With the 4th of July almost upon us, I thought it might be good to talk about the perils and pitfalls of trying to shoot a bright event that is shrouded in darkness. Not an easy task! So below are a bunch of tips - some technical, some organizational - to get you started.
Plan Ahead
First things first - make sure you have enough battery life in that camcorder! Fireworks shows can last between 30 - 45 minutes, and that's not counting the several hours before the show you'll likely have to shoot video of your friends. Bring a fully-charged battery, a back-up battery, and plenty of room for video storage.
If your Dad is anything like mine, he's probably the hardest person in the world to shop for. So this Father's Day, keep it simple - say it with video! I guarantee one of these inexpensive, easy ideas will bring a huge smile to your Dad's face.
Send a video card
What does Dad want more than to see your face? Nothing! So set up the camera, record your personal Father's Day card, upload it to Motionbox, and off it goes! You could go the funny route, or the serious...either way, he's going to love it. Read the rest of this entry »
Ah, the holidays. The air is cold, the fire is warm, and all your relatives are crammed into your living room. It’s time to get out that video camera! Here are a few tips and tricks to make capturing those precious, priceless family moments on video as easy as a Christmas pie.
Catch the Action in Order
Your holiday party begins with people walking in the door. So get some of that action on video! Then, throughout the night, pick up the camera to check in with the crowd. Some highlights you won’t want to miss are the unveiling of the main course, any present-opening that happens, and if you’re family sings carols of any kind, get that on film. You can use it later for blackmail!
Be Your Own Barbara Walters
This is something we stress a lot here at Motionbox, but only because it makes for great video, and it takes the pressure off you. Whether you’re filming the kids opening presents, or the family get-together, interview some people for the camera. You can ask them all the same question, or different ones each time. The answers may surprise you!
Keep Family Traditions Alive
Do your family or friends have a tradition they do every year, without fail? If so, get it on video! Even if you’re in the middle of the action, put the camera on and catch your perspective. It will be a memory you’ll want to go back to again and again.
Make a Holiday Mix
You know that video you’ve been getting throughout the night, in order? Mix it into one cohesive story! You can cut out any of the boring parts, and give everyone a real feel for how the day went. That’s when those shots of people walking in the door or leaving at the end of the night will come in handy.
We hope this helps in all your holiday video endeavors. Do you have any tips of your own? We want to hear them!
Quite a few folks have been asking us if they're able to make their embedded videos appear larger or smaller on their blogs or websites. In the future, we're going to provide a really easy way for you to choose different sizes for your embedded videos but for now, we've decided to let you guys know exactly how you can change the size of your embedded videos yourselves.
All you'll have to do is manually tweak the embed code we provide for you. You'll see width= and height= in your embed code and you'll be able to change the values that come after them. Replace those values with whatever you want the size of your player to be. If you're not too sure what those numbers mean, play around with them a bit until the player is the size you want it to be. Just make sure to maintain the correct ratio!
Something a few of you folks have been asking for is finally here! If you have your Motionbox videos embedded on your own website or blog, you'll now be able to have them play automatically when your webpage loads.
You just need to add the following code snippet to two places in your Motionbox embed code: %2CautoPlay=true
So, here's a sample embed code, and the part you need to add to your own embed code is in bold and underlined:
Ah, Thanksgiving. A time for family, friends…and massive overeating. It’s a beautiful thing, are we right? Don’t let this year go by without capturing some of that holiday magic on video! It’s a great opportunity to share your experience with friends and family who couldn’t make it, not to mention a whole lot of fun.
One of the biggest problems at the holidays is knowing what to shoot. You have all these people you love in one room, and you don’t want to spend the whole time behind a camera, nor do you want boring shots of everyone just talking. So here are a few ideas of what to catch with your camcorder. When you’re done, you can make a mix of your favorite moments, or just share it with the whole gang!
Must-Film Thanksgiving Moments:
- Making Dinner – you’ll want to get some footage of the bird in the oven, the cooks hard at work in the kitchen, and the drinking…don’t forget the drinking.
- Family and Friends – All these people in one room! Float around and get some footage of people talking, chatting, laughing…it will look great in the middle of your mix.
- Family Traditions – Do you guys make a big deal about splitting the wishbone? Drawing names for Christmas gifts? Film it!
- The Video Poll – One of the best ways to get some great video and engage people is to interview them. Ask everyone to tell you what they are most thankful for. You’ll likely find the answers range from sweet, to silly, to awesomely hilarious.
A mashup of some key Thanksgiving moments will be a memory worth saving. Check out our Mixer to edit your video, or share it from your play page! And don’t forget, if you want to share it in outstanding HD quality, upgrade to Motionbox Premium.
Several weeks ago, we encouraged you to try using a tripod when shooting video. We know, though, that having a tripod on hand isn't always practical, and that some home videographers prefer to take a more casual approach to video. But this doesn't mean your video has to be shaky! While tripods are great, there are some tricks you can try to do to keep your camcorder steady, even when you don't have a tripod on hand, and no matter what situation you're in. Here are a few:
Small, costume-clad kids, murky lighting, and quick, spooky scares may make for a good Halloween, but they don't always make for a great video. We often bring our video cameras out on Halloween, but either forget to take it out or forget all the fun stuff! Here are some ideas for things to get on video today:
Getting ready for Halloween
Don't forget to get before, after, and in between shots as you get ready with costumes and make-up!
Trick or Treating
Whether you're going trick or treating with your kids or staying at home giving out candy, make sure to catch all the fun on video.
Spookiness all around
Get all the little details on video. Spooky lights, fun decorations, weird sounds - the environment around you is what makes Halloween what it is!
You have your own website or blog. You have videos that you want to share with people who visit your website. What do you do? Upload your videos to Motionbox, and then embed them on your website. Embedding video means to place a video within the HTML code of the webpage you're posting it on. So when visitors come to your website, they won't have to click on any links to get to the video you want them to see - your video appears on the webpage, even though it originates from your Motionbox account.
Once you upload a video onto Motionbox, embedding is as easy as 1-2-3. Basically, you upload the video, we provide the embed code, and all you have to do is copy and paste that embed code into the HTML of your webpage!
Here's how you can get the embed code for your video:
You bought your first HD camera and you're stoked. You take your camera to the next big event, show off your video shooting skills, and you're feelin' good. Only to later found out, your video....isn't much to be proud of. Actually, it's horrible. You're great at shooting video, but what went wrong??
We know HD video is new for many. There are a few common problems most people run into when shooting in HD for the first time, but the good news is that they can easily be fixed! To save you some time and trouble, here are a few simple tips that you should remember when shooting in HD:
Avoid Close-ups on faces. Try not to film too close to people's faces. If you're closer than a foot, you're probably going to pick up a bit too much detail. HD is so high quality that it picks up a lot more detail than you'd think! So for starters, try your best to keep the camera away from people's faces.
Use the Auto-Focus function. Most cameras come with an auto-focus function that you should probably keep on. If you lose the focus, just zoom out and most likely it'll be able to lock into place again quickly. Your HD camera is smart; leave it to do the work!
Use the Image Stabilization function. Make sure your steady shot is turned on. Most cameras have this function to eliminate shaking in your video. So, if your hands are a little shaky or you happen to move the camera a bit too quickly, Image Stabilization should help big time. Keep it on!
These basic tips should help your first HD video in a great way. Check out this short Ask Eric video if you'd like to see Eric, our video expert, explain these tips with real examples on video!
If you have any other tips that others might benefit from, we'd love to hear from you. Don't be shy to leave a comment and share what you know!
Have you ever made a seemingly great video, only to later be disappointed by all the noise in the background?
There's always noise around us that we don't usually think about because it surrounds us constantly. That noise might come from an airplane flying above you, a loud air conditioner, passing cars, or even your computer. It's easy not to notice this noise when you do your day-to-day activities, but it sure does stand out loud and clear when you watch your videos later on!
You can't always do much about this noise when you're outdoors or at a restaurant, but here are some basic tips on how to manage the noise around you when shooting video:
Turn off loud air conditioners, heaters, or fans: Since air rushing through vents can be surprisingly loud on video, try to temporarily turn these things off when recording.
Shut down your computer: This obviously won't be possible if you're using a webcam, but computers do tend to make a lot of noise at times. It would be best to shut them down if possible.
Use a microphone: If you're trying to hear a specific person talk on camera, it's best to have a microphone placed close to them. This will ensure that the sound you actually *want* to hear isn't overwhelmed by background muffle.
Shield the camera's mic from wind: Don't forget that your camcorder or video camera can pick up even the most gentle breeze as a loud roar that takes over your video. Try to position your hand to block wind from blowing directly against it.
Turn cell phones on "Silent": You know how annoying it is to be in a movie theater with cell phones going off. It's even more annoying to have cell phones going off *in* your movie!
Some of these tips might seem silly or obvious, but we encourage you to try them out. They're almost guaranteed to make a difference in the sound quality of your video, and hey, that's one step closer to shooting better video!
Most people think tripods are only for professional videographers. They think, "why would I need a tripod for my home videos?"
The truth is, you probably don't *need* a tripod. There are certain gadgets out there that aren't always *necessary* for good video, but sure can make moviemaking easier and more fun. Usually, most of what seems amateur about amateur video is a shaking camera. So if you've always wanted to make your videos better and didn't know exactly where to start, investing in a tripod is one idea!
A video tripod is a three-legged stand that's designed to hold your camera steady while you shoot video. It'll help you from moving the camera too abruptly, tilting it slightly, or jerking it accidentally. Tripods are widely available and are probably cheaper than you think! Your tripod doesn't need to be pricey but as with most things in life, when you buy a tripod, you get what you pay for.
High quality tripods have a few important features that you should look out for when buying your own:
Strong legs and bracing: Dual-stanchion legs generally have two poles per leg, which give the tripod more stability. Braces at the base or middle of the tripod's legs will help make it more stable also.
Lightweight: Because most modern digital cameras and camcorders are pretty lightweight, you don't need to carry a massive tripod like many of the pros do. Just make sure it's strong enough to keep your camera steady.
Fluid heads: A tripod head is the device the connects the camera onto the legs of the tripod. Fluid heads ensure that movement is smooth and steady.
Bubble levels: These built-in tools help ensure that your camera is leveled, even if the ground underneath your tripod isn't.
The above features aren't necessary, but investing in them will go a long way! Each of these features will add onto the cost of your tripod, but if that kind of money isn't in your tripod budget right now, try to get a tripod that incorporates as many of these features as possible. And if anything, you can always buy a very simple and inexpensive tripod to start off with, and move on from there!
One of the key principles you need to remember when trying to make your video look good is adequate lighting. A well-lit video, even one shot with a basic, home video camera, generally always looks way better than a video that is poorly-lit, even if a fancy, expensive camera was used to make it!
Using daylight is usually the best source of light. So if you're in a room with lots of sun shining in, you're most likely already on your way to making a video you'll be happy with. To make the light diffuse, try putting up a semi-opaque shade, or something that brightens the room without letting any direct light in.
If you're indoors though and don't have much natural light coming in through, you have to be a little extra careful and sometimes creative. It may seem like your room is well lit enough, but once you upload your video and watch it, you might end up a little disappointed!
Here's our advice for you. Try to use as many existing lights and lamps in the room to increase the room's overall light level. If there aren't too many lamps in your home, here's a quick tip: use a light reflector. Light reflectors help bounce existing light into areas that need it. They're awesome for creating highlights and eliminating shadows.
While you can buy many different kinds of light reflectors on the market, if you don't wanna bother buying anything special for your videos, you can actually make your own at home! It's easy. Get a hold of a big cardboard box, aluminum foil, and some tape. Cut the cardboard box into large sheets and then cover them with aluminum foil. Use the tape to stick the foil to the back of the cardboard sheets to make sure the foil is secure, and you're done!. It's as simple as that. Now you can use this homemade reflector to bounce the light you *do* have in your room into the places and corners that are a little too dim.
Some say lighting is the hardest part of movie-making, but the #1 rule with lighting is to experiment. Mess around long enough and eventually it'll look great!
Summer’s here! And what better way to celebrate than getting out that video camera and capturing all the summertime fun: picnics, BBQs, fireworks, beach trips, park trips, trips to the backyard...
Enter your Summer Shoot Guide. We wanted to share how we plan on collecting and keeping memories this summer. The most important rule? Have fun!!
Create Moments Worth Saving
“Every summer, the cousins get together in Cape Cod to celebrate our "Half Thanksgiving". As tradition goes, we record the best moments on video-- hamburger barbecue, playing football by the lighthouse, board game and movie night, sunset by Skaket Bay. And, of course, we watch highlights from previous years together while snacking on S'mores.”
– Motionbox staffer Michele
Babes of Summer
"There is nothing cuter than toddlers in their sun hats and summer onesies, splashing around in the kiddie pool, eating sand at the beach, and getting strawberry stains on their fat little cheeks. I have a couple of very special kiddos in my life, and I plan to shoot lots of video of them during picnic and barbecue season. I'm really looking forward to capturing those amazing moments that can only be relived in full sound and motion on video!"
– Motionbox Staffer Yael
Document the Evidence
"My family is nuts. Plain and simple. I like to film all our wacky summer get-togethers in case I ever need to prove how crazy they are in court."
- Motionbox Staffer Stephanie
Picnics, BBQs, and Cookouts Oh My!
“We don’t get to see our family that often, so when there’s a summer family outing that involves food and a backyard, I want to make sure I get that on video. I love to float around the party, having people tell a story for the camera. It’s a great way to feel connected when everyone has gone home.”
Our support team took a look at our most frequently asked member questions. Based on that list, we put together our best, most classic episodes of Ask Eric to answer them! Check them out:
Episode 3: Connecting Your Camera to Your Computer
Episode 4: Free your Videos!
If you have tons of videos saved on your camera, but aren't sure how to get them onto your computer, this episode is for you. Eric reveals how to download those videos from your camera to your computer, and rather painlessly, too.
Episode 6: How do I Download my Videos?
Want to know the difference between uploading and downloading? Eric explains it all, and shows you how to upload as many videos as you like to Motionbox, and download the enhanced versions back to your own computer!
Episode 9: The Mixer
Ever wanted to combine a bunch of videos into one awesome movie? With the Motionbox Mixer, you can! It's pretty easy, too - but Eric helps you out with the details in this episode.
Episode 10: Top 5 Uploading Tips Revealed
Last but not least, in this epsiode, Eric walks you through 5 (okay, 6) ways to make uploading your videos a breeze. So if you're having trouble getting videos off your camera and onto Motionbox, if uploading is just taking way too long, this is the tutorial for you. It's definitely been one of our most popular episodes!
We hope you've enjoyed skimming through some of our most popular and helpful Ask Eric episodes on Motionbox. If you have any questions that you'd love to have Eric answer for you on video, let us know!
With the 4th of July almost upon us, I thought it might be good to talk about the perils and pitfalls of trying to shoot a bright event that is shrouded in darkness. Not an easy task! So below are a bunch of tips - some technical, some organizational - to get you started.
If your Dad is anything like mine, he's probably the hardest person in the world to shop for. So this Father's Day, keep it simple - say it with video! I guarantee one of these inexpensive, easy ideas will bring a huge smile to your Dad's face.
Ah, the holidays. The air is cold, the fire is warm, and all your relatives are crammed into your living room. It’s time to get out that video camera! Here are a few tips and tricks to make capturing those precious, priceless family moments on video as easy as a Christmas pie.
Ah, Thanksgiving. A time for family, friends…and massive overeating. It’s a beautiful thing, are we right? Don’t let this year go by without capturing some of that holiday magic on video! It’s a great opportunity to share your experience with friends and family who couldn’t make it, not to mention a whole lot of fun.
Several weeks ago, we encouraged you to 
Small, costume-clad kids, murky lighting, and quick, spooky scares may make for a good Halloween, but they don't always make for a great video. We often bring our video cameras out on Halloween, but either forget to take it out or forget all the fun stuff! Here are some ideas for things to get on video today:
