these products.

Digital video software is available everywhere. If one can use it with the help of the computer, it can be a good a start for even a beginner. Even the kids can use it independently and make their own pictures. Digital video productions should be taken seriously if one has opted for the equipment. First of all find a suitable project that you like and also if someone else has not taken it up already. A little bit of prior planning can help to make really good movies.

One can plan well and take up a simple project. To shoot, edit and cut, it should take about a week. Make a proper script, choose friends and allocate departments well in advance, so there is no confusion.

TR Productions is New England's digital video production and multimedia leader! Whether you need a fully scripted presentation, a quick video interview shot for a meeting or an entire website, we add communications value on projects large or small. Contact us now at (800) 472-7449.

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Get Rolling with Digital Video Production

The muse can come from many different places and in different shapes. Now days in the world of digital video creation everyone can be a creative pro with their own gear. Some of the kinds of videos one can produce are bachelor parties, birthday events, weddings, special events, anniversaries and so on. There are so many wonderful and creative things you can do now days with digital video production. There are a ton of great ways to learn more on using the tools needed for creating fun and interesting digital video. You can find lessons, tips, classes and magazines which will show you the ins and outs.

The education environment is not utilizing digital video production in many ways as well. Students create them in classes, teachers use them in their curriculum, giving the students a full and rich learning environment. Students can learn faster and relate quicker to this audio-visual medium. Today's digital video equipment and tools are easy to afford and students can be guided using quality manuals and guides.

The advent of non linear editing software, powerful and yet common computers and you have the easy set up for digital video editing using software that is readily available. Both Windows and Mac computers come equipped with digital video editing software out of the box these days. You can add in the more complex and fancy packages to create fancier productions without having to go to graduate school to learn the system. The key to a good video production using digital equipment is to plan. Just like writing a paper for a class it makes sense to lay out your idea for a video production and plan it well in advance. That way you can create a work flow that makes it a snap to get from a to z in your production in no time.

Outline your idea, write a basic script, take notes while shooting, input your material in an organized fashion and then editing is a snap. If you skimp on these areas then you will spend more time scratching your head than you will laying out your fun project. It is simple if you plan.

One thing to always do in digital video production is have fun. The tools are so affordable and easy to learn that it makes sense to create and make fun video productions.

Kevin Rockwell has worked in TV production for over 25 years and now revels in the use of digital video and digital editing tools for his video production company. Stay on top of the world of digital video at Digital Video Centre. Sign up to get free digital video tips sent your box.

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High Definition Video Production

The advent of High Definition Video Production has proved to be a boon for television producers. It is inexpensive and cuts down on expenses without compromising on quality. The two companies that have been responsible for making HDV are JVC and Sony. Multimedia has made inroads in offices and homes too. The High Definition Video Production has opened up many vistas for professionals and amateurs. News channels rely on them for making stories and putting news as it happens across the world.

Home makers use the video footage to make memorable movies. They can be related to candid camera moments or a properly scripted one. Seasons are the time of fun and shooting videos. With high definition cameras, one can make as good pictures that appear on the screen. If one has the HDV equipment, one can select the number of events to be shot. This way the device is used sensibly. Proper planning is the key to have better movies. With a script as a guideline one can make sensitive pictures.

Making pictures is not the only thing one becomes skilled at. Understand how to take care of the equipment. The production can be only done if the camera is charged properly before the event. The person shooting it should be focused and not socialize. Many great moments are missed when the cameraman is busy eating or not focusing on the event. Make sure it is a day or night event and carry lights if required for the shooting.

TR Productions is New England's high definition video production and multimedia leader! Whether you need a fully scripted presentation, a quick video interview shot for a meeting or an entire website, we add communications value on projects large or small. Contact us now at (800) 472-7449.

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Music Video Production For Musicians - 7 Steps to Your Making Your Own Video - Part 1

Before we begin, I would advice you to use a professional music video production company. There are many services that would give you the quality you need at low price. Some might actually save you time and money.

Shooting yourself, however, may actually be quite fun and an exciting experience. Let's get to the good stuff then!

1) Preparation is King!

In all film and video production planning is what saves you time and money. How much you prepare can make the difference between success and failure.

One of the first things we were taught in film school was Murphy's law - "Everything that can go wrong, will go wrong!"

Just make sure you go down this list and make sure you plan ahead of time.

2) Your concept and script

You need to first know what you are going to shoot. Brainstorm ideas and see what you want to go with.

This is going to form the basics of your planning. You may choose to ignore this step, at your peril.

3) Choose your director and crew

Somebody must take the responsibility for the production. As much as everybody would like to have a go, it's not really a good approach. Let one person take charge.

A full crew listing is beyond the scope of this article but for a basic production have at least one person on the camera. I wouldn't advice you to rent professional lights if you are inexperienced get one person to be in charge of that.

If you have someone who is good with design and make up, that's great a s well

A runner is someone who basically does everything else as required at a given time.

In Part 2 we will go into some of the stuff that goes into the actual shooting.

John Essiam is a music video director and an industry professional based in the UK. You can get a free download of his eBook "How To Get A Record Deal From The Comfort Of Your Bedroom" at GuaranteedVideos.com.

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Video Production and Short Films

The art of taking videos that do justice to the purpose is what gives a good reputation to the video production company. Videography as it is alternatively referred to is the industry where qualified film makers and advertisement related professionals produce videos for their clients. The main aim of videos is to give a real life feel to the occasion or business being carried out, so the viewers get involved in what they are seeing and take back a piece of the same with them.

These also come in handy when a company wants to make a pitch for a new project or as proof of activities being carried out in an organization. When we watch wedding videos or videos of award ceremonies, we get a sense of Deja vu, which transports us to the day when the event took place. This makes us relive the experience and this is a beautiful experience to go through.

Video production is carried out by media companies where the person working on the project is involved right from the inception stage to the releasing the output. He has a discussion with the company, or the corporate communications person about what is the purpose behind the video and the vision for the same. Based on this, and with other related data, he will then consult his team of creative people and videographer to come up with ideas and then go ahead in creating the final product.

The film is then shot, and it could either involve people working in the organization or have actors playing different roles depicting the message to be conveyed. There will be stages where he will have to make changes and fine tune the video to cater to the needs and preferences of the client before it gets released. Off late there has been a trend where videos are preferred over many pages of information because these are to the point, with audio visual inputs and have a better reach.

Corporate video production

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Video Production Techniques

I think the best way to understand video production is to think of it as a PROCESS.

The process is always the same, whether you are producing a simple video or a complex one.

Here is a description of the process, step-by-step. It can be broken down into three phases.

• Pre-production
• Production
• Post-production

Pre-production is probably the most important and the easiest. Even if you want to outsource most of the work, you can (and should) do most of the pre-production yourself. Pre-production includes everything you do before you ever touch the camera. First, think about what you want your finished video to be. Ask yourself these questions.

1. Who is your audience?
2. What does your audience need or want to hear?
3. What does the audience already know?
4. What style of video would appeal to your target audience?
5. What is your budget?
6. What resources do you have readily available?

The answer to these questions will determine most everything else.

Next, think about what you should actually go and get on video tape. Do you need to interview experts? Do you need footage of specific things that represent your subject? Where and how will you video tape these things? Plan it all out. Make phones calls. Schedule crews, etc.

Write out a first draft of your script. Nothing needs to be carved in stone at this point, but a working script will help you collect all your thoughts.

A good script should be conversational. Pretend you are explaining the subject matter to a friend. What would you say to them? Write that down and then modify it by using more colorful words and better descriptions.

Video scripts are best if they use simple, short sentences. Avoid long, complex words that will be tongue twisters. Read it aloud to test it. Have someone else listen to you and get their reaction.

The production phase includes gathering all of your raw materials. All your raw video and audio. This phase probably takes the most work and know-how, especially if you are shooting everything from scratch.

Post-production is the phase where you take all your raw materials and assemble them into a finished video. Mostly, post-production means video editing. You add titles, music and other special effects during post-production.

There are many wonderful computer video editing programs that do a great job. Personally, I use Final Cut by Apple Computers. This is an advanced video editing program that allows you total control over every single aspect of your video. Most beginners would never want to fool with it. A beginner would be much better off with a simple program like Windows Movie maker or iMovie, which are both free. Those programs rely on pre-produced templates that make it much easier and less complex.

Sony Vegas Movie Studio is a popular program that is inexpensive and allows more control than the freebie programs but isn't nearly as complicated as Final Cut.

Video editing is also a step-by-step process and I have many free tutorials here on video production tips.com that will help you.

So there you have it, a brief description of the process of video production.

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