One of my hobbies is making home videos, using my digital camera and video editing software.  I have a lot of fun playing with photos and video clips to make them all blend together in an attractive short video.

Here are a few tips for producing great home videos.

• Always carry your camera.  You never know when you might be able to get a great video.  For instance, I was at the barn the other day and another boarder wanted to turn her horse out with mine.  I got some great video footage and photographs of them playing, and was able to turn it into a really fun video (which you can watch below).  High quality camera cases enable you to carry your camera with you and still keep it safe.  I personally prefer a sling camera bag because it enables you to keep your hands free when you don’t need your camera.
• Find a video editing software you like.  I am just doing amateur videos at this point, so I use Windows Movie Maker, but there are many more advanced programs on the market.  If you plan on using Windows Movie Maker and your camera takes video in Quicktime format, you will also need a video converter tool, such as Rad Video Tools, to convert your videos to a compatible format.
• Be careful of copyrights!  If you are going to be using your video for anything other than home viewing — for instance, if you are going to be posting it online — be sure you aren’t violating someone else’s copyright.  Yes, using a copyrighted song without permission is a violation!  You can get around this by using music from the 1920s or earlier, as this is part of the public domain (which means you can use it freely).  Also, if you are posting your video on YouTube, you can check their Audioswap feature to see what songs are available – the copyright holders actually give YouTube permission to use the songs, in exchange for advertising (a link people can click to purchase the song).

I think you will find, like I did, that making home videos can be quite addictive and enjoyable.  Here is the video I was talking about — I stayed up half the night making this one!

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