If a backyard neighbor or chatty electronics salesman has you convinced that you need a new fancy-feature, trendy-spendy camcorder in order to make great videos, please hold onto your wallet. We’ve got good news.

Affordable consumer-level camcorders are now capable of producing near-amazing quality video. In fact, many of my studio customers bring in camcorders that shoot video at higher resolutions than their home TV can display (i.e., high definition)!

If you’re still shooting memory-making events with an older camcorder – even 8mm or Hi-8 – don’t despair. The truth is that capturing “high quality” video has every bit as much to do with the camera operator – you – as the equipment on which it’s recorded. To escalate your video quality from oops or blah to great – regardless of the age, brand or complexity of your camcorder – you have three options: study heavy-duty technical books, attend time-consuming classes, or simply read our top tips here.

 Tip #1: Keep it steady!

Shaky video is the #1 killer of quality and viewability. Extreme cases have actually led to motion sickness! Steadying a small, palm-held camcorder can be a challenge, but it’s well worth the extra effort. While the best remedy is to invest in an inexpensive (under $60), reliably steady monopod or tripod to anchor your camera, we can suggest two zero-cost tricks that work almost as well. Try resting your camera-holding hand against a solid object like a chair, tree, or countertop while shooting. If a steadying object is not available, tuck your elbow firmly into your stomach, making your body the immovable force to steady your hand. Steady as you go when shooting video!

Tip #2: Steer clear of backlit subjects

If your camcorder has a backlight function, be forewarned that this feature seldom works well. To be safe, make it a point to not shoot video when the sun or other bright light source is directly behind your subject. The key is to have the main light source behind the camera operator – you! While it takes a little effort to pose subjects in the proper light, the pay-off is a well-lighted video without distracting shadows – and your audience’s compliments.

Tip #3: Avoid using the Digital zoom – at all costs!

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but the digital zoom feature on your camcorder is nothing more than a marketing ploy. All the digital zoom does is allow the camera to cut into the center of the image and digitally expand it to fit the frame, resulting in grainy, terrible-looking footage – definitely not a good thing. The camcorder feature you really need to work with is the viewfinder zoom indicator, which alerts you when you surpass the optical zoom range and move into the digital zoom range. Crossing that line a no-no, so stop zooming right there!

Tip #4: Don’t overuse the zoom

Zooming-in to get a close-up of the action is fine, but don’t overuse this technique. When zooming, apply a light pressure on the zoom control to keep it slow and smooth. And remember that when you’re doing a close-up zoom, even a slight movement of the camera is exaggerated and will cause shaky video. This makes Tip #1 even more critical! Think of it this way: subject close-ups are delicious for the frosting, but not as the entire cake.

Tip #5: Shoot events from different vantage points whenever possible

Ever get the urge to film a once-in-a-lifetime sports event or stage performance for posterity? If you’re among the millions who answer, “Yes”, next time squelch the itch to shoot the entire event from your seat in the bleachers. Instead, grab your camera securely and walk down to the first base line, behind the field goal or toward the stage. When shooting performances, get footage from the side as well as straight on. As with Tip #5, these techniques add variety, make video more interesting to your audience, and add a professional touch that will bring you compliments.

Tip #6: When videotaping kids, get down to their level

When your subject is a small child, it’s especially important to bring the camera down to their eye level. Think about how much better your video will look from the kids’ perspective. Otherwise, you’ll be watching seemingly endless hours of footage featuring the top of their head or the scenery behind them! Another advantage of getting down to their level is that you will hear their voices much more clearly on the audio.

Tip #7: It’s all about the audio

Speaking of audio – it’s important to think about the role audio plays in a particular shot and where the sound is originating from, relative to the spot from which you’re shooting. There is a common misconception that zooming-in visually to a subject will also result in better audio reception. Not true! Audio challenges are even greater if you’re shooting in a crowd, where voices and other noises near the camera microphone can easily drown-out the audio you intend to capture. Avoid these pitfalls by moving closer to the action or just move away from the interfering noise. If you’re lucky enough to have a headphone jack on your camera, use it to “hear” exactly what the camera is recording. Then you can make positioning adjustments as needed for the cleanest possible sound.

Tip #8: Pay attention to framing your subjects

Go ahead, get up-close-and-personal. It’s fine to fill the frame with your subject, but be sure to place the subject slightly off-center in the frame. This technique is referred to in the industry as using the “rule of thirds”. Your videos will be much more visually interesting if you shift your primary subject left or right of center and include more of the surroundings in the shot. Take it from the professionals — this really works! 

 

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