Public Relations covers several facets of media. Our clients expect us to write press releases, pitch the media, manage their social presence and now, more and more want us to record and edit video. I know many would say: “That’s the job of a journalist!” It is. However, if everyone is competing to get their clients covered in the media, learning to film and edit might get your client’s story selected over another. Also, if your client needs a video release, such as a public service announcement, you can handle it for them—instead of hiring a third-party to do it for you.
With that said, here’s some basic tips for filming …
Get action shots. It’s easy to get a lot of footage of people standing, but action is what people want to see. Make sure that you have lots of action shots. If you are not sure, make sure each video clip has at least a subject, verb and an adjective. Doing so will keep your audience engaged.
Get several angles. A rule of thumb is to get as many angles as possible. You’d be surprised at how different things look from the typical straight-ahead angle. Don’t be afraid to get up close to your subject, get in a chair or even sit on the floor to get a good angle. Your client won’t expect you to be a world-famous photographer, but it doesn’t hurt to give them a variety.
Keep your video short. People tend to get hours of footage for a two-minute video. It doesn’t hurt to have extra footage, but remember you will have to look through all of that footage when you get ready to edit. Make sure you get the most important footage first and then move on to creative elements.
Use a tripod. I know, people hate packing around the tripod, but it makes all the difference in your footage. Using a tripod solves almost all of your shaky camera problems. Most people think they can hold a steady hand, but don’t take that chance unless you have to. Tripods make video pans and zooms easier for viewers to see. When filming any person or event, remember to always count to 10 before moving the camera on to something else.
Lighting is everything. Lighting maybe the most important thing when recording video. Many cameras automatically adjust the lighting for you, but just in case, position yourself to where the light (either the sun, lamp, window etc) is behind you. Some editing programs allow you to adjust light, however it’s always better to get the best lighting possible before hand.
Keep it simple. Avoid fancy shooting techniques, or excess movement in your shots. Your clients won’t expect a masterpiece from you, so avoid fancy video effects also. It is important to think of your audience when filming. Using fancy digital effects will either annoy them or distract them from the purpose of your video.
Now that we’ve reviewed some filming tips, take a look at this video on the basic editing techniques using iMovie. iMovie is really easy to use and perfect for beginners. Although iMovie is only available for a MAC, there are other editing programs that work similarly.
I hope these tips and tutorials help. Once again, no one is expecting you to be a world-famous photographer, but it never hurts to know the basics.
Kaitlyn Williams
Social Media Officer
