Tips for Shooting Better Video

Once upon a time, the ability to shoot video with a digital still camera was one of those “Gee whiz” gimmicks camera makers seemed to include just to have a reason to get you to buy a new camera. That hasn’t been true for a couple of years now, as the video quality of many digital still cameras has gotten quite good. The Nikon J1 is a stellar example. It’s capable of HD quality video and is actually capable of outperforming typical modestly priced digital video camcorders, especially when you consider the range of lenses and other helpful accessories available for it.

Producing good quality video is more complicated than just buying good equipment. There are techniques that make for gripping storytelling and a visual language the average person is very used to, but also pretty unaware of. Producing high-quality videos can be a real challenge for amateur photographers. After all, by comparison we’re used to watching the best productions that television, video, and motion pictures can offer. Whether it’s fair or not, our efforts are compared to what we’re used to seeing produced by experts. While this chapter can’t make you into a pro videographer, it can help you improve your efforts.