Food Fun Family

Shoot Video Like A Pro – 5 Basic Mistakes You Can Fix Instantly

Lolli — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 16:06:31 +0000

My husband is guest posting today with a few tips from his area of expertise – video!

When you think of home movies, do the terms “well framed,” “good content,” “excellent lighting” and “superb cinematography” come to your mind? No? Then you must be doing something wrong.

Not really. In my opinion, there is nothing quite as painful as watching somebody’s home movies (even my own can cause heartburn). What seemed like a special moment at the moment, doesn’t always carry the same sentimental value when viewed through the lens of time.

Hours of small children playing on the carpet, birthday parties, chorus concerts and holiday dinners just don’t make for the great cinematographic soliloquy that inspired you to hit the “record” button in the first place.

If you’re reading this, you probably know that Lolli, my wonderful wife, is an avid and constant photographer. You may not know that I am a videographer. When we met, neither of us even owned a camera. It was one of those lucky things that we grew in to as time went by.

I began making movies at the age of 9. My oldest brother got a Super 8 film camera for his 13th birthday, and I was an extra in many of his films. To this day, I often reflect on the many “shorts” we made. He’ll never know how much I enjoyed those times, even though he and his friends were usually trying to ditch me.

Fast forward 32 years (Ouch!). I love making videos. Most of my production time is spent on foreign language videos, but I occasionally escape and make something more artistic and fun. My kids are usually willing to act in a spur of the moment home movie. Our titles include “The Adventures of Super Timothy,” “Nikki’s Kitchen,” “Ghost Dad,” “The Thing with Two Heads,” “The Hunter and the Dinosaur” and many more. We usually film in the basement on a night when mom goes out. Every film is released under the name “A Girl’s Night Out Film.”

So the question frequently comes up in conversation “How can I shoot good video?” There are lots of things that make a video look good, but expensive equipment and great lighting are not what it takes.

Let’s take a look at a few things you can do without buying anything or taking any extra time to film. Home movies are usually spontaneous shots and these tips will work like a charm.

5 Home Movie Tips to help you shoot like a pro

Lead Room (Space in front of the subject)

The next time you watch a movie, notice how when the subject is moving, they will almost always show extra room in front of the person or object. This space will be in the direction that the person or object is moving.

Why Lead Room?

Lead room allows you to see what is going to happen. It creates a more comfortable visual because you can’t see from the eyes of the subject, so you need to be able to see what is happening in the direction the subject is moving. The ultimate effect is that there is no surprise and it is less choppy.

It also helps you tell the story of what is happening. Video making is story telling.

The next time you follow a child across the room, or follow a bird or plane outside, place the subject in the rear third of the frame and keep him or her there as you move the camera to follow the action.

Framing Close Ups (Cut off that head)

It is not uncommon for people to worry about getting the whole subject in the frame, but I am here to tell you that cutting the top of somebody’s head off can be one of the best things you can do.

Here is the deal.

When you get close in on a subject, you are telling the audience that the actual words that someone is saying is important. You are less and less worried about lighting, angle or anything else. The fact that you are getting close makes the statement “listen to this.”

So, when you film a close up, the best way to make that person the true center of attention is to exclude all the details that distract you from paying close attention. Think about when someone wants to whisper something to you. You never look at their clothes or hair. You turn your ear to hear what they have to say.

In film, you zoom in close and focus on the face, mouth and sometimes in extreme cases, focus just on part of the mouth. The closer and more cropped the zoom, the more serious or intimate the message. It mimics real life behavior.

Framing (The Rule of Thirds)

The rule of thirds is the most basic way to make a dry shot look 100% better. Basically, you picture your frame in 3 equal sections divided vertically and then 3 equal sections divided horizontally. So a frame would have a tic tac toe board drawn on it, stretched to make each section even.

You then place your subject close to the left side or right side vertical line. The ideal position in many cases is to have the eyes of your subject very close to the top horizontal line and close to the left side or right side vertical line.

This framing applies to the two previous tips (lead space and close ups). If you follow this, even a basic scene will look remarkably better.

Zooming (Stop Doing So Much)

Here is a really easy tip to follow. Get your finger off that zoom button. Don’t zoom in and out while you are filming.

What is zoom really used for?

Well, it’s not for changing the framing in and out and in and out. Zoom is best used when you are trying to change the amount of background in the shot or getting a closer view of your subjects. But, that is usually accomplished before the record button is pushed on.

Zoom used during a scene is best applied in cases when you are trying to draw specific attention to someone or something. For example, when someone is talking and the mood turns to something very solemn. Or, it could just be that you are trying to focus the attention on the person speaking. It could also be used to change the focus to something going on in the background that is not supposed to be the subject of the scene, but for some reason becomes the central theme.

Zooming Part 2 (Pull Up Luke!)

When filming something moving, be sure to zoom out as much as needed to make the scene look smooth. A moving zoom shot will almost always be very bouncy and make people sick watching it, while a moving wide shot will be more pleasing to the eye.

When Luke was trying to blow up the Death Star, you felt like you were in his ship with him. That was intentional. The bouncy effect is not quite as enjoyable when watching a kid open a birthday present, so keep the zoom wide when there’s action.

Next time you pull out the video camera to capture video of your family, keep these tips in mind. You may not be winning any Academy Awards, but you’ll notice a difference right away. After you’ve captured the perfect home movies, send them in to YesVideo to preserve them for years to come.

Note: I am a YesVideo Ambassador and receive compensation for my time, but all opinions expressed within this post are my own. Like I’ve said many times before, I highly recommend using YesVideo to transfer your video memories onto long-lasting digital format. All opinions remain my own. Also, as a disclaimer, I did own a camera when I met my husband but I hardly ever used it. And we didn’t own a video camera until long after we started having kids.

How to Turn Everyday Moments into Family Memories

Lolli — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 21:48:59 +0000

Today is a snow day. With all 5 kids and both parents home, you’d think that my house would be chaotic, but – incredibly – it’s fairly tame.

Now, don’t ask me if my house is CLEAN. Tame, we can handle. Clean? Not so much.

And how often does the cleanliness of the house factor into the quality of the memories you make together?

Honestly, you don’t have to have a clean house or go on fancy trips to create meaningful, lasting memories with your kids. Those memories you create together will go a long way towards creating family unity…and that’s way more important than a clean house, right? Here are a few tips for turning everyday, ordinary moments into wonderful family memories.

5 tips for making lasting family memories out of everyday moments

Power down – and put the cell phone and the tablet away. Turn off the TV. Focus on each other and simply chat. Something as ordinary as making dinner together can become a treasured memory for a child (and mom or dad, too!). Most of all? As you power down your devices, make sure that you power UP your ears. Listen.
Do what you’re already doing – turn the tasks that you’re already doing, like grocery shopping, folding laundry, making dinner, and turn it into together time. WHAT you’re doing doesn’t matter as much as simply dedicating the time to do SOMETHING. Find out what you love to do together and do more of those things (ok, that might eliminate the grocery shopping and laundry folding suggestion…). Every once in a while, through in something totally out of the ordinary and create some unique memories.

One-on-one time – There’s something special about having one-on-one time with mom or dad, and heaven knows that’s hard to come by in a big family. While I do love doing things as a family, there’s something to be said for dedicated attention from a parent.
Record it – OK, here’s where I like to break rule #1. When I am making memories with my kids, I always like to pull out my camera or turn the video camera on and record the memories we’re creating. I am a visual person, and seeing the pictures and watching the videos that we make together solidifies those memories for me.
Relive it – Talk about the memories you’ve made. Look through the photos you’ve captured together (print a few and hang them on the fridge!). Watch the videos you create together. By reliving the memories you make together, you not only keep them alive but you are actually creating more memories together in the process.

Some of the things that we love doing together:

playing games as a family
observing traditions (especially surrounding special events like birthdays)
going out on mommy-daughter or mommy-son dates
reading out loud together
baking
crafts and other projects
watching home movies
playing on the iPad
competing at Just Dance on the Wii
taking Sunday walks
watching and discussing TV series
shopping together (one-on-one)
texting each other
brushing and braiding hair (even my 7 year old son loves braiding hair!)
painting nails
crocheting

How do you turn everyday moments into lasting memories?

PS – In re-reading the beginning of this post, I’m beginning to wonder if I have a little issue with keeping my house clean…

Share Your Memories & Win at #YesMemory Twitter Party

Lolli — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 03:39:43 +0000

I had a fabulous childhood. I remember running around the neighborhood with my best friends, playing with Barbies with my sisters, setting up lemonade stands on the corner. Actually, I recall only tolerating the lemonade stands because Elizabeth loved selling lemonade. Or was it the thrill of making money? Either way, those lemonade stands are a happy childhood memory that make me smile when I think about them…even though I still cringe when my own kids ask if they can set up lemonade stands of their own.

I remember running for student government in 6th grade, and moving to a new town at the beginning of 7th grade…but having to commute 45+ minutes to school until we completed the move.

I have fond memories of running around with my cousins on holidays, and anxious memories of getting locked in the bathroom at my Grandma and Grandpa’s house. But like I said at the beginning, they all add up to a fabulous childhood.

Tomorrow (which is almost today) – Thursday, February 21st at 8:00 PM CST (9:00 PM EST) – I’ll be a panelist at the #ThrowbackThursday #YesMemory Twitter Party. I’m sure I’m not the only one with a bunch of nostalgic memories (and maybe a few old pictures?!) to share. I’m being joined by a group of amazing bloggers and tweeters. Take a look:

My fellow #YesMemory party panelists:

To join the fun tweet using the hashtag #YesMemory and follow @YesVideo on Twitter. The best way to follow the party conversation is to use the TweetChat room assigned to #YesMemory.

During the Twitter Party we will discuss our favorite childhood memories, how to preserve those old family home movies and share our vintage Throwback Thursday photos. Not only are we an awesome group to spend an hour with…but we’ll be handing out some equally awesome prizes.

Twitter Party prizes include:

DOOR PRIZE – Blu-ray Player {must fill out door prize form to be eligible}
2 – $50 gift certificate for YesVideo home video and photo transfer service
$100 gift certificate for YesVideo home video and photo transfer service
Nostalgia Electrics Vintage Popcorn Maker
$50 Etsy gift certificate

*Prizes will be given away randomly during the Twitter Party to people tweeting with the hashtag. Must be in attendance at the Twitter Party using hashtag #YesMemory to be eligible to win prizes.

Be sure to RSVP before the party. Hope to see you there!

Take Your Vintage Home Movies With You On The Go

Lolli — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 18:32:28 +0000

We are a community that is constantly connected and on-the-go. I admit – I’ve got my smart phone and iPad with me just about all the time. But that doesn’t mean that connecting with my family is not important to me. In fact, I have been drawn to creating and preserving memories through taking and sharing photos and videos since long before I was a mom (and I’ve been a mom for a LONG time now). Instead of letting our connectedness detract from our memory sharing and creating, I believe that we can use technology to enhance our family relationships and create fantastic memories together.

Having a cell phone on hand everywhere I go not only allows me to capture everyday moments in images and videos, stay connected to my teens through texting, and chat with family members on the other side of the country without any extra charges, but now I can use my phone to watch our vintage home movies, too. I remember the day when it was SO difficult to watch our home videos (I mean, how many video formats have you used in the last 20 years?). Now I can watch videos of my 16 year old as an adorable, curly-haired 2 year old playing the piano with her great grandma or laugh at my wedding video with a friend at a blogging conference.

What makes sharing your vintage home movies so easy? YesVideo has a brand new iPhone/iPad app available in the Apple App Store. The new, free app allows you to view your entire library of old videos on-the-go, wherever you are.

What you need to know about the YesVideo app:

Transfer some videos. Before getting started with the app, send some old home movies to YesVideo to transfer them to DVD and digital media. All you need to know about transferring your movies to DVD is in my recent post.
Download the free iPhone app. The app is compatible with iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, as well as Apple TV. You can find it in iTunes.
Sign In to your YesVideo account using the app. Almost instantly, all your transferred memories will be ready for you to stream from your device. Watch your videos anywhere!
Jump to your favorite chapters instantly. Chapters and thumbnail images allow you to jump right to your favorite scenes instantly.

Enjoy your movies on the big screen with your Apple TV. The app is Apple AirPlay compatible which allows you to stream the videos playing on your phone to your Apple TV. Tap the Apple AirPlay icon while playing your video, and it will stream wirelessly through your Apple TV connected television. (Apple TV required. Learn more about Apple AirPlay at Apple.com).

Yes, that adorable baby girl is…me!

Share videos with family and friends via email or Facebook. In the app, click the share button to share your videos with your family and friends (they don’t need an account to view your shared videos). See the 3 easy steps below:

What videos would you love to be able to share on the go?

Step-by-Step Guide to Converting Home Movies into DVDs

Lolli — Thu, 31 Jan 2013 21:23:29 +0000

In the last 17 1/2 years since I got married and had kids, I’ve gathered up quite an extensive collection of home movies. I started out using one of those enormous camcorders recording on VHS, then moved to a smaller camcorder using smaller tapes. Eventually, we bought a video recorder that used mini DVDs, and it wasn’t very long afterwards that I got a Flip camera. I thought the Flip camera was so fancy…until all of my digital cameras (and even my phone) could take videos, too.

Over the years, we caught lots of priceless short videos like this

What was left after so many years and such a variety of recording methods was an overload of media that was incompatible. Some home videos lived on my computer. Others were in dusty old VHS tapes stacked in the entertainment center. And still more were stuck on mini DVDs that could not be read by my current computers.

Every once in a while, the kids would want to watch videos of past concerts – or the day they took their first steps – and it was always a hassle to pull out the appropriate outdated recording device to play back the video.

I knew that I needed to figure out how to put everything in order so that we could enjoy, standardize and preserve our home movies. Luckily, over a year ago, I discovered YesVideo and have since accrued a much more manageable home movie collection. I’ve been asked a few time about the process of preparing and sending your original movies off to YesVideo, and so I wrote up a step-by-step process to show everyone how easy it really is to convert your old photographs and home movies into DVDs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Converting Home Movies into DVDs With YesVideo

The first step goes without saying…but I’ll say it anyway. Gather all your home movies, whether they be on film reel, VHS, 8mm video, DVDs, memory cards, or CDs (did I miss anything?). YesVideo will also convert stacks of photos, photo albums, slides, etc into slide shows on DVD.
Decide how you would like to send your media in. You can order directly from YesVideo’s website and mail your movies straight to them, or you can chose from one of their 34,000+ retail locations throughout the US (retail partners include Costco, CVS, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Walgreens, RiteAid and more).
1. If you’re mailing your videos yourself (I’ve done this and have been SO happy), prepare each separate media by labeling with a Post-It or sticker so that it’s clear which video is which. I always place my videos in a large zippered plastic bag to protect the movies from moisture and then package them in a box, ensuring that there is enough padding that they aren’t going to bump around during shipment.
2. If you would like to drop your videos off at a retail location, prepare your media similarly (minus the packaging–they’ll take care of that). Organize and label before you head out to the store.
Fill out the order form, either online or at the store. What they ask for is pretty basic: how many different types of original media you have, a title for each DVD (plus customized theme and background music if desired), and how many copies of each you would like made. Apply any discounts you may have, enter your shipping address and billing information, and you’re ready to send your originals off.
After you have sent your originals to YesVideo (either from home or from a retail location), they will travel to YesVideo’s Santa Clara, California headquarters (where I was able to tour last year) – the whole time protected by YesVideo’s Safety Guarantee. The transfer process is carefully orchestrated and awesome to watch….but all you need to do at this point is sit back and wait for your DVDs (and returned originals) to be sent back to you.

Along with your newly converted DVDs, you will also have access to your movies on YesVideo’s online sharing site, which I love.

See how easy that is? It’s so easy that I’ve converted DOZENS of home movies and old photos, and the result is more than I could have dreamed of. The kids pull the home movie DVDs off the shelf and watch them regularly. Reliving our past memories together strengthens our bonds and brings us closer together. We laugh together about how silly we used to be, and get nostalgic as we watch Great Grandma play the piano.

What old memories would you like to preserve onto digital media? Start here!

The Best Moments of 2012 #YesMemory

Lolli — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 21:29:29 +0000

I started a tradition when CandyMan and I were newly married. I bought a cheap, large frame with a collage matte and filled it with pictures from our first year together. That collage was a visual, daily reminder of all of the amazing things that we had done together during our first year of marriage. Wedding day, honeymoon, camping trip, first Christmas…

Through the years, I’ve made many other collages. Baby births, birthdays, family trips, first days of school… I love seeing my year pulled together and culminated in a collage like that.

During these first two weeks of January, I knew that I needed to go through the exercise of scanning through my pictures from 2012 to find the images that would best illustrate my amazing year. I finally got around to it last week:

2012 was a challenging year in many respects, but as I went through the thousands of pictures that I took through the year, I was reminded of the incredible opportunities I had and the fabulous memories that I made with friends and family. From a ton of press trips, 3 family trips, and 3 conferences, 2012 was a big travel year for me. There were birthdays, school events, music concerts, and so many more memories that I’d nearly forgotten about already.

Remembering and reliving our experiences through the photos we took made me appreciate this last year more than I realized.

Over the years, I’ve done a few different things with my end-of-year collage: framed photo collage, family calendar, scrapbooks, and video slide shows. Of course, YesVideo is perfect for taking your photos (whether in digital or printed format) and turning them into a wonderful year-in-review movie. And believe me when I say that a slide show of last year will be a family treasure 10 years from now.

I am a YesVideo Ambassador and receive compensation for my participation, but as always, thoughts expressed on this blog are my own.

Reliving the Best Memories… @YesVideo $65 Giveaway

Lolli — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 13:00:56 +0000

Christmas is approaching faster than I would like to admit. I’ve done a fair amount of shopping but I’m FAR from being finished. I don’t know where the month has gone!

I was thinking about my mom all last week as I lay in my sick bed for days (isn’t it funny how we still long for mom’s special touch, no matter how old we get?). The other thing that doesn’t get easier with age? — Spending the holidays without her (and the rest of the family).

It’s times like these, when I get nostalgic and a little homesick, that I pull out my YesVideo DVD marked Christmas. Thanks to my mom and dad’s clunky old camcorder, a VHS tape – copy of a copy – that managed to survive 5 baby’s first Christmases, and a YesVideo DVD transfer, I can pop a disk in the DVD player and relive the best memories from Christmas – the way it was when I was a kid.

My husband and kids don’t get into singing Christmas carols around the piano in the living room. It’s not as fun when it’s just the 7 of us. But I have all of our favorite carols on video, with Mom, Dad, brothers and sisters, Aunts and Uncles, cousins, and even neighbors joining in the festive fun at my parent’s house. I cry every single time I hear them sing our family’s favorite, somewhat unique Christmas song, Star Bright. I can’t hear the song without thinking about Grandpa.

Those are the best memories…and yet someday, I’ll look back and remember these years, replay the videos that we’re taking right now with our own kids, and realize that these are the best memories. The memories we’re making right now.

What is YesVideo?

Ready to relive some of YOUR best memories?

Simple. YesVideo is a service that takes your Videotapes (Camcorder Tapes & VHS), Movie Film Reels, 35mm Slides, Photo Prints, Digital Videos & Photos and converts them to DVD.

You can order directly from the website and mail your photos or videos to YesVideo (you can see the entire DVD-creating process from my tour of the YesVideo headquarters earlier this year).

Or you can drop off your media at one of YesVideo’s 34,000 local media partners like CVS, Walmart, Costco, RiteAid, and more. In approximately 3-4 weeks after sending in your transfer materials, your new DVDs will arrive back to you (along with the originals, of course!).

You can enjoy your videos on DVD and on YesVideo’s online viewing and storage site. You can also order their convenient EasyShip Kit (which, by the way, would make the perfect holiday gift) to make the process even easier.

How would you like to win the gift of YesVideo?

As a YesVideo Ambassador, I am excited to give away a $65 credit for YesVideo transfer service (to be used for online orders). Enter on the Rafflecopter form below. This giveaway will end on Friday, December 21, 2012 and a winner will be notified by email.

Connect with YesVideo:

YesVideo website
YesVideo on Facebook
YesVideo on Pinterest
@YesVideo on Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I receive compensation for my work as a YesVideo ambassador. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Christmas gift photo from rgbstock.com

Remembering and Creating #HolidayMemories – #YesMemory Twitter Party Tonight!

Lolli — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 18:05:11 +0000

I have many fond memories of holiday seasons form my childhood, though most holidays are blurred into one collective memory of late nights at Grandma’s house with cousins, music, and an abundance of good food.

This is my mom’s family Christmas card, circa 1959. I love it!

I remember sitting around the piano singing Christmas carols with my aunts, uncles, and cousins while Grandma played the piano. I can picture Grandma and Grandpa’s tall Christmas tree by the front window and all of her hand made ornaments.

But it’s the holidays that were different that really stand out in my memory.

Like our first Thanksgiving away from our family in California – We weren’t quite sure how to celebrate Thanksgiving without all of the aunts, uncles, cousins, and Grandma and Grandpa (and all of the special dishes they each brought to the table) so we decided to have Thanksgiving dinner out. The food was decent, but it wasn’t what we craved (like Grandma’s strawberry jello salad or Aunt Connie’s crescent rolls or my apple pie).

But the thing that I remember most about that Thanksgiving was that the server filled my Sprite glass with water every single time she passed our table. It was depressing and amusing all at the same time.

I also remember the first Christmas my family spent in Portland, OR. We had planned on celebrating Christmas a few days early so that we could drive down to California to spend our traditional Christmas Eve with the extended family. We woke up on our fake Christmas to freshly fallen snow – our very first white Christmas ever.

But before we could grab the camera to take a picture of our beautiful, snowy backyard, the neighbor boys ran straight across the yard…because THEIR mom had told them not to run through THEIR backyard to ruin the perfect picture. Remember – this was a first snow for us. Exciting stuff.

Now I’m a mom with a family and holiday traditions of my own, but I’m still on the look out for new ways to create holiday memories. This past week, we ROCKED the family memories by spending all week in a vacation home in Florida with my husband’s entire family. I know this Thanksgiving will stand out in my kids’ minds as one of their best ever.

And now we’re totally ready to kick off the holiday season and continue making memories together.

Join the YesVideo Holiday Twitter Party and kick off the holidays with us!

When: TONIGHT, Tuesday, November 27th at 8:00 PM CST.

Where: Follow @YesVideo on Twitter and use the hashtag #Yesmemory {RSVP here}

Who: Join @YesVideo with panelists @RachelFerrucci, @MamaDweeb, @themommyfiles, @Zipporahs, and @ConnieFoggles

What: We’ll be discussing holiday decorations and party planning, and sharing our holiday shopping secrets.

Why: FUN and Prizes, of course!

#YesMemory Party Prizes include:

DOOR PRIZE – Blu-ray Player {must fill out door prize form to be eligible}
$50 Gift Card to CVS and $50 YesVideo Transfer Service Coupon
$50 Gift Card to Walmart and $50 YesVideo Transfer Service Coupon
$50 Gift Card to Costco and $50 YesVideo Transfer Service Coupon
$50 Gift Card to Sam’s Club and $50 YesVideo Transfer Service Coupon
iPhone Camera Lens Kit

Prizes will be given away randomly during the Twitter Party to people tweeting with the hashtag.
Must be in attendance of the Twitter Party using hashtag #YesMemory to be eligible to win prizes.

BONUS: Win a $20 gift certificate from YesVideo by tweting before the party

Every tweet counts as an entry. No maximum entries. Winners will be announced at 8:05pm CST Tuesday 11/27 at the @YesVideo #YesMemory Twitter Party. Simply tweet out one or all of the following to be entered:

Share #HolidayMemories at @YesVideo Twitter Party Tues 11/27 @ 8PM CST #YesMemory https://ow.ly/fyXXd RSVP to #win

Let’s talk #HolidayMemories w/ @YesVideo Tues 11/27 @ 8PM CST Win Gr8 Prizes RSVP today https://ow.ly/fyXXd #YesMemory

Hope to see you there!!

Note: I am a YesVideo Ambassador and receive compensation for my involvement. All thoughts and opinions (and family memories) are my own.