Need Tips For Photography And Video Editing

[DavidL]

hi everyone,

I need some help (desperately) for creating a 2 minute video of myself making a card wallet for an online project.

I have an iMac with iMovie,a samsung phone and a camera stand. These aren't the proper tools, but its all i got. I've go a few friends who know how to work a camera, but if they can't commit to this (exams) then il have to do this solo.

I've got limit knowledge on how to make a video and edit with music, and text.

How would i input text and music into iMovie?

In the near future I plan on getting a point and shoot or a entry level slr camera. Any beginner tips so my photos look presentable.

Thank you.

[Dwight]

David, . . . if you want to do simple, . . . point and shoot video's for on-line, . . . get an Ipad or an Ipad mini. You can literally take it home, . . . download two apps, . . . and have a 5 minute Youtube on line in less than an hour, . . . total. Surely you have a friend with an Ipad mini, . . . the only app he will need is named "Capture".

I do not know if it is possible to edit those in any way, . . . have never been interested in finding out.

OTOH, . . . Cyberlink Power Director 12 is what I use every week to edit our Church service on Sunday morning. I take a raw dvd, burned by a 3 camera / switcher network, . . . load it into CPD 12, . . . add titles, music, edit out certain segments, . . . edit in others, . . . all in about an hour to hour and a half, . . . for a finished product of a DVD about 75 minutes long.

I've been doing video for over 20 years, . . . these are the two easiest to learn, . . . and use, . . . I've ever messed with.

Just for reference, . . . my first was a Sony 110, 8mm video tape, . . . and I edited in titles with a Commodore 64 computer.

May God bless,

Dwight

[DavidL]

Thank you il get those out.

[Pinsplitter]

Can I make a comment on youtube tutorial type vids, what really annoys me are 2 fundamental mistakes, they don't make sure the image is actually in focus and they can't be bothered to actually put light on the thing.

use lots of light, lots!! for video light directed from the camera point of view is best, with side and back fill lights as well if you have them or use reflectors.

I don't have imovie installed atm but i imagine it can do what you want or maybe download a copy of Adobe Premiere Elements 30 day trial.

Try to fix the phone on something (tripod?) to eliminate handheld camera movement.

Tutorial type things should be clean, sharp and very visible.

[Uwe]

I thought I'd post an update to this older thread, since I recently made a little video when I was selling one of my sewing machines. I had just gotten an new iPhone 6 and wanted to try out close-up video shooting and editing capabilities of that phone.

You can see the video in all its 1080 HD glory here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dg12IXhcqkU

The video was filmed and edited entirely on my iPhone 6 using the built in software that comes with iOS 8. The superimposed text elements were added in the youtube annotation editor.

Other elements of this little production were seriously low-tech, though. I used scotch tape dispenser as a stand for my phone. I think it's important to lock in focus and exposure for these kinds of close-up shots, otherwise the exposure and focus will change constantly as you move in front of the camera. On my phone, you can touch the screen to lock focus on a specific area and adjust exposure for the duration of that particular video snippet.

I hope this helps.

[Hi Im Joe]

The first thing I would say is work on lighting. Because you probably don't have lighting equipment I recommend using a sheet over the biggest window you can find in your house. Just wait for the time of day when light is coming in the window. Put the bedsheet over the window. This will give you a nice diffuse soft light to work with.

I know nothing of video editing but do have a pretty extensive background in amateur photography. I think you can make something decent with what you have. Good luck! And make sure to post it up! I want to see your finished product.

[Matt T]

Uwe, thanks for posting that; it is really incredible how fast technology is evolving. I don't even want to think of the thousands of dollars I've spent in the last 10 years on cameras that can't produce a video that looks that nice. Now it comes on your phone. Probably not the best in low light, but great for this type of video!