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Get down to their level.
When you shoot kids, try to get eye-level with them, whether
on your knees, the floor, or a low chair. This proximity
is less intimidating, and it allows you to get closer
and to have greater interaction with the children. |
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Let the camera roll
As we always said in television, “Tape is cheap,”
so don’t be in a rush to turn off the video camera.
When you feel you have captured the dance or giggle, let
the camera roll for another minute or two. Some of the
best moments happen unexpectedly, so if you have the camera
on and focused, you’re more likely to get them on
film. |
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Don’t use a lot of movement
Feel free to adjust your shot according to the action,
but don’t zoom in and out, or pan around too much.
The subject should be providing the movement, not the
camera. Try this: when you see something you want to videotape,
pick up the camera and get a nice long shot of whatever
is happening without any camera movement whatsoever. Then
move in to adjust the shot and then let it roll for a
while. This way you will have both a wideshot of the activity
(something that shows all the action) and a close up. |
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Fill the frame
This is a great tip for videotaping small babies. Some
of the best video is where you can see the expressiveness
in a baby’s face when she is playing peek-a-boo,
or her determination in trying to get the spoon from the
cereal to her mouth. Don’t be afraid to get really
close and fill the frame with your baby’s face.
It’s wonderful to be able to see every detail. |
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Use your LCD screen
One foolproof trick for getting some nice shots of children
ages 12 months to four years is to flip around the LCD
screen on the camera so the kids can see themselves in
action (most consumer cameras have a screen that can swivel).
There are two advantages to this technique: a)you’ll
get a nice extended close up shot because most children
can focus on themselves for a while, and b) you’ll
get some hysterical footage as kids figure out who’s
on the screen and start making faces at themselves! |
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Keep the same shot for a while
When shooting, make sure that you keep the same shot for
at least 10-20 seconds if you want to be able to edit
it later. This may not sound like a long time, but kids
are high energy, so getting video with 10-20 seconds of
an activity can seem like an eternity. You’d be
surprised how much video I see where parents have turned
off the camera after only five seconds! To make sure you
shoot for longer periods of time, try counting silently
to yourself or watching the counter on the screen. |
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Interaction is as important as action
This applies to all ages but can be particularly helpful
when videotaping infants. Some of the most poignant moments
on tape are when a child is interacting with a parent,
sibling, relative, or special friend. Any little exchange
will look great on film, whether it’s holding hands,
hugging, reading a story, or putting socks on a newborn’s
tiny feet. These interactions make lovely video images
and help place the relationships in the context of your
life. |
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Try not to talk over the action
while you’re taping
Most microphones on consumer cameras favor ambient noise;
they pick up all the sound in the environment instead
of focusing on the person being filmed. In fact, microphones
usually pick up the sound closest to the camera, which
is usually the person shooting. As a result, the person
videotaping is heard often above anyone else. Try to stay
quiet when shooting and the camera just might get the
sound of your baby cooing and gurgling. |
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Interview like the pros!
When interviewing older children on tape, try not to ask
“yes” or “no” questions. For example,
instead of asking “Is this your new baby sister?”
try asking, “When did your baby sister arrive? Tell
me about her.” Children have wonderful imaginations
and this is a beautiful way to let them roam free. Invite
children to tell their stories and all too often they
are happy to share! |
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Have fun!
When all else fails, have a good time with it! Your attitude
will be contagious and it will shine all over the tape!
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