I don’t care where you live on this planet history is constantly
being made. You can either, observe and
trust your memory or capture events forever on a quality camera. Trust me making videos pays!
I’m a believer in using the raw power of capturing moments
that will otherwise be lost forever, especially when there is no discernible
cost involved. When in doubt I shoot video with the best camera I have available.
When it comes to video the rules are simple, hold the camera
as still as possible, get as close as possible to your subject and let every shot roll for at least 15 seconds. Keep the camera rolling gathering more video
not less! Only use the zoom when you
can’t come in for the close-up. Tight
zooming without a steady tripod increases camera shake dramatically and shaky
video is trash.
Always shoot the video horizontal and never vertical. Your video needs to conform with our wide screen TV sets.
The other thing you need to do is ask questions to the
subjects you're shooting on video. Here is
an example, you are shooting video of person being placed in the back seat of a
police car. You can quietly shoot the
video or ask the suspect, why is he being arrested? He may try to convince you his actions were
justified or confess to a crime.
Whatever he says to you is always pure gold! Keep them talking! Smart cops won’t interfere with your
questions because they know that the more a suspect talks the more they will
incriminate themselves.
Getting up close is the only way you can get good audio when
using a camera’s on board microphone.
Trust me, you need good audio.
Professionals use wireless hand-held or Lavaliere clip on microphones
kept close to the sound source. You will
be okay with you your on board microphone as long as you stay close as
possible.
The latest versions of the IPhone and IPad come with amazing
cameras for both still and video photography.
You can easily and professionally edit what you shoot in the $5.00 IMovie
app. IMovie even provides titling, music
and sound effects you can add! It can be done on the IPhone but editing is much
easier on the IPad or a laptop computer.
Always carrying a camera is like buying a 24/7 lottery
ticket, it can pay big bucks at any
second! Being in the right place at the
right time and capturing video pays!
Media giants are waiting to write you a generous check for anything
newsworthy.
Over the last several years I have been paid handsomely for
video I never expected would even seem interesting. Video shots of historic moments like the
Rodney King beating, Kennedy
assassination, Kent State Shooting, or celebrity missteps can sometimes bring
you a six-figure check.
You have the need to always carry a cell phone so when
making that purchase why not make sure it has a topnotch little HD camera built
in?
Practice deploying that camera quickly. You don’t want to be fumbling when you could
be capturing history and earning the price of that badly needed new car.
Everyone should learn how to do a simple reporter’s
package. That is the typical TV news
story that should not be longer than two minutes in length. You shoot, edit and later add narration of an
event. Practice on a simple project like
the building of a tree house or your kid’s first lemonade stand. Don’t forget to interview your kids on
camera!
Never give your video away for free just so you can see it
on TV. Don’t load it up on YouTube either
unless you have exhausted efforts to sell what you have captured. The media buyers will tell you what to do
with the video and you will be precluded from revealing to others what you were
paid.
Below is the first test video I captured and edited on my
new IPad. I finished the job and up
loaded it on YouTube in less than 15 minutes!
This exercise was done by me simply so I could become familiar with the
IPad and IMovie app. The sound is both natural and the added
effects built in to the IMovie application.
Comments
1. Match your video with media organizations that fit. Local News, National News or Entertainment News.
2. Contact the outfits that may need what you have telling them what you have.
3. They will instruct you how to let them see your video.
4. Trust them not to cheat you because they won’t.
5. Don’t forget the more important bloggers like Drudge, Huffington Post, TMZ. Rumor Fix, Radar Online and Splash.
6. The News organizations in the UK pay very well.
7. Don’t try to sell to multiple outlets without an understanding.
8. Exclusive means exclusive.
9. Trust is a two way street, don’t burn yourself.
10. They will ask you to sign contracts and sign w9 tax forms