- Use a tripod! This is the one thing, above all else, that helps create good footage. If a tripod is not available, try using something else to steady the camera. As an alternative, hold the camera close to your body and lean against a wall, fence, etc. Shaky footage is very distracting and hard to watch. If your athlete is college bound, shaky footage could eliminate your athlete from consideration or mean the difference between a full-ride scholarship to a Division 1 school or walking on at the community college.
- Turn off digital zoom. Digital zoom magnifies an image electronically, rather than using the lenses to bring an image closer. Digital zoom creates “pixilation” and degrades the quality of the video.
- Make sure your battery is charged and you have a backup battery fully charged and ready to use should the primary battery fail.
- Use a new, unused videotape. Label the tape prior to inserting it into the camera and don’t use it for other purposes. And don't rewind the tape in-between plays to see what you captured-wait until you get home. You could miss the next play or in a rush to get taping again accidentally erase something that is meaningful.
- Establish a medium shot before moving to close-ups. A medium shot is one that encompasses the playing area and relevant players. Close-ups are great but when used too much or at the wrong time important details of the play-details that highlight your athletes performance-can be missed. In videotaping college-bound athletes, note that college coaches like to be able to make out the number on a jersey so don’t completely zoom out.
- Set camera high enough to be able to capture the playing surface but in an area where obstructions will not occur (i.e., people seated 3 rows down not staying seated, light poles, team mascot, etc.).
We hope that these tips are useful and helpful in creating the best footage possible.
Happy shooting and God's blessings!
Chris.
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