TIP 1: Always keep the camera as sturdy as possible. Use a tripod as much as you can.

TIP 2: Try not to use the zoom too much. If you do use it then make sure that you use it lightly and zoom in or out slowly. Try not to zoom in too close to the subject otherwise your audience will not be able to see the full picture.

TIP 3: When filming fast moving subjects it's normally best to use manual focus and adjust the shutter speed too.

TIP 4: Make sure that you have plenty of light on your subject, but not too much. Too little light will cause a grainy effect on your images and too much light will wash out your subject.

TIP 5: Always check the background surroundings of your subject when filming or taking a photo. It is much easier to move your subject than it is to edit the footage or photo afterwards.

TIP 6: Always listen for background sound if you are recording someone talking. It's normally best to have a separate microphone that plugs into the camera. You can use a recording device with a microphone attached, but you will need to sync the sound with the video afterwards. It's good to have headphones that plug into the camera or the recording device too so that you can hear exactly what you are recording. If possible, add a wind cover to your microphone especially if you are recording outside. If you are using a handheld microphone then try not to knock or move the microphone around too much, but also make sure that the microphone is close enough to the subject and pointing in the direction of the sound to be recorded.

TIP 7: It's sometimes a good idea to use a filter on your lens, especially in the sun. Filters can greatly reduce glare and increase the image quality depending on the camera used. They can also protect your lens. Remember that you may need to take the filter off if you are shooting in low light conditions.

TIP 8: It's good practice to carry a cleaning cloth with you so that you can clean your lens and a good waterproof storage bag to protect your camera and accessories.

TIP 9: Try to use a camera which films in HD. High Definition camera's provide a much clearer image.

TIP 10: If you are using a camera with DV, Hi8 or 8mm tape then make sure that you use the highest quality recording setting on the camera for the best image. Tape can deteriorate over time so it's normally a good idea to digitise the footage as soon as possible.

 

TIP 1: Try to find some good editing software that can sync the audio and video well and doesn't drop frames.

TIP 2: Always create a copy of your work when using Vegas Pro. I have been using Vegas for years. If you are editing old projects with later versions of Vegas Pro then there is no way of going back. If you need to go back to a previous version of Vegas then open a previous version and start a new project. Open your project in a later version of Vegas Pro and copy all of the content over to the previous version. You may need to update some of the effects if you use them.

TIP 3: Some anti-virus software can slow down rendering. You may need to switch off any anti-virus software to make rendering faster, but for security reasons do not connect to the Internet.

TIP 4: Depending on your computer specs, it's sometimes best to set the priority of your editing software to High. Some editing software, like later versions of Vegas, will randomly shut the computer down when you are either working on your project or rendering it. It is sometimes recommended to switch off one of the computers processors too. Try to use a computer with high RAM (Random Access Memory) and processor speed for the best performance.

TIP 5: If your projects are taking a long time to render then it may be due to using too many transitions. Try not to use as many transitions in your project.

TIP 6: Spend some time on fine tuning your project. It will make a lot of difference to the end result. Make sure that you cut out any speech that should not be heard or any clips that should not be seen. Fade out scenes that may end abruptly. Make sure that spelling in credits and titles are correct.

TIP 7: Rendering can take a very long time so check everything in a preview before rendering your project, especially if it is a large project. Some of my renders have taken up to a week or more to process. Noticing a mistake after rendering and finalising your work can be very frustrating. It's best to leave the computer to render and not do anything else with it as it can affect the rendering time. I find it best to have two computers, one for video editing and one for everyday activities.

TIP 8: Make sure that you have enough storage space on your hard drive for your project. It can be very frustrating running out of space after waiting hours or days for your project to render.

TIP 9: Video editing can put a lot of strain on your computer, especially the battery of a laptop. If you are doing a lot of editing then you will need to have a constant power supply to your computer. It's great to have a battery backup in case there is a power cut, but it has been suggested to take the battery out of your laptop computer if you wish to prolong the life of the battery. If possible, try to use a computer that will be powerful enough to cope with the amount of editing that you are going to be doing.

TIP 10: If you are editing footage for someone else, make sure that the footage is not copyright protected. Ask for written permission before you start the project. I have learnt from experience that people will say anything to get themselves out of an awkward situation, where the original film has been handed over for editorial purposes without the permission from the copyright holder.