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What Camcorder Owners are Missing
There is more to using a camcorder than recording every event and plugging it into your TV for all to enjoy. Here’s how to make your videos worth watching.
The use of personal video cameras, or “camcorders” has exploded, especially as prices continue to fall. Now you can actually get a functional HD camcorder for under $200! But most camcorder owners are missing something that would really make that purchase worthwhile.
Do you remember watching slide shows, one boring picture at a time? How about those old vacation films with your relatives standing like mannequins, waving at the camera? Unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening with today’s camcorder users. They take the camera everywhere they go, happily filming away so they can later plug their camcorder into their television and share their experiences. Just the thought of it makes me yawn.
But there is much more available to the home camcorder user. I would venture to guess that most camcorder users also have a home computer available. Owners of the Mac with OS X have iMovie, a free video-editing program. Owners of newer Windows PCs have Movie Maker on their PC. Both of these programs allow you to create titles, subtitles, and credits. You can do voice-overs and other creative effects. So why are you slowly killing your viewers with boring films?
There is nothing that says that each and every bit of your recording is worth saving. Using video editing software, you can easily cut out those blunders where you were walking or moving around while the camera was still running. You can edit out that piece where you were having trouble with your zoom, saving your viewers from experiencing motion sickness while you tried to get your zoom working properly. One of the greatest uses for camcorders and video editing software is to commemorate special events such as weddings, anniversaries, and birthdays. Don’t just film the star of the show. Film the other participants; let people talk on camera to the person of honor. Later, you can delete the part where Grandma tells you to get the camera out of her face, or other parts that just don’t fit the mood of the film you are producing.
Yes, you are now a movie producer! Add still photos and subtitles. Tell a story and make a film you will be proud of. Copy it to DVD and give copies to anyone who wants one. I promise you, the worst that will happen is that you will become the unofficial videographer for future events.
