Gathering video footage of ministry events and mission projects is an important element in sharing God’s ongoing work with others. How do you keep your videos from looking like home movies? Remember these simple tips:

Keep your shots very short. Generally a particular subject is only interesting on screen for a few seconds. The tendency is often to tape continuously for minutes at a time in the hope of “catching” something interesting as it happens. Instead, frame your shots with intention, concentrating on one or two people, or a specific activity, and shoot for just 10-15 seconds at a time. A full day of shooting should yield no more than 8-10 minutes of "general scenes" video. A week of activity should easily fit on a 1 hour tape.

Often I have received multiple hours of footage from those involved in ministry projects. In general, much less footage is required to tell the compelling story of that ministry. An edited video clip of a ministry event is usually under 5 minutes in length. Using short clips to tell the story, as little as 20-30 minutes of total footage can yield a powerful edited video.

Make a shot list. One way to cut down on unnecessary footage is to create a “shot list” prior to your shoot. If you are going on a mission trip or participating in an event, sit down and write out a list of clips you definitely want to return with. For example, “shot of person hanging sheetrock at church construction site,” or “shot of person handing Bible to child,” or “shot of soloist singing worship chorus.” Your list may have dozens of shots. Keep it handy as you shoot as a reference for important shots that will contribute to telling the story of your ministry.

Concentrate on the task. Often the videographer on a ministry project or event is already involved in other areas of that ministry and is just bringing their video camera “along for the ride.” When taping, put your full attention into the task of shooting the video. The best footage is often missed because the videographer was engaged in their “real” duties at the height of activity--a point when a dedicated camera person can capture the power of ministry in action.

Steady your camera. Today's small handheld video cameras yield near broadcast-quality pictures. Unfortunately the hand makes a very unsteady camera platform, and the resulting “shaky” images look less than professional. If possible, mount your camera on a tripod when shooting. If you are moving around or traveling constantly, an inexpensive folding monopod can be very helpful in steadying your shots.

If you must hold the camera in your hands, use both hands to hold the camera. Hold the camera as close to your body as possible, resting your elbows against your chest to steady the camera. The further your arms extend, the more shake in your videos. Make sure your have firm footing--both feet planted on the ground when shooting. Avoid squatting down while shooting. Instead, if you need a low angle, keep your legs extended, bend over and hold the camera lower with your arms. Don't shoot while you are walking or in a moving vehicle--these shots are almost always too blurry and shaky to use, and can even make your audience queasy.

Don't zoom--go where the picture is. Often the tendency of an amateur videographer is to stand back and away from the subject of the shot in order to avoid "interfering" with the activity. This yields inferior quality video. When functioning as a videographer, remember that most people will notice you briefly, then simply ignore you. Don’t be intimidated by being front and center. Step up to where the action is and put the camera in the middle of it. Do not use the zoom feature on your camera. Instead, pull the zoom out to a wide angle, and position yourself nearer to the subject matter.

Pay attention to the light. Shots look best in soft, even light. It is very difficult to correct an image that is poorly lit--they must often be discarded entirely. Stay away from extremes like extreme bright sunlight during the day, or dim indoor lamp-light at night.

Avoid shooting into direct sunlight, unless it is for specific effect. Remember that overcast days often yield the best outdoor shots, as clouds make sunlight soft and even. When shooting outside, pay special attention when shooting in shade, under trees, or near buildings. Subjects can often appear as dark silhouettes that are hard to see. Indoors, use as much artificial light as possible. Incandescent light is preferable to fluorescent light.

Remember, the camera can go where you can’t. Interesting shots often result when you place the camera at angles where your eye can’t reach. Want a panoramic overview? Hold the camera over your head. Or hold it down near the ground for a child’s-eye view. Many handheld cameras have small LCD screens that make this kind of shooting easy, allowing you to see your shot even when not using the camera’s eyepiece.

Focus on the human element. Inanimate objects make poor video subjects. Getting brief shots of statues or landmarks is great to establish location, but are better when they include interaction with people. Put people and their emotions and expressions at the heart of your video shooting. When shooting faces, get in close to capture feelings and gestures. Shoot small groups of people (2-3) versus larger groups as emotions and facial expressions get lost as you broaden the shot.

Go digital. My recommended formats are DVCPRO or mini-DV. If you have a DV camera that shoots in “frame” mode, use this feature as it yields a clearer image that is closer to the look of film. The DV format also makes our digital editing process painless. With this format, there is no loss of quality throughout the shooting and editing process as all of it is done in the digital realm. Why not a hard-drive or recordable DVD format? Tape is more reliable, easier to find (especially outside the US), and has a long shelf-life for reliable backup storage.

About the Author. Eugene Mason has more than two decades of experience in ministry communications and technologies. More...