Quick Tips

Stay Sharp
When using manual focus, always zoom in to your camera's maximum telephoto setting before adjusting your focus. If shooting a person, zoom in tight on the eyes, and then set your focus. This will insure a sharp, crisp picture when you zoom out to frame the shot.

Hit List
Before leaving to videotape an event, whether a wedding, a recital or a family get-together, brainstorm a list of shots to look for, and check them off as you shoot. Working from a shot list will help insure that you record everything that you want on tape and that you miss nothing important. Feel free to include extra shots not on your list, however, if you see something interesting.

Play it Safe
When creating graphics for your videos, leave a "safe zone" around the edge of the screen. Large or wide graphics run the risk of being cut off on some TVs, since some TV sets crop more of the edge of the frame than others. Designing graphics that are within the safety zone will guarantee your title's reada…

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