10 Video Clips You Need To Capture With Your New Digital Camera Continued...

Good Morning Everybody,

It's not often I do a weekend post, but with the tour things can get backed up a bit. We got into Chicago late yesterday - you know, traffic, construction, rush hour, all of the above. We got settled into the hotel, checked out the ballroom for Monday night's program, and just relaxed - what a concept!

Wow! I have to tell you - Monday night's program is shaping up to be the largest crowd ever - over 300 photogs are registered already!!! It should be a "wild and woolly" evening - I'm looking forward to it. Let me make a few announcements and then I'll get on with the rest of the post. 

Master Photographers Marketing TeleSummit Update – 7000  Registered So Far!!!

I had an opportunity to check in with the Joy of Marketing people on how registrations for this gigantic 16 hour Master Photographers Marketing TeleSummit were going.

The TeleSummit is scheduled for September 28 & 29, 2009. So far over 7000 registrants signed up. Oh,  did I say it was FREE - unbelievable. You'll get to listen to 16 of the top photogs in our profession point you towards marketing success for your own business. You still have one more week to sign up, and yes, it is FREE. Here is the link to register right here. Don't miss this wonderful opportunity!

10 Video Clips You Need To Capture With Your New Digital Camera Continued...

I started this article on Thursday and kind of left you hanging because of a shortage of time.  Today let's wrap it up with the rest of the story. 

Let's see, where did I leave off...

...with Animoto allowing the short 3 to 10 second video clip uploads, I think our problems are halfway solved. Hear me out here. I'm thinking if we at least want to get our feet wet in combining short video segments with still images, Animoto gives us the quickest, easiest, best way to do just that.

If you have one of the new digital cameras that shoot video - for instance the Canon 5D Mark II - this is how I suggest you might photograph your next wedding…

Photograph the wedding as you normally would. You still need to take all the still images that you would normally capture for your client. But, now be thinking about how you might enhance your media presentation to your client with some short video clips.

My suggestion is that we grab about 10 video clips as part of our shooting routine on the wedding day. Remember, these clips only need to be a few seconds long. Instead of just guessing what you want to capture in video, it would be nice to have a plan before you arrive at the wedding.  That would simplify and organize the entire process and make it easier to accomplish.

So, these are my 10 must-have of video clips that you need for your Animoto show. 

1. One of the most important video clips we should shoot is when the father sees his beautiful daughter for the first time. Sure we would shoot still images, too, but be sure to capture just a few seconds of video of the father's expression - a dynamite moment for the video.

2. Next be sure to capture just a few seconds of the bridesmaids, the bride and her dad at the back of church right before everyone starts down the aisle. This clip will be a nice intro to the ceremony.  

3. I think another important moment, if you can get it,  is when the bride's father hands off his daughter to the groom. I know most of us are shooting like crazy at that time but if we can capture 3 seconds of video at the same point I think that would be cool to include as one of my top 10 video clips for the show.

4. Most important - capture a few seconds of the ring exchange. This clip would be very easy to capture.  You've got plenty of time to get it.

5. Another easy clip to grab - the announcement of the bride and groom to the entire congregation. Just get a few seconds of the moment as they turn and start walking down the aisle. You would still have time to get back into still photography mode and capture the regular photographs we all take of the bride and groom coming down the aisle.

6. After shooting all the altar-return or group photographs, just capture a few seconds of the bride and groom just hugging and kissing on each other.  This clip would look great in your Animoto presentation.

7. Now let's head to the reception. Be sure to also capture a few moments of their first dance together.  This is another easy clip to capture because we have plenty of time during their dance.

8. Equally important would be a few seconds of the bride and groom cutting a cake. My suggestion is to just get a short clip of them around the cake, smiling at their guests, and looking  at the cake. Now jump back in "still mode" for all the cake cutting action. 

9. Don't forget to capture a few seconds of the bride dancing with her father and maybe the groom dancing with his mother. Again, these would be easy to capture because we have plenty of time to get both the video and the still images.

10. And lastly, I would be sure to have a 3 second clip of the bride in the groom toasting champagne glasses with big smiles on their faces and then maybe giving each other a kiss. Or the groom lifting the bride and spinning around with laughing, smiles and kisses.

That's about it. That's where I would start anyway. You probably have plenty of ideas yourself too.  The secret to making this work is in having the time to capture both the still images and video segments.  Most of my 10 suggestions are of moments that are extended moments where there is plenty of time to capture both.

Now back to Animoto - the cool thing is that after everything is uploaded to Animoto, you can trim up the videos and get all the "media pieces" - still images and video clips - in a logical order right on the Animoto site.  Don't forget to add a front and back title to the show, too.

Next just select your music and let Animoto do the rest - way cool!  Remember, if you want to sell the video Animoto produces, you've got to be signed up for the commercial access license. The music on the consumer side is not licensed for resale.

Now for some good news - Animoto offers 3 months of commercial access for only $99 and if you use the code from my Digital WakeUp Call tour - Digitalwakeup1 - they will kick in another month for free.  And now even better news - if you feel it's not a good fit for you, no problem.  They will refund your money up to 7 days after you've signed up.  Think of it as a 7 day FREE trial in reverse.

I think after trying it a few times we would all get pretty good at producing some very cool shows for our clients.  The video clips will really add dramatics to the still images and sizzle the experience. And the best part, we didn't have to learn any new software to get the job done!

Hey gang, that's it for me today. Have a great weekend and I'll plan to see you at the program Monday night in Chicago.  See ya' then.  -David