by Ms. Marie

Created on: December 30, 2010

Shooting great home videos does not have to be complicated, that is if you are willing to take a little time to learn some basics.  A home video is a great way to preserve memories.  Think about Michael Jackson's Thriller video, it inspired video-makers to be more creative when shooting and editing videos.  Do you want to learn how to shoot great home video? 

The first thing you should do is understand your camcorder's capabilities.  This may sound boring, especially if you are eager to begin filming, but it will be a big help.  Knowing the features, this includes understanding what each button or function is used for, will help you set up and use your video camera properly.  So, read the manual, it may not make seem like useless information, but as you begin shooting home videos the information will come in handy.  It can save you time, and hours of frustration too.

Tripods - This is a must have.  My camcorder has built-in stabilization, and I can stand very still you may be thinking.  So, why are tripods important?  Stability, a home video that is worth saving, sharing and watching should not bounce all over the screen; built-in stabilizers can't compare to using a tripod for stability.  There are many types of tripods, some are budget friendly, and they are easy to set up and use.  Look at the bottom of almost any camcorder, you should see a small hole with threads that is used to securely attach the video camera to a tripod.

With a tripod you can film one area or pan, tilt and shoot using the handle on the tripod.  Holding a camera while filming will almost always cause jitters in the output.  To learn more about hand held video camera shooting tips watch this quick video tutorial.

To shoot great home video, take some time to  learn some video tips and tricks, this will help you tremendously.  You will be on your way to shooting great home video.

Turn Home Videos into Short Movies

Now, you have some great video clips so why not make them more interesting.  There are many video editing software programs, buy or download one and unleash your creativity.  Video editing software is not that hard to learn, most programs have layouts that are very similar to many other programs you probably already use.  Basically, a work space, menus, tools, help files and other standard options.

You can add titles, text captions, talk bubbles, special effects, transitions and digital photos to tell a story.  If you have a microphone, add some narration or simply click and drop some music clips into your home video.  The possibilities are endless, the only limitations are the ones you set.  Are you willing to learn some new things?  Can you use your imagination?  Yes, well you can learn how to shoot great home video to use in your very own short movies or documentaries.

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