Framing & Focus
- Watch your head room! Be sure to leave a little space above your subject’s head.
- Get a little closer! For interviews, try to film from roughly the waist up.
- Learn your rule of thirds.
- Usually, avoid having your subject look directly at the camera. If they’re standing off to the right side of the frame, have them look off to the left of the camera (their right), so they’re looking across the screen. With multiple people in individual interviews that will be in the same video, make sure they’re all standing on the same side and looking in the same direction!
- Using manual focus/white balance (not auto) will keep your shot consistent.
- To get your focus clear, zoom in all the way and set your focus to your subject’s eyes. Zoom out to your desired frame once it’s set and make sure your subject doesn’t move too far forward or back.
- Advise your subject to avoid chewing gum, wearing hats/sunglasses, and swaying or fidgeting while they speak (if you notice a problem, address it before beginning your recording). Keep an eye on them so they stay in frame.
- Have your subject stand several steps away from the background, especially if you want the background to be blurred out.
- Make sure your camera or tripod is level!
Audio
- Whenever possible, use a microphone.
- Be aware of your mic levels. Low levels are fixable, but will increase background noise as well. Loud levels will overdrive the mic leaving an unpleasant crunchy sound which cannot be fixed.
Good Practice Tips
- Back up your memory card to your computer and/or external hard drive immediately following a shoot. DO NOT upload from the card to any adobe product; make sure it’s saved to your computer FIRST.
- Be sure to format your memory card IN your camera before your next shoot (after you have backed up the footage). Do not clear your memory card on your computer.
- Always start your shoot with a full battery and empty memory card. Bring backups, even if you think it will be quick.
- Always bring a cloth to clean the lens before you film to prevent smudges
Editing
- If you decide to edit an interview, always consider whether a quote is absolutely vital to the story. Even if it’s a great quote, if it’s unrelated or redundant, cut it. Also, cut out any long pauses like before someone starts talking or when they’re thinking of a response. Even 2-3 seconds of pausing is noticeable.
- Cover cuts with b-roll whenever possible or change the camera angle.
Lighting
- Whenever possible, have your subject face the sun. This will naturally highlight them and distinguish them from the background. Try to avoid backgrounds that are significantly brighter than the subject and watch out for contrasting shadows or bright spots (think dappled light from a tree) on the subject. Midday is usually the worst time to film because it puts you at high risk for these situations.
- “The Golden Hour” for filming is in the first and last hours of light. The hours around midday provide the harshest lighting for film (and photos). It is preferable to film in the morning or evening, but if that isn’t possible, be aware of that when you are staging your subject.
- A “flat” (not overly saturated or contrasted) image will contain more data and be easier to color correct than a heavily contrasted image. It is easier to add contrast and saturation than to take it away.
- If using a camera, be sure to white balance before recording so your colors will be accurate. (YouTube is a great resource for learning how to do this on your own camera.)
For basic questions about editing or filming, please contact Kayla Murphy at kmurph8@clemson.edu.
