5 Camera Tips For Beginner Filmmakers
On Christmas morning my junior year of high school, I opened up my presents to find out that my parents gave me a brand new DSLR camera. I was very delighted at my newest toy to play with, and thought it would expand my skills in video production. After opening up the box and finally holding the camera in my hands, my first thought was “Now what?” How do I operate it? How do I use it? Where to even begin?
The number one thing I found out from throughout my experience in video production is that many beginners don't take advantage of their youth to get better at their craft. If you are wondering how to learn filmmaking, or even how to learn filmmaking without film school, you should just start practicing as soon as possible. On that note, you may not have an outlet on where to start with your brand new equipment. This article serves as a basic filmmaking guide for anyone trying to learn how to get into filmmaking – I hope to help someone with their first steps on the right path to success in camerawork.
1. Start Composition Lessons Early
Before you even touch a camera, you should know the basics of camera composition. If you don’t, it would be a good idea to learn the fourteen different types of shots you can use in a film. By knowing these types of shots, you are able to practice shots with your camera. If you are not in any type of video production class, you can look up tutorials on YouTube or Google for quick lessons. After you learn basic composition, try creating a sample video using these fourteen shots. You can create a story, or just by filming a random object. Storyboard these shots out so you make sure you are using all of them.
2. Study The Craft
Now that you know the fourteen shots of composition, you will successfully never watch a movie the same way ever again. You will indicate the different types of shots and look at the movie critically. Watch a few films and see how other people use camera movement/composition intentionally. Find a cool effect that someone used and try to copy it. The fun part about filmmaking is trying to find out how someone achieved that shot, and how you can use it in your work.
3. Watch Tutorials
After you have mastered the fourteen shots of composition and studied the craft, you now need to get to know your camera. Personally, I would watch tutorials first to get to know your camera on YouTube. A good video will describe in detail what each button will do so you won’t have to figure it out on your own on-site. Having a good knowledge of your camera will help you in the long run.
4. Use Manual Focus
My biggest piece of advice for beginners with cameras is to stay far away from auto focus. Don’t get used to that bad habit. To you, the auto focus button doesn’t exist. Some people say this feature is good for beginners, but I completely disagree. The more you use it, you will start using it during professional shoots. The moment you relay on it, your entire shot will be out of focus and the entire project has to be scraped. Always put your camera in manual focus, and focus on the eyes of the subject. The more you use manual focus, the better eye you will have in the future. If you want to get more advanced with this, try follow-focusing from near to far and back again, or following a subject walking towards you.
5. Film Something
Last but not least, have fun and experiment with different techniques. You will never get better at your craft if you don’t ever use the piece of equipment. I have many friends who filmed videos with various themes to try different camera movements and features. My two friends were at a mall where they filmed a fake commercial for a store, using the different techniques they have seen from those commercials. I like to use the phrase, “Get all the junk and nervousness out to start getting better at your craft.” Don’t have a camera to get started? Yes you do, and it’s in your pocket. Use an iPhone, or any another cell phone, to start getting used to composition. Check out these awesome films made with an iPhone.
Meet the Author, Brandon Young
Brandon Young is currently a Stage Technician at Walt Disney World. He is also a Producer/Director for Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium at Johnson Controls Hall of Fame Village. His previous experience included being a Videographer and Editor at Trinity United Church of Christ, and a Media Specialist at North Canton Community Christian Church. He has produced projects for ESPN, NASA, TED, Sherwin Williams, Hyland Software, and the Canton Palace Theatre. He graduated from Kent State University with a degree in Digital Media Production and is currently pursuing a master’s degree at the University of Denver for Professional Dramatic Writing.
He most recently completed a documentary called “One Last Summer,” where he was the director, producer, and editor. The film premiered at the Canton Film Festival and was nominated for “Best Feature Documentary” at the Las Cruces International Film Festival. He most recently wrote a feature script called “McDonald’s Massacre” that has been accepted into eleven script writing competitions, including “Best First-Time Screenwriter” at the New York Genre Screenplay Competition and placed in the Top 3 at the Ivy Film Festival in Rhode Island. He has also a screenplay screener for the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition and is on the board for the Canton Film Festival.