Everything you need to know about creating and customizing your own keyboard shortcuts to save time and energy while editing.
My three year old has this little pink polka dotted blanket that is her absolute most prized possession. Last year, she became obsessed with making sure it was perfectly neat and flat at all times. It was such a cute little quirky phase.
It was one of those little things that I never wanted to forget. So I filmed it. In fact, every month I create a little family film of my girls. These little monthly films contain memories that I will treasure forever.
I use video as my primary form of journaling everyday life and I love it. It’s a creative outlet, plus a way to preserve priceless memories.
If you are a parent, then you likely have the same desire to capture your own memories through video. I created this series for you. I’m sharing everything that I have learned along the way from my background in filmmaking and how I apply it today as a mom and as a filmmaker.
In this lesson, I want to get right into the details of exactly what kind of camera gear you’ll need to start filming your own videos.
In case you missed it, be sure to check out the previous lesson on how to tell stories using video as well.
Here are the main topics that we will cover in this post:
There are a few key features that you need to consider when picking the right camera for filming lifestyle videos:
I scoured the internet and found what I think are the best camera options for filmmakers in 2019 based on those features. I have divided them by price to make things easier to navigate.
This post does contain Amazon product recommendations. As an Amazon associate, I receive compensation for qualifying purchases, however any commission that I earn comes at no cost to you.
If you are just getting started, it’s likely that you may want to start with a camera that won’t be too expensive. That’s not a problem! Here are a handful of options all in the range of $300-$1000.
*Any camera will do.
If you are in the market for a new camera, any of the above options would do you well. However, these are simply suggestions to help you get started. Like I discussed extensively in my post about how to craft a story through video, the type or quality camera that you own isn’t nearly as important as the creative tools you use to tell your story.
You can absolutely start capturing excellent footage to make your films using simply your iPhone.
By the way, if you do choose to stick with your iPhone, there is are two extra accessories that I would highly recommend.
Choosing the best lens for shooting a lifestyle film depends on a few factors - mainly the type of camera that you own, but also on the feeling or style of shooting that you plan to capture.
In my kit, I have three main lenses that I use for lifestyle videos:
Here are some general feelings or styles and what type of lens you may consider for each of those approaches. You’ll need to do a bit of research to make sure you find the correct lens to fit the type of camera you own or you can always shoot me a message below and I’ll be happy to respond.
In general, a 35mm lens is going to give you the most ‘documentary’ or ‘in the life’ feeling because it most closely mimics the distance and scope that our eyes see in every day life.
If you want to capture that beautiful dreamy bokeh (aka blurred out background) with soft, light colors, you need to make sure you purchase a lens with a wide aperture. At least f2.8, but even wider is better. I own the Canon 35mm f1.8 and it’s wonderful. I have also shot with the Canon 50mm f1.2 and it too is incredible.
The Options:
When I first began editing videos, I used iMovie. It was simple basic, and easy to use. When I was in film school, we were required to use Final Cut Pro. This was back before Adobe Premiere Pro existed. Final Cut Pro and Avid were the industry standards.
When Premiere Pro finally did come around, I resisted it for years. I knew Final Cut like the back of my hands. You’ll learn that with editing, all the keyboard shortcuts and personal preferences become like second nature. Transitioning to a brand new platform was tough. But finally, I did. Here are a few reasons why I made the switch to Premiere Pro and why I am happy that I did:
Like all the options in this post, they are merely that: options. You have to evaluate your own goals and personal situation to decide what is going to make the most sense for you. For the vast majority of my tutorials and lessons I will be demonstrating on Adobe Premiere Pro for my edits, as well as my Canon DSLR for video examples.
But that doesn’t mean that you can’t make your own tools work just the same. If you want to start with iMovie and see how it goes before you purchase anything further then that’s completely fine! You really don’t need anything too sophisticated to edit amazing family films. And I am here to help. Let me know what you’re exploring. Leave a comment below and I’ll send you my thoughts.
Your homework for this lesson is to select what gear you’ll be using for your films and get it all ready to go. If you need to purchase any new equipment or software, go ahead and spend some time researching what is going to be the best fit for you. Please reach out to me if you need any help during this process. I’d love to answer any questions and help however I can.
In our next several lessons, I’ll be walking you through some real life examples of how to shoot and edit your films. It’s going to be fun! What specifically do you want to learn about? Leave it in the comments below and I’ll see you soon!
GO TO LESSON FOUR: BEST CAMERA SETTINGS
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Everything you need to know about creating and customizing your own keyboard shortcuts to save time and energy while editing.
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