Recording a Video
So, you’ve volunteered to record a video for use in an upcoming online service. Thank you! One way we can all stay connected is to see and hear from a variety of parishioners. The tips on this page will help make sure that you look and sound great!
Equipment: the good news is you likely have everything you need to make your video in your pocket or purse right now. Today’s smart phones have incredible video capabilities with great cameras. If you don’t have a smart phone, many of today’s PCs and Macs include web cameras that will work. You can also record your video using a Digital Camcorder and most modern still cameras (DSLR, point and shoot) also have a movie mode that you can use. Other than your camera, there are three other optional pieces of equipment that will improve your recording:
tripod - anything will do here. Just something that will hold the camera steady while you record.
light source - again anything will do here. An low power LED light works best.
external microphone: there are lapel versions that plug right into iOS devices or android devices.
Layout: while portrait (taller than wide) videos are the new normal for most social videos, we are recording all of the services for Trinity in landscape (wider than tall - like you see on your TV).
Location: pick a quiet room with as little as possible background noise (HVAC, pets, kids, etc). Stand or sit in the middle of the room instead of against a wall. It makes it sound better and gives a better background.
Composition: fill up the screen with as much of your face as possible. Don’t over do it, but we feel connected through facial expression so the more of your face (and less of your body) in the frame the better.
Lighting: situate your self in the room and/or move the lighting so the most well lit thing in the room is your face. That can include lowering the lights in other parts of the room and/or adding light to your face.
Recording: If you can get someone else to record you so you can just focus on your part. Make sure to look into the camera and pause for 2-3 seconds before starting and after you are done. This gives time to allow for editing into the overall service. People have a tendency to look away as soon as they are done so make sure to keep looking into the camera when you are done. As you record, look into the camera as much as you feel comfortable. Having someone else record can help here since they can stand right behind the camera and looking at them makes it seem like you are looking at the camera.
Practice: you may want to practice a few times. Record your practices and then watch them, making notes of what you liked and didn’t. Please don’t send the practice cuts - only the final that you want used in the service.
File format: this will depend somewhat on what you use to record, but the preferred formats are MOV or MP4. Mainly we are looking for something with the least amount of compression, which means it will have the largest file size.
Sending: when you are done with your recording and have one you like, send it to Chris Kelley. If the file is too large for email and you don’t have a proffered file sharing service (drop box, we transfer, google drive, etc), send Chris an email and he will make arrangements with you to get the file. Make sure you include in the email what service it is for (day and date), what part it is (2nd reading from the book of John) and your full name. If you have any questions or suggestions to make this guide better, just let Chris know as well.
Here is some additional guidance on how to make a great selfie video: