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Frequently, I get asked by both new and experienced videographers, how they can learn to shoot video stock footage. And, most importantly, how they can earn money, doing it. I have been a professional ENG news videographer and stock footage provider for more than twenty years. I would like to share the following advice and tips, with you. Besides, if you get good at it - maybe you will let us manage and market your video stock footage on the FootageWorks website, so that you can start earning money, right away. One of the first questions, that I always get asked is: What type of camcorder is required? My answer is: The best one that you can afford, to maintain a minimum standard of quality. The camcorder should be no less than a MiniDV. I'm sure that by now, most everyone owns a MiniDV camera, or has access to one. Of course, video footage shot on professional and semi-professional formats, like: DVCAM, DVCPro, Betacam SP, HDV, Z1U, HVX 200 and all HiDef camcorders are great. Secondly, you should use the best tripod, monopod or shoulder mount harness, available to you. If you are a new videographer, you should learn the basics of composition and the rule of thirds for correctly framing your shots. There are many good books available to purchase and many online college website resources with free instructional pages offering lessons on video camera shooting techniques. Once you have a basic understanding of how to correctly frame and compose your shots, you will be ready to start shooting stock footage, for profit. One of the best places to start shooting stock footage is in your own city. You should shoot and think like you are being paid to go around and capture video clips that both highlight and showcase the city. Include, downtown skylines, roads, bridges, public transportation, police, fire and emergency response personel, vehicles, signs and marquees. Capture people doing their jobs and going about their business. Balance your action video shots with static structure shots The key, is to practice by using your creative imagination, as if your footage is going to be used in a television commercial. Because, it just might! Capture anything and everything that you deem important.as stock footage. However, I want you to do it, by using the following rules. - Each shot will be no less than 15 seconds, and no more than 60 seconds in duration
- Each subject, will have a establishing shot, wide shot, medium shot and a close up shot
- Camera movements, such as, pans, zooms, tilts, tracking and crabbing, should be minimized
- Keep the camcorder steady and move the lens only to keep your framing correctly set for composition and the rule of thirds
- If you choose to apply pans, zooms and tilts, they should only happen once, at the beginning or the end, not in the middle
- Remember to give your shots a purpose, so that the subject's story can also be told with accompanying words
- Remember to white balance your camera for the correct lighting and check that your audio indicators are on
- Ambient background noise and NATSOT are good, whereas, unnecessary personal conversational sounds, are not
So, what exactly is stock footage? Stock footage, is video footage that others might need for a video production, television commercial, documentary, corporate, industrial or educational project, or film that requires certain video footage clips and shots. And, they are willing to pay a license fee to use it, rather than incurring the expense and time to shoot it themselves. There are thousands of categories of video stock footage that you can shoot with your video camera . You are only limited, by your own imagination, desires and the abilty to get the shot. Those videographers who would like to shoot stock footage and submit it to us for review, are welcome to contact us for more info, and available stock footage shooting opportunites and assignments in your area. Shooting stock footage for profit, is an excellant way for you to earn money to pay for your next video camcorder on your wishlist. Jay Mitchell / FootageWorks CEO
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