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My name is Simon d'Entremont and I'm a professional wildlife and nature photographer from Eastern Canada. This video will show you how to shoot video, with some special tips for photographers.

I use Topaz Labs software for noise reduction, sharpening and upscaling:

Music in intro: "Nicer", by Houses on the Hill. Find that, and other sound effects at Epidemic Sounds

My equipment:

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[michaelmckeag]

Simon, this is the best introduction to video for still photographers I have encountered. I’m now eager (instead of reluctant) to flip that switch and experiment. Of course you know what is coming next, a chorus of voices requesting a companion introduction to video editing.

[yomismo]

I have never flipped that switch, not even to test it. 😂

[simon_dentremont]

Note that the North American standard is called NTSC not NSTC. I typoed my script, just read it off the teleprompter, noticed it was wrong in editing, re-recorded that section, fixed it in post, then uploaded the wrong version! Duh!

[benjamin.kelley]

As a wedding filmmaker who deals with a ton of different and often dark lighting conditions, I've learned there's only 2 ways to adjust light - add more, or take it away. Either take away using Aperture, ND filters, or turn the studio light down - or turn the light up, or stop up the aperture - DON'T touch the ISO - it adds noise to your footage. If shooting LOG footage, get correct exposure using zebras or false colors, then overexpose to taste to make sure your shadows aren't noisy. If you want to shoot handheld, make the camera heavier - I rigged out my camera with a cage, top handle, side handle, mic, and monitor - instantly made my handheld footage look professional, rather than amateur and shaky.

[ABC]

As a follow up to this video, similar to some of your Lightroom photo editing videos, I’d love to see an introduction to video processing on the computer, tips for getting it ready for online viewing, etc. thank you Simon, great video and makes it all a bit less scary to flip the switch!

[ChasetheLights]

With a name like that, I’ll believe anything he says. 😂😂

[Koensol]

Just a small addition to this amazing video for those interested in doing video content while "on the move". Using in camera digital image stabilization (especially on action camera's), going the 180° rule on fps/shutterspeed and using ND filters for the motionblur will cause the stabilization to fail. Digital image stabilization requires higher shutterspeeds to function, at the bare minimum a shutterspeed of 100 for slow walking and at least 150-200 for higher action footage.

I.e. if you want to film footage while you are walking/otherwise moving or causing vibrations on your camera and still want that smooth motion blur, you will be forced to use a gimbal, which can be expensive and cumbersome. For stationary filming, a good steady tripod will work just fine and even handheld if you aren't too zoomed in.

Nowadays many video editing software also has the ability to add motion blur to your footage in post. I don't have alot of experience with that but it might be worth the shot if you cant afford or want to mess around with a gimbal.

[rcfalconMkII]

24 fps is normally what film was shot at, therefore it's termed "cinematic". NTSC video was shot at 30 fps due to our power grid functioning at 60 HZ. The European grid runs at 50HZ so that's why their frame rate is different. In the days of analog TV, the video signal was split into two fields. As cathode ray tube screens had an electron gun (for B&W) or three (RGB) for color, these guns fired electrons at the screen in lines. Hence the old term lines of resolution. One field was for the odd lines and the other for the even lines. These were interlaced so the image on the screen was a coherent image.
Today's video outputs are much different as they are digital, but we still have legacy interlacing in some formats such as 720i (interlaced). However, the frame rates still hold true. 30fps is very much like the old analog video in appearance though sensor type plays a role too, while 24fps is considered "cinematic" as it mimics the analog film frame rate. I often shoot at 30fps because that's what I'm used to having worked in the TV broadcast industry for many years.

[attiksystem]

Thanks Simon, I'm not afraid of the video button anymore... :) You have an amazing talent for explaining pretty complex subjects, making them easy to understand!

[XHALE]

Never thought you could see birds breathing, hard to match your beautiful pictures in the flattest country in Europe. Keep it up.

[carlomaule]

Hi Simon, personally I made very few films after the painful results obtained and I continued shooting, after seeing your video with all the explanations, I will try to put them into practice at the first opportunity, as I did with photography. Thank you very much..

[mastermike]

A note about shutter speed: if you're doing handheld on-the-go vlogging and you don't have a camera with exceptionally good stabilization or a gimbal, you're probably better off using a far higher shutter speed than 1/48s.

Although it'll look less "cinematic" than with a 1/48s shutter, if you want to stabilize vlog footage in post it'll look smeary and weird with a low shutter speed. Personally I'd rather have crisp footage in that scenario than cinematic motion blur that will look distracting when stabilised.

[stephaniegraham]

Excellent Simon. This is exactly what I’ve been looking for. As always, you break the subject down nicely and deliver the important facts in a way that my very tired brain can understand. Thank you!

[oscararrieta]

I found very helpful to use Customs settings, I have one for outdoor video and one for indoor video, and the rest for still, it makes it easier to switch from video to still without making too many adjustments.

[theglz]

I really enjoy your succinct and logical delivery of information. You are my go to photography channel . Thanks. 🙏🏻

[JonAnderhub]

Just an FYI the NTSC standard is 29.97 frames per second not 24.
Most cameras when set to NTSC default to 30 frames per second progressive scan or 30p for short.

[paasosentomi]

I just got into photography a while ago. You Simon are the photographing dad i never had. Ive learned a lot from you.

[AnotherOtherMan-alive]

Some other video tips.

For handheld, ad a slight sway into your motion by drawing an infinity around the subject. The allows you to control any smaller jittery motion by overwriting it with the sway (note it is subject/focal length dependant, test on your own time).
Also the closer to the camera that body part is the smaller the motion should be, this will allow for much smoother motion without the need for gimbals (note most people spend money on gimbals when they don't need them, if you need the absolute smooth they offer than that is up to you).

While 24(technically 23.97 but thats a side point) is the cinema standard. It was mainly chosen as the bare minimum for use with sound to save ass much literal footage of film as possible. You can shoot at 30 frames if your doing vlog style content with out issue or 60 if you've got some action camera footage you want played back at normal speed. It depends on the type of content you're trying to produce. The shutter speed rule still applies, though it can also be refereed to as shutter angle (a hold-over from the film only era).

Lastly, think of video moments in terms of 'beats', this may help you think with time in mind.

[charlenenagel]

Thank you for this! Shooting video is definite hole in my photography tool box. You have given us lots to practise here! :)

[wahoo]

This is EXACTLY what I needed. Thank you so much!