Your childs first year – tips to make an adorable video

It always seems like little babies grow up way too fast. But a year in life, no matter how quickly time flies by, is always full of events. Sometimes it is difficult to simply wrap your head around it, but putting things into perspective might actually help. One great way to do it is to record the chronicle of the entire first year and then edit it into a single video. Plus, this is a great little memento you can return to with your kids once they reach adulthood.

No matter how good you are at video making, watching an entire year’s worth of growth in one go is a sight to behold. But if you do care about production quality, just keep reading to discover a handful of useful tips that will help with recording and editing.

Recording

It goes without saying that to make a great video, you need a supply of great footage. Not to mention the great value this footage has on its own. So, to make the clips you shoot look splendid, keep these things in mind:

Keep it lit. Light is crucial for any video there is. The least you have to do is make sure you have enough light while shooting. Alternatively, you can play around and, for example, use lamps with warm light to create a cozy mood.

Mind the sound. If you have some audio recording gear – put it to use. Or just talk loud and clear enough for your phone (or whatever you use for filming) to register. A well-recorded soundtrack will pay off greatly in the future. 

Stay focused. The baby should be the main focus of the filming in every sense of the word, including purely technical. Make the camera focus on the baby and not some other object. And don’t zoom in too close, so that baby could have some room to move within the frame. These simple things often get overlooked.

Stabilise the camera. Shaky footage rarely improves the experience. So if you have any means that help to stabilise the camera - use them! Place your phone on a tripod or put it on a desk, anything will do.

Add some props. Toys and childhood go hand in hand, so why not add some of those to the footage? Keep it playful and try making a fun setup – whatever helps the baby have a good time you want to record.

Editing

If you have a more or less modern phone, chances are you know how to use its camera. But video editing is something that most of us don’t engage in regularly. So, this is where things might get tricky. But anyone can handle it with user-friendly editing software, a bit of learning, and a handful of tips:

Do the basic stuff. If you are new to video editing, then just keep it simple. Upload some footage, try splitting and trimming your clips, and play around with their arrangement until it feels right.

Saturate colours. More often than not, boosting the colour saturation a little makes the video look more vibrant and pleasing. Plus, nearly any video editing programme out there allows you to do it with a single knob or slider. The hardest part is to not overdo it.

Add some music. A good song can make transitions between clips less jarring and enhance the overall feel of your montage. If you are not sure which track to choose, you can check out this list of the best songs for baby videos.

Try Chroma-key. If you're comfortable with basic editing, then why not go a step further? You’ve probably seen the green screen sets in some “making of '' video of a Hollywood movie, but you can do it yourself! Just shoot some footage in front of a green screen (easily obtainable on Amazon) and use a programme that will edit it in a few clicks. You can pick one from this list of the best chroma key video software.

Consider using the phone. Usually, editing requires having a desktop computer with enough power under the hood. But if the vision you have for the final result is not complex, you can do everything with your phone. Your thumbs may not be as precise as a mouse cursor, but you still achieve a lot! However, the number of available apps can be overwhelming. To ease the ordeal of choice, check out this list of the best video editing apps for iPhone.

Hopefully, now you have a better idea of how to bring your ideas to life. If you are feeling a jolt of inspiration right now – follow it! The first year of life happens only once, meaning you have no time to waste. And with our guidelines, you’ll be able to avoid the pitfall and create a great video that'll help you return to those happy little moments.

 

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