How to Shoot Great Family Videos

By Steve StockmanIn the olden days, when you asked about somebodys kids or grandkids, theyd pull out their wallet and show you an adorable snapshot of the child and a dog wearing identical cowboy hats and smiling at the camera.Youd nod, say, Cute! and be off to the next topic in about 18 seconds.Now that everyone shoots video non-stop, this brief and civil ritual has vanished.Today, if you accidentally seem too interested, you might end up watching an unending series of the most adorable videos of the child running, eating, or reading a seemingly 700-page picture book while the offending party leans over your shoulder and forces you to stare at their phone while saying things like, Waitwaitthis next part is really cute!Or someone will text you a link thats and I am not exaggerating an hour and a half long so that you can watch a 4th-grader graduate to you guessed it 5th grade.So what if you dont want to bore people to death with your family video? What if you actually want them to WATCH it?To get watched, family videos, like all videos, need to be shot with the audience in mind.Heres how:1) Shoot Short ShotsIf you look carefully, youll notice that shots in films or TV shows generally last between 1 and 10 seconds before they cut to another person, place, or angle on the scene.If you do nothing but keep your shots short, your video will instantly be more interesting to watch.For the full tip and more, read the full article in Healthy Aging Magazine:Healthy Aging Magazine | How to Shoot Great Family VideosSteve Stockman is the author ofHow to Shoot Video That Doesnt Suck: Advice to Make Any Amateur Look Like a Pro This content is offered exclusively to Healthy Aging Magazine subscribers. Already a subscriber? Log in now Username: Password: Forgot Password '; } notesHtml+=''+note.name+""; notesHtml+=''+note.description+""; total_user_notes++; }); jQuery("#dvListNotes").html(notesHtml); user_redirect_url=data.redirect_to; if (total_user_notes>0) { jQuery.magnificPopup.open({ items: { src: jQuery('#test-modal'), type: 'inline' } }); jQuery.magnificPopup.instance.close = function () { jQuery.magnificPopup.proto.close.call(this); location.href = data.redirect_to; }; jQuery("#hdAlertWelcome").html("Welcome " + data.first_name + " " + data.last_name + ","); jQuery("#lnkRedirect_to").attr("href", data.redirect_to); } else { jQuery("#login_lbl_loader").html(''+data.msg+''); location.href = data.redirect_to; } } else { jQuery("#login_lbl_loader").html(data.msg); } }); return false; //to prevent form submission //or event.preventDefault(); }); }); Continue to your account Subscribe Today Healthy Aging Magazine offers in-depth feature articles, tips and information on how to achieve a healthy lifestyle. Enjoy features on diet and exercise, mental, social and financial wellness, active travel, and recipes! You will find ways to follow your passion, ideas for how to redefine yourself and stay active as well as profiles on inspirational people. Your subscription includes: Quarterly digital Healthy Aging Magazines. Free monthly digital newsletter. Special free offers throughout the year.