Learn Videography, Video Editing and Lighting

A large part of our mission is to provide you with the information you need to improve your skills in video production. And after 20 years of publishing, we have a lot to offer. This is the place to start for videography training. Here you will find hundreds of articles about audio/video software, video editing hardware, and help with video lighting techniques. Let the learning begin!

Shooting Video

The fundamentals of camera technique.

Multicam Shooting Whether it's shooting a wedding, baseball game, church service or two-person interview, shooting it with more than one camera can be a time-saving and very creative endeavor.
Basic Training: Practice Makes Perfect Artists, athletes and entertainers all know that the best way to become the best at what you do is to practice as often as you can. Why shouldn't video producers do the same?

Basic Training: The Low Down on Low Camera Angles Getting the low-down (perspective, that is) on changing your camera angle changes the mood of the story. Here are some ways to alter the emotional impact of your videos.
Dynamic Chase Scenes Introducing an exciting new feature from Videomaker: Interactive tutorials! Every month these articles will link to an on-line training video and clips you can download to recreate the effect or technique. See the end of this story for the link.

Director's Chair: Maintaining Continuity Even in blockbuster movies, continuity errors happen, and eagle-eyed viewers love to find the mistakes.

Video Lighting

The single most important factor in capturing a good image.

Video Lighting Equipment Buyer's Guide 2009 With the growing number of videographers, it can be difficult to set yourself apart. One way to stand out is by using of professional video lighting equipment.
Lighting: The Eye Light With a twinkle in his eye, your actor can win the damsel and convince the audience of his good intentions. Creating that twinkle is all in the art of lighting. Twinkle, twinkle little star. With the crisp winter air, we can see the stars brightly shining in the heavens.
Tutorial: Night Light How to turn the light of day into the dark of night... The technique of shooting outdoor night scenes in broad daylight has been around since the early days of film. It is commonly called Day for Night (DFN), and you can spot it in films like It's a Wonderful Life, Planet of the Apes and Jaws; documentaries like The Creation of the Universe; and, of course, the French film, Day for Night.
Lighting: Lighting Film Noir Style November. The days are getting shorter, the air is crisp and the mood is dark and forlorn. These are the perfect ingredients for film noir shooting.
Lighting : Lighting Gels You're ready with 3-point lighting or a soft-light and mood setting. But ... hum... what's missing? How about some red and blue on that dull white scene?

Video Editing

Putting it all together.

Editing: Screen Capturing for Everyone Companies need promotional & instructional videos created for their software applications, web applications, web stores & other computer-platform products.
Editing: Fool Proof Collaboration for Online Video Producers Smart producers are using online video collaboration to get fast feedback from their clients and to make adjustments without needing to meet the client.
Getting Started With Free Video Editing Software If you buy a Macintosh or Windows based system, here are some tips on getting started with the free video editing software that comes with your computer.

Editing: Sofa Film Schools How to turn your sofa into a film school. The best film school is as close as your living room. Watch the best filmmakers do what they do best-make films.
Quick Focus Homemade Pan-&-Tilt Jib under $60 - We recently received this letter and photos from a reader and thought we'd share them with you. Bob Plate was inspired to build a jib following one of the two DIY Jib & Crane tutorials in our November 2008 issue.
Editing: : Fix It in Post If a director, cinematographer, producer or uncle of the movie studio mogul tells you, "no worries... we'll fix it in post," tell them, "well, sure, we can... but it'll cost you."

Tips & Tricks Videos

Tips & Tricks: Hiding a Lav Mic

Audio For Video

What you hear is just as important as what you see.

Buyer's Guide to Finding the Best Audio Recording & Mixing Gear Guide to finding the best audio recording and mixing gear for video production with tips on how to stay within your budget and links to manufacturers.
Listen Up! Videomaker's Headphones Buyer's Guide Careful shopping and consistent use can make your videos a pleasure to hear. Silent movies went out of fashion with The Jazz Singer in 1927.
Audio: Getting To Know Your On Camera Audio Did you know your on camera audio may include several tools? Depending on your make and model, these extra goodies may be hiding somewhere.
Audio: Plosives and Sibilance Using a combination of talent and recording techniques, along with some post-production tricks, you can create a clean, professional vocal recording.
Videomaker's Microphone Guide Guide to finding the best microphones for video production. Learn about the many types of microphones. Includes list of manufacturer's websites.

Video Equipment

Equipment reviews you can trust.

Review: Canon Still Camera and Canon High Definition Camcorder in one Being able to shoot HD video with the Mark II SLR allows go from a Canon still camera to a Canon high definition camcorder with the flick of a switch.
High Definition Camcorder Review: Pure Digital Flip MinoHD The Pure Digital Flip MinoHD camcorder is impressive. Now quality video & decent sound can now be had in a camera no larger than your TV's remote control.
Camcorder Review: Panasonic AG-HPX170 DVCPRO HD Camcorder Panasonic AG-HPX170 DVCPRO HD Camcorder shows good color detail and has extensive picture customization options. The P2 based media, though, is still costly...

Camcorder Support Review : Delkin Fat Gecko & Cam Caddie Scorpion Great images look even better with the many useful devices on the market. Both of these can certainly enhance one's shooting pleasure, and add that extra POV shot.

Review: Evolved Lighting Kit with Fluorescent Video Lights Evolved Lighting sent us a variety of lights and products to try out. Opening the hard plastic case revealed a pair of fluorescent video lights.

Video Production Planning

Planning tools to save time, money, and aggravation.

Director's Chair: Planning Your Shoot There is an old saying in the business world that goes, "Poor prior planning leads to particularly poor programs." This is especially true in the video industry.
8 On-the-fly Guerrilla Production Tips Now more than ever, it's possible for one person to venture into the world and capture great video. By following a few simple guidelines, you too can be an on-the-fly guerrilla filmmaker!

Directing: Recruiting Talent One of the most difficult, important and rewarding things a director has to do is find, recruit and work with talent.
Kindergarten Yearbook Videos A little planning, your expertise and your camera can turn into a career or at least a little cash when you create a video yearbook.

Standing Sets for (Practically) Nothing Do-it-yourself blueprints to build four low-tech, low-effort and low-cost video sets.