There are some basic techniques for shooting good video that’s enjoyable to watch. Keeping it steady we went over in another tip section so we all know about using a tripod or just keeping it steady. Another technique is panning. That’s moving the camcorder from left to right or vice versa. Slower than you think works better. Our eyes can move fast so there’s a tendency to pan too fast. Go slow on pans. Pans work well for covering a wide area. I like to shoot a wide area of the school as we enter the ground in a slow pan left to right. That gives the viewer a sense of how large the school area is. Also if you want you can shoot close ups of someone walking up to receive an award and follow pan with them.
Another technique is zooming. Try not to overdo zooming. With some practice, you can do a slow zoom that’s almost un-noticeable that you have zoomed in or out.
Shooting from the ground or low level is a clever shot to use of a hallway or sidewalk with people’s feet the center of attention. Also use low level shots to stay eye level with kids. Try not to shoot looking down on them. It comes across just like that, looking down on them.
Tilting is like panning but it goes from top to bottom or vice versa. A really nice beginning shot is to start shooting up in the trees and slowly tilt down to where you want to be. Or start at ground level looking at the sidewalk and tilt up to level. It adds interest and a little controlled movement to you video.
As far as movement goes, try to keep the camcorder still and let the action happen inside the frame. One big mistake is videotaping kids on a swing set. We all have the inclination to follow back and forth almost like watching a tennis ball go back and forth. That will really come out badly. It’s a much better shot to frame the whole swing set and let the kid’s swing back and forth all the while staying in frame. You still get the idea of them swinging without the added nausea. When you are taping a play and your child is one end and another speaking child is on the other don’t quick pan back and forth from one to the other. Shoot the whole scene as a wide shot. Get all the close ups you need before and after the play starts.
Speaking of close ups, get plenty. Get shots of the kids in the car, getting out of the car, going to the classroom or auditorium? Get close up shots after, when it’s done, to get their feelings on the performance etc. Close up shots, wide shots, ground level shots, pan shots, tilt shots all these are nice effective techniques to use but in moderation.
Have fun.