How to shoot Good Video & Photo
Want to shoot video that doesn’t suck? You’re in the right place!
It starts with heart & passion. This is how things go from good to great. I’m often asked how do you shoot lifestyle? How do you shoot the way you shoot? It’s easy for me to answer this question. It's a feeling. It’s passion. Its heart, soul and dedication.
Let’s get to it!
You do NOT need to be rigged out (aka own $1000’s of dollars of gear) to learn how to take a good photo or shoot good video. I repeat....do NOT let gear stand in the way of your creative passion.
Now about that passion. Let’s talk about it for a minute. Are you doing this because you love it? Really ask yourself this. Because at the end of the day that’s what really matters. Do what YOU love it. Don’t do something because everyone else is. I can tell pretty quickly when someone’s passionate about their craft. You can see it in their eyes, that sparkle.
How to take a good photo. Let’s start here...
Practice, Practice, Practice...that makes better. Take your camera everywhere. Shoot all different genres. Try every setting to see how it affects the image. Learn the exposer triangle.
Exposure Triangle Chart for Photography
Want to get comfortable with using your camera’s manual settings? The exposure triangle is the ultimate cheat sheet for understanding the relationship between ISO, Shutter Speed, and Aperture.
ISO (Old school film speed) - The film or digital sensor’s sensitivity to light. The higher the number, the more sensitive the sensor. Think 100-400 for daylight and 800-6400 for low-light shooting.
Shutter Speed - The speed at which the camera’s shutter closes. The higher the shutter speed, the more you can freeze moments in time, which is great for anything moving. A slower shutter speed allows motion to be captured in different ways, such as the blurred effect of rushing water in a stream.
Aperture - Controls how much light is let into the camera. The smaller the aperture number (F/2.8), the more light is let into the camera. Aperture also controls more than just exposure and adjusting it can create creative effects from blurred backgrounds (f/2.8) to seeing all the things in focus (F/22).
Fav Photo Settings
In good lighting conditions here’s one of my favorite settings for Photo:
Aperture F/2.8
ISO 100
Shutter Speed 1000 or higher
- Expose for skin tones (meaning...make sure they are not to dark or to bright)
- While maintaining the highlights (meaning...I try not to blow out the highlights)
Fav Video Settings
In good lighting conditions here’s one of my favorite settings for Video:
Aperture F/2.8
ISO 100
Shutter Speed Always double the frame rate (if you’re shooting at 60fps the shutter speed would be 1/120 or a bit above NOT below). Creative rules are meant to be broken. First learn them.
- With the video settings above it’s nearly impossible to achieve during bright lighting conditions, without a ND filter to block out some of the light. Think of an ND filter as sunglasses for your lens.
- Expose for skin tones (meaning...make sure they are not too dark or too bright) while maintaining the highlights (meaning...I try not to blow out the highlights). This is where that ND filter comes in handy. It’s hard to not use an ND.
- The fancy cameras (Canon C70 have ND filters built into the camera). Dream setup... no more attaching anything to the front of your lens, just click a button.
Movement… LOTS of movement
When I shoot videos & photos, I MOVE. I’m moving my body, and I’m moving the camera. It’s a bit like a freeform flow. I’m talking to my clients, and they are moving. But I’ll tell ya, I’m moving way more than them. I’m shooting all the angles low and high. I’m looking for the light. It’s all about the light. If you’re standing still, in one spot you are doing yourself a disservice..... move.
I’m not super into posed photos (where the client is standing still). Small movements always (while shooting at a high shutter speed to stop the motion). Movement tells more of a story than having your client stand still & looking right at the camera. There’s always a time & place for posing your client, but most often it’s in the movement where I find the most beautiful images come to life.
Posing your clients? I use Unscripted!
https://unscriptedposingapp.com/ Use code - jensawyer for $20 off.
Love this app so much! It really shows you all the beautiful possibilities that are out there when it comes to posing and working with all your clients.
Handheld Or Gimbal?
I say both & for different reasons.
Notice how Tripod is NOT listed....ya take it off the tripod...
There are very few exceptions here. A tripod should only be used when shooting interviews or long format… think wedding ceremony, for example.
Otherwise, take it off the tripod. This is a dance & tripod shots are not included.
I bought my camera Canon EOS-R6 because it has ibis in-body image stabilization. This for me is a must!
I handhold nearly 80% of all my shots. The other 10% are on a gimbal
I use my gimbal when I’m tracking something or someone. For example, a car moving or a person roller-skating.
The last 10% is on a tripod… if I must (least favorite).
With all that said, I would suggest buying a camera with ibis because if it doesn’t have ibis you will not be able to handhold the camera without noticeable camera shake. I also buy all my lenses with IS - image stabilization.
Photo and video tips to Remember
Don’t wait for the perfect time. There is never going to be the perfect time. Buy a camera...borrow a camera...rent a camera...
Practice. Ask questions. Send me a message & I’ll answer your questions.
I’m on all the platforms & I’m always willing to share what I’ve learned along the way.
Most importantly...have fun. Be kind to yourself and remember it’s all about the journey, not the destination. If you’re not having fun doing what you love then find that thing that makes your heart sing and do more of that...like a lot more of it.
Hope this has helped some of you & if it has let me know.
Thank you! - Jen Sawyer
Looking for the best mirrorless photo and video gear?
Check out my Photo & Video Gear List for everything I use for my lifestyle shoots!