Category Archives: Professional Videographer

4k vs. 5k Cameras

Should I Invest in a 5k Camera?

Videos are all about the visuals, and you want to make sure your video is up to par for the viewers. Our Video Production Company in Boston shoots everything we do in 4k and 5k. There are many options for display when it comes to choosing your camera and what you want to shoot in. Your Boston Videographer might have a preference of what they want to use for their shoots, but today we are going to focus on 4k and 5k.

What is 4k and 5k?

Simply stated, the names 4k and 5k refer to the width of the footage, which means approximately 4,000 and 5,000 pixels. Being broken down further, 4k has a total pixel count of 9,437,184 with dimensions of 4096 x 2304. 5k is much larger than that and has a total pixel count of 14,745,600 with dimensions of 5120 x2880. Although 5k is larger, it isn’t always someones first choice. Your Boston Videographer will know what resolution will be best for the shoot you are working on.

What’s the Difference Between 4k and 5k Cameras?

4k and 5k resolution are both used widely within the world of video production services. Each change in resolution throughout the years have allowed for videos to have more detail and become larger in size. The biggest difference between 4k and 5k are based on the pixels and size of the footage. There are many different resolutions that you can choose to shoot in. One thing you want to make sure is that it comes out clear. Both 4k and 5k will give you a clear and detailed shot.

Choosing your Resolution

As everything in technology and video are advancing, it is bringing people to upgrade their video cameras. The last thing any Video Production Company would want is to be creating videos that no longer pair with their audiences devices. Although it may be hard to change with the times, you want to upgrade before you miss the mark. 4k and 5k are very popular within the video production world.

There may be many reasons your Boston Videographer loves the display he or she shoots in. It is always important to use what you are most comfortable. Both displays are wonderful and create magic for any shoot. We stay true to the 4k display for shoots with our Boston Video Production Company.

Skillman Video Group LLC is a Boston video production company. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140.

Quick Tips for Videography Beginners

Anyone just starting out in Videography wants to make sure that they are familiar with the equipment. There are many small aspects to the process of video production services that may be overlooked by beginners. You don’t just want to just pick up the camera and start shooting. Once you have your idea and shoot planned out you want to think about the little things that will affect your video. You may not be a professional Boston Videographer, but with these tips you can prepare to shoot on your own!

How to Shoot Video

If it’s your first time shooting, you want to be confident with your equipment. You should know the in’s and out’s of using, holding, and moving your camera. You want to be careful of having shaky hands when holding your camera. For this reason, most interview of stand still shots are done with tripods. If you don’t have a good quality tripod already, it is recommended to get one of those perfect smooth shots.

How do You Make a Good Video?

It is important to use your resources to light your scene. There are different ways to set up your lighting to best illuminate your set. Three point lighting the the basic setup for video shoots. Using key lights and back lights to light up the main person of your shoot and the background. Use diffusion to lower the power of the lights against the subject of your video. An important part of lighting for videos is to make sure to white balance. If you forget to use white balance your the colors in your shot may come out a little different than they look in real life. Using white balance is the easiest way to get the colors in your shot accurate to how they look in real life.

How to Shoot Wide Shots

It is important to know how wide you should shoot for the shot. You want to make sure you get close to your subject. There is no reason to have a wide background when you can focus close in on your subject. Be careful not to get too close, because you also don’t want your subject to be too large for the shot. There is a good balance between the two. A good tips to try is having the interviewee hold a fist on top of his or her head. The camera should be focused from the chest to just the top of the fist.

Video Shooting Techniques

You have to be very careful when zooming during a shot. Many people use zoom frequently when they are first starting out on camera. The one issue with this is sometimes it does not look as good as you would picture it to be. People can be very shaky when they go to zoom their camera. Video Production Companies that use 4k are able to zoom in during post, but when you are just starting out you want to work around zooming. Instead of zooming in during your shoot, you can stop recording and move closer to the object to get the more zoomed in look. This can help make your transitions and zooms smoother. If you do zoom, make sure you know how close you want to get before you just hit the button. Zooming in and out quickly can be shaky in your shots.

Whether you are just picking up your first camera or are more familiar with shooting, these tips can help keep you on track to become a great videographer. Find that great idea and work to create your own Boston Video Marketing shoot!

Yes, You Can Shoot Video on a DSLR

How to Shoot Video on a DSLR Camera

Whether you’re trying to get your feet wet, or you’re a photographer being asked to shoot video from a client. We may use higher grade equipment as a professional Boston video production company, but we will say that a DSLR camera is able to capture quality video production ideas. DSLR shooting will require some adjustments and special attention, but it certainly is an option for amature videographers trying get a grasp on the art. Luckily, the Internet hosts a multitude of conversations, videos, and forums about to best utilize your DSLR for producing high-quality video, so finding the info to do it well is easily accessible. For us at SVG, below are a few tips that we have found to be the most useful when shooting high quality video production ideas.

What is a DSRL Video Camera?

The first tip is to utilize manual focusing. DSLR’s have auto-focusing features best used for still photography. It may seem that the AF option would be smarter, but when their AF features try and capture moving subjects, they tend to exhibit some form of attention deficit disorder that can greatly hinder the video’s ability to portray a cohesive story. This is why it is recommended to use manual focusing when shooting video with a DSLR. It may take extra effort to be shifting the focus yourself, but it will come out much smoother.

How Do You Use The DSLR Camera?

The next tip is adjusting your shutter speed according to the project or scene. The shutter speed needs to be matched to your frame rate on your camera in order to create natural looking movement. With that said, if you are wanting extra sharp movements to make a scene seem anxious or heightened feel, use higher shutter speeds. To make things seem mellow or sedated, use slower shutter speeds. Adjusting your shutter speed according to the project is a sure way that your camera is recording the scene the way that best illustrates the envisioned mood or atmosphere. A quick google search about your specific DSLR and how to alter its shutter speed options will assist you in learning how to adjust these settings.

DSRL Tips for Beginners

Our last tip has to do with the low quality sound recording abilities of DSLR’s. Without an outside source to record the sound, the video might look good but it won’t sound good. If you’re planning to shoot interviews, a sound recorder is an absolute must have for DSLR video production ideas. To combat this, the best way will be to utilize an attachable professional sound recorder. This is considered a double system because your recording sound and video from two different mechanisms. Be sure that when purchasing a sound recorder, you are also buying the correct attachment pieces, memory cards, and cords. A sound recorder we recommend is the Zoom H4n. You will need cables and cords to sync to your camera to the device , so the kit option with most retailers may be a smarter option.

DSLR Video Tips and Tricks

As a professional Boston video production company, we encourage and are excited to hear about the ways creatives and producers are pushing the boundaries of their equipment and technology. As a few of us have tried to produce our own side projects, access to expensive and state of the art technology isn’t always available. In our experiences, these three tips have been necessary in order to create higher quality productions when using DSLR cameras. Try these few tips next time you are trying to capture your latest video production ideas with a DSLR, and leave any comments below if you found something else to be noted for this type of videography.

Skillman Video Group LLC specializes in video production Boston. Call us anytime at 1-800-784-0140.