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How to Videotape Family Events

Although taping a family event, such as a reunion or a barbecue, sounds like the easiest thing in the world to do, it's difficult to make a video that you and your family will actually enjoy watching for years to come. But these simple rules will help you produce a video that can be viewed with pride. Instructions Difficulty: Moderately challenging Preparation Steps 1 Step One Check your camcorder the night before the event. 2 Step Two Make sure you have enough tape with you. 3 Step Three Make sure your camera and light batteries are fully charged. 4 Step Four Gather everything together in one place. 5 Step Five Work out in advance what you will do if something both unplanned and unpleasant occurs while you are taping. Tips & Warnings Always carry at least one extra cassette with you in your camera case (two is better). If a family member drinks too much and starts acting foolish, or if a toddler throws a tantrum, it is better to know beforehand if the event planner wants you to include such things on tape. Taping Steps 1 Step One Accept the fact that you can't cover everything. 2 Step Two Work out a taping schedule with the person hosting the event so you know when you can relax and when you must be up and shooting tape. 3 Step Three Keep your camera close by when you are relaxing, just in case something exciting or unplanned happens. 4 Step Four Follow the simple rules of shooting good tape: wide shot, medium shot, close-up, cutaways, minimal panning, steady. 5 Step Five Make sure you're in the front of a crowd if you want to tape what the crowd is looking at. 6 Step Six Include all the guests in your tape, if possible. 7 Step Seven Be evenhanded in the amount of time you spend taping any one individual or group. 8 Step Eight Ask anybody you don't know to give an identification statement: "Hi, I'm Aunt Margie from Manhattan, and I'm really glad to be here." Then go on taping as before. 9 Step Nine Try to keep a running clock in your head so you don't over-cover an aspect of the event (and start your viewers yawning) or under-cover it (and leave them feeling unfulfilled). 10 Step Ten Don't yield to pressure. You're the judge of what you shoot and how long you shoot it. (But always stop taping if somebody asks you to stop.) 11 Step Eleven If a professional photographer is also covering the event, stay out of his or her way. 12 Step Twelve If a child is bothering you as you shoot, look for his or her parents. 13 Step Thirteen Have fun! Tips & Warnings It is probably better not to tape at all than it is to be in constant conflict with someone about why you are not shooting tape of something. Sometimes it is OK to shoot through the crowd, framing onlookers' heads on either side of your viewfinder and showing what they are looking at. But if your knees still work, remember you can hunker down in front of everybody and still get your shots without blocking the view of those behind you.