You hold the power to tell stories that reflect your reality and experiences! Whether it’s to highlight a significant event, showcase a positive moment, or preserve something meaningful, video is a powerful tool. Consider this post a guide that you can return to time and time again for inspiration!
Why Capture the Moment?
Think of the meaningful experiences students have every day in Maine’s public schools. These are worth sharing with a wider audience! Classroom celebrations, science labs, school-wide assemblies, extracurricular accomplishments, the stories students share when they arrive home in the afternoon…anything goes, and if it puts a smile on your face, it will surely make others smile, too!
The following guide will give you the best tips and tricks for capturing video content in your public school!
Set the Scene
Before diving into the action, set the scene by showing your viewers where everything is happening.
Start with a wide shot: Position yourself about 6-8 feet away from your subject to capture the full environment. This gives context and helps immerse the viewer in the setting.
Avoid distractions: Make sure the background is free of unnecessary clutter or distractions that could take attention away from your main subject.
Lighting is key: Natural light is best, so if possible, try to shoot in well-lit areas. Avoid shooting directly into bright lights or windows, as it can cause overexposure.
Plan your movement: Instead of zooming in digitally (which can lower video quality), physically move closer to your subject after capturing the wide shot.
Keep It Steady
Shaky footage can be distracting, making it harder for your audience to focus on the story you’re telling.
Hold your camera steady: Use both hands or, even better, consider using a tripod or stabilizer. This reduces unwanted movement.
Use slow, intentional movements: If you need to move your camera, do so slowly and smoothly. Fast, jerky movements can be disorienting.
Experiment with angles: Keep your shots interesting by changing your perspective. Try filming from slightly above, below, or to the side for dynamic angles that emphasize different aspects of the scene.
It’s All in the Details
Once you’ve captured the bigger picture, zoom in on the smaller details that make the moment special. These close-up shots can add emotional depth and visual interest to your video.
Focus on facial expressions: A laughing face, a look of concentration, or a moment of surprise can tell the story in a powerful, personal way.
Highlight the accomplishment: Whether it’s a finished product, a discovery in class, or a creative work, these detail shots showcase the result of effort and learning.
Use textures and small actions: Capture small movements or details that represent the larger event, like hands at work, writing, or an object being passed between students. These small moments make your video feel more intimate.
📹 Bonus Tips! 🌟
Audio matters! Make sure you’re in a relatively quiet environment or, if possible, use an external microphone for clearer sound. Avoid windy areas, and be aware of background noise.
Edit smartly! After filming, review your footage and pick the best parts. Trim unnecessary sections, and consider adding music or voice-over to enhance the story. Two free mobile apps we recommend for video editing are CapCut and InShot!
Tell a story! Think of your video as a narrative with a beginning, middle, and end. The wide shot (setting the scene) can serve as the introduction, your steady close-up shots as the main content, and the detail shots as the conclusion.