Holiday Edition
Posted on Saturday, February 10th, 2007 at 2:13 am
The Basics: Creating a Holiday Home Video
When it comes to shooting holiday video, many of us simply hit the ‘record’ button and shoot whatever is in front of us. Maybe we ask people to say something; they offer an awkward smile and a wave and we’re off to the next unsuspecting family member. This year, take a few basic tips and let them transform your home video from amateur to extraordinary!
Beat the Crowds: If possible, take a few moments to video the surroundings before guests arrive. Zoom in on the decorations; shoot video of the tree, the presents or a cherished family photograph. If you have holiday lights or decorations outside the house, shoot some video of the front of the house as well as any snow or frost in the area. During the editing process (and editing is easier than you think), you can use these moments at the beginning of the video or as part of a transition.
Capture the Kitchen: Everyone knows that most of the real action happens in the kitchen! Capturing the conversations of family members reminiscing about holidays past, cooking together and enjoying one another’s company can make for a very personal and memorable holiday video. Try to stay back a bit—zoom in if possible—but keep your physical distance. You don’t want to intrude or hinder the natural flow of the conversation with your presence.
Get Some Support: This is one of those times when a tripod is an invaluable tool. Not only will it help you keep your shots steady, it can also become a fixture in a room—people will get used to it after awhile and you can capture more natural interactions. In fact, you can leave your camera running in one location for a bit; you’d be amazed at some of the unscripted gems you’ll record. Just keep an eye on your recording time! We have a number of high quality tripod options—just consider it an early Christmas present!
The Fun Interview Corner: Consider creating a small studio in the corner of a room to have friends and relatives share stories and sentiments on video. Offer lead-in questions such as, “What do you love most about the holidays?”, “What is your favorite holiday tradition?”, or “What is your funniest holiday memory?” Consider using an attractive chair and a small table with a family photo as shooting location. Also, pay attention to lighting—you don’t want your subject to appear harsh or washed out. Experiment with existing lighting and consider adding a small fill light if necessary.
Editing with Ease: If you’re new to video editing, get ready for a fun adventure! Don’t feel that you have to be proficient immediately. Instead, enjoy learning the basics—you’d be amazed at the quality of projects you can create with even the most basic software programs. Here are just a few programs for you to consider (please note we are not endorsing these choices, only sharing with you the most highly rated options):
- Adobe Lightroom
- Adobe Premiere Elements 9
- Apple Aperture
- Apple iMovie ‘11
- Corel Digital Studio 2010
- Cyberlink PowerDirector 8 Deluxe
- Windows Live Movie Maker 2011
Short Clips for Sharing: You can create short clips to share on Facebook, YouTube and on your personal blog. It’s a great way to connect with distant loved ones who were unable to attend.
The Perfect Gift: Once your video project is complete, send copies to everyone on your family gift list. Your storytelling skills will be warmly appreciated and your project will likely be one of the most valued and personal gifts your family has ever received.
About the Author
Stu Eddins is blogger, instructor, merchandiser, and is generally in charge of a lot of things for Porter’s Digital Cameras and Imaging. Visit their site at www.porters.com. Years of experience over the counter and in classrooms have turned Stu into an evangelist for image preservation, capturing and sharing memories, and helping people understand digital cameras, digital camera lenses.
Green Cribs: Holiday Edition
|
|
Eco-Cup, Single-Wall Porcelain Mug … |
|
|
Metrokane Zippity Rabbit Polished Sterling Model-Black EVA Case $69.98 This Rabbit has a new hutch. Zippered EVA case with Polycarbonate window. Sterling Rabbit Corkscrew with die-cast metal body and finished in brilliant chrome. Comes with polished chrome foil cutter and extra spiral. 10 year warranty on Rabbit Corkscrew…. |
|
|
Le Creuset Mini Cocotte Sets Inspired by the culinary movement Nouvelle Cuisine, Le Creuset created an invaluable set of individual serving cocottes and a cookbook full of creative recipes…. |
|
|
Pink Friday … Roman Reloaded [Explicit] $9.99 … |
|
|
Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded $9.03 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
Carnival Ride $5.15 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
|
|
Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas Special Edition (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD in Blu-ray Packaging) $22.75 Features include: •MPAA Rating: G•Format: Blu-Ray•Runtime: 72 minutes… |
|
|
Disney’s A Christmas Carol (Four-Disc Combo: Blu-ray 3D / Blu-ray / DVD / Digital Copy) $25.63 Fans of Robert Zemeckis’s brilliant special effects, and of Jim Carrey’s transformative acting abilities, will be swept away by their collaboration in the stunning A Christmas Carol. Perhaps more surprising is that Charles Dickens purists will also be impressed and captivated by this version of the oft-told tale–which is dark, complex, and in its way, uncompromising. Which is all to say that this… |
|
|
The Nightmare Before Christmas [Blu-ray] + Digital Copy $16.89 For those who never thought Disney would release a film in which Santa Claus is kidnapped and tortured, well, here it is! The full title is Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, which should give you an idea of the tone of this stop-action animated musical/fantasy/horror/comedy. It is based on characters created by Burton, the former Disney animator best known as the director of Pee-wee’s… |
|
|
Philips 818564 LivingColors Mini Color-changing LED Ambiance Light, White $84.99 The Philips 818564 LivingColors Mini LED lamp is an innovative mood setter with the capability to project 256 different color combinations. Change colors quickly and easily to create the unique atmosphere that fits a particular moment. The intuitive color wheel control allows you to pick the color you want with a single touch–there’s also an automatic color-changing mode.LivingColors MiniAt a Gla… |