Video Journalism: Shooting Techniques

Course details

Join video producer, instructor, and former TV news reporter/videographer Jeff Sengstack as he presents practical tips on shooting video with shots and angles that support the story and make it more visually interesting. This course explains how to craft the story and plan your production and includes several still photography techniques that work well with video. The course also shows how to achieve shots such as sequences, matched action, reveal, trucking, and point of view, and reminds videographers to keep considering what the video editor will need to keep the story moving forward.

Learning objectives
Creating effective stories
Planning the shoot
Setting proper exposure, shutter speed, and focus
Adhering to the rule of thirds
Framing the shot
Achieving a good color balance
Keeping shots steady
Using smooth zooms and pans
Establishing opening and closing shots
Transitioning from exteriors to interiors
Editing cutaways
Using lights
Using trucking shots
Working with audio

Concepts

Introduction

Welcome
Using the exercise files

Telling Stories

Creating effective stories
Supporting your message visually and aurally
Planning your shoot
Variety is an editor's best friend

Using Standard Still Photography Techniques

Setting proper exposure, shutter speed, and focus
Adhering to the rule of thirds
Filling the viewfinder and framing the shot
Incorporating strong foreground elements
Using diagonal lines and curves
Finding unusual angles

Using Basic Video Shooting Techniques

Getting a good color balance
Keeping your shots steady
Using smooth zooms and pans
Avoiding a break in the plane

Shooting the Two Most Important Shots

Shooting an establishing shot
Shooting a closing shot

Getting a Variety of Shots

Shooting matched action and wide and tight shots
Getting sequences
Editing matched action and sequences
Transitioning from exteriors to interiors
Shooting cutaways
Editing cutaways
Using lights

Moving the Camera

Anticipating and following the action
Letting action start or end out of frame
Using trucking shots
Leaning forward or backward and tilting up or down
Shooting point-of-view (POV) shots

Working with Audio

Getting good sound bites
Getting plenty of natural sound
Using specialized audio editing techniques

Conclusion

Goodbye

Bonus Chapter - Edited Sequences

Bakery sequence
Chocolatier sequence
Farrier sequence
Horse jumping sequence
Painter sequence
Sushi sequence
Woodturner sequence