Stormy May Productions
Tips for
filming
Whether
you're using the latest digital mini cam or an old VHS dinosaur, following the hints
below will make your raw footage translate the best into a final edited piece:
1) Use a
tripod when filming.
2) Use a
tripod when filming.
3) Use a
tripod when filming.
4) Consider
the background. The less cluttered
the better. Make sure fences are
in good repair and the junk pile isn't showing. Consider trailering to another place for filming if your
arena isn't up to par.
5) Early
morning or early evening will give you the best lighting. Try to avoid filming in the middle of
the day.
6) If you can put the tripod and camera up on a little hill or the back of a pick-up truck, the angle will look a little better than shooting from ground level.
7) Try to
keep the horse and rider filling about 80% of the space in the center of the
viewfinder. Practice zooming in
and out until it becomes easy to follow the horse.
8) If you'd
like to speak about the horse, record your voice into the camera in a quiet
location before or after filming the other parts. We can cut and paste the audio in the editing process.
9) Riders or
handlers in the video should dress casual but professional. Slacks, blouses, and riding attire are
appropriate. Avoid showing too
much skin and wearing patterns or colors such as bright white, and reds. They tend to distract from the horse.
10) Be sure
to include some conformation shots and show the horse in hand moving towards
and away from the camera. Shots at
liberty in a pasture, tacking up, trailer loading, bathing, clipping, or
working in a round pen may also be useful.
11) You may
want to include "filler" shots such as a barn sign, flowers, barn,
etc... to help establish a sense of place in the video.
12) For a stallion video, show the stallion's offspring at liberty and/or under saddle when possible.