Take My Pictures: A Guide To Pet Portrait Photography

Pet Portrait Photography is very popular these days. It's natural! You love your pet so much that you treat him like family. There are photographers who are expert on taking pet pictures but you can always do it in the comfort of your own home. Simply ready your digital camera at all times. Read on to find more hints on how to take better pictures of your pets.

The Candid Shot

You cannot really expect animals to pose for you, can you? They are naturally active and highly temperamental. They rely on instinct all the time so as long as they are stimulated, you must expect distractions to come your way. It is just impossible to teach the animals take the pose you exactly want them to do.  

So instead, be like paparazzi! Catch them doing something cute and clever and funny; or when you think they're about to do something very mischievous, sneak up on them and start clicking away. You'll be surprised at how good the pictures were taken.

Making Your Pet Look Its Best

A well-groomed pet is always comforting to look at. There are unexpected moments of clumsiness like when they run into a puddle of mud that you may want to remember. If your pet goes to the groomer regularly, then you will have more chances of catching them at their best. But be aware that whenever dogs or cats with long hair are given a shorter hair-cut, they are prone to get a little bit depressed, so taking photos right after won't harness good results. 

Moods and Swings

You are probably familiar with your pet's behavior by now; as to whether they feel most sleepy after they're fed or if they're playful during the mornings when it's not too hot or too cold. If you want to take a photo of them in a specific mood, try to know the patterns when these moods are usually exhibited.

As Close as Possible

The cutest photos are the ones that show the face. And because pets are normally smaller than humans, you might need to really get down to get a clear view of their eyes or get a close shot of their faces. Zoom lenses are very helpful for taking photos of pets – that is if you can't get close enough to them.

Plan the Scenes
Carefully plan your scenes. If your cat likes to play with toys then make sure to have loads of them around. If your dogs like to chew, give them bones to play with or doggie toys they can throw and bite, too.

Sprinkle colors in the area and make sure there is adequate light. For a more airy effect, adjust the brightness of your camera; add a little contrast if you want to expose the light in their eyes. There are a million ways to catch your pet doing something cute. As they are, we're sure they're already fascinating to look at and that's exactly what you want to remember about them. Pet portraits are great keepsakes so practice on the techniques of pet portrait photography and experiment on other ways to add beauty to your pet's pictures!

Do-It-Yourself Steps to Portrait Photography

Long before digital cameras have come to existence, people have been fascinated by portraits mainly because it captures the essence of a person. Portrait photography has the power of capturing one's image and depicting that person's character, at the same time imprinting such images for all to remember. However, people do not realize that ever since cameras have been developed and made available to everyone, they have been secretly becoming a threat to the techniques that professional photographers have studied for years. Learn about portrait photography and you'll see how amazing this hobby can be!

It doesn't take a genius to take amazing pictures really. All you need is a little practice, some basic portrait photography practices and these helpful tips to take the greatest photos to die for!

1. Capture the Character

Capturing one's character through a photo shot could be considered most challenging. This is simply because it is extremely difficult to identify one's character by a mere look at an image shot by a camera, most especially when you do not know them very well or haven't even met them. Engaging in small conversations and getting to know the subject a little bit before shooting might just do the trick. 

Magic happens when there is a clear relationship or camaraderie between the photographer and the subject. That is why when you look into the lens, make sure you are able to connect to the subject, sense the subject's sincerity and smile, the intensity of the scowl or the emptiness of that distant look. If you're able to that, then you could say you have successfully captured the character of your subject.

Maximize Natural Light

Camera flashes produce red eye, so to avoid this on your photos, try getting the most out of the light that is already available. Position the subject facing against the light so the brightness will illuminate the face. In unavoidable cases wherein there's no natural light coming in, simply resort to using red eye removal software that could minimize these for you. Most digital cameras today come with a red-eye removal feature. 

2. Focus on Me

The focus of a portrait should always be on the subject and not the background. So make sure that you shoot in plain backgrounds or make the necessary adjustments in the focus of the camera to highlight the subject and lay back the background a little bit. Remember that the subject has to always stand out against the background. Otherwise, the essence of the portrait is forfeited.

3. Eyes Open

Except when it is called for, like for a dramatic or theatrical effect, the eyes should always be open. A photographer cannot fully capture the image or the character of the subject without seeing the emotions radiate from within. Blinking even just for a second is a photographer's no-no! So give your subject the due warning or practice first to pre-condition the eyes to the flashes of light. Here are other hints about portrait photography now.

1. Black is Drama

You think black and white is out? No. It's still very popular and instantly creates drama and elegance. 

2. Instant cover up

You don't need to have professional make up artists to do your face before shooting a portrait. Covering or minimizing blemishes are made easy by simple overexposure of the photos. It makes the skin seem luminescent and cures a portrait from its imperfections.

3. Make your subject move

Try to engage your subjects in a conversation or instruct them to move freely then speed shutter. These will give you very interesting photos which look candid and spontaneous. You can also take advantage of these features when shooting portraits of children.

          1. Decide to dress up

Imagine this portrait blown and hung up on the walls of your living room. Would you want your family and friends to look at you in shabby clothing? If you're going for the elegant look, go for dresses, gowns, suits or tube tops for a topless look. Or if you insist on simplicity, that's fine. Just make sure you avoid something you don't like to be caught wearing.

Now, you have the list of must-dos and a total picture of portrait photography.

All you need to do is practice, so start picking up that camera, start shooting and you'll see yourself improve everyday. Do not hesitate to play with the lighting techniques and do some experimenting on portrait photography. It is truly a worthwhile leisure of art!

The Essence Of Portrait Photography

People love to take portraits of them. A portrait is a captured likeness of the subject, in this case a person, especially their face. Portrait photography however has deeper connotation than that, being understood as a superior quality image capturing the individual's physical likeness, their character on a digital or film camera's sensor. It is also understood that portrait photography produces pleasing and attractive results to the person being the subject. 

Character revelation is the focus of portrait photography. At least one element of the subject must be shown on the photo. Elements may include the subject's attitude, personality, unique mannerisms, and any other traits or features that shape the very unique nature of the person. The portrait photograph tells the viewer something that suggests of the subject's individuality. 

It is often times that a viewer expresses agreeableness that the photographer really captured the subject's likeness, in which may be referred to as their exact physical likeness. However, what one is consciously saying about them is that the photo reveals something that is very identifiable of the character of the subject. Portrait photography therefore is not mere capturing of the image likeness but arresting the true character deeply formed in the subject; a task that can be challenging as photographers can have subjects they have never known in their life. 

So, how do you capture these character traits?

Each individual has unique characteristics, traits, attitudes, and features. However, not all people are the same when it comes to expressing them. There are just some who can easily convey their individual character or trait with immediate transparency. Others, on the other hand, have difficulty in doing the same. 

For the portrait photographer, it would be easier to deal with the former type. But for the latter, it will take more work and proficiency to study the true essence of the subject otherwise it can be hard transporting this essence into the portrait.

Having said that portrait photography isn't only about taking shots but rather it involves studying one's character, like observing for signals displaying the subject's mannerisms, expressions, body language, and even reactions. It will take a lot of skill and understanding for the photographer to do that, but such is required to reveal the true character of the subject. 

Engaging them into conversation is one way of doing it. 

Finding a common ground for a topic can begin the studying of person's likeness. It can be any subject, so long as the subject is cooperating and opening up. Creating a rapport is also another important way to do it. It easily makes the subject more comfortable at your presence, and therefore makes them more natural looking when you start taking photos of them. 

When do you start taking pictures?

You can begin right away once you find the subject is comfortable and relaxed. Starting right away can begin the tension to set in the subject, therefore, making it hard for them to be at ease or settle down just yet. They may look posed in the pictures, but often they can result to a portrait lacking the subject's true essence. 

Rushing portrait photography is never a good idea. And unless, you knew the subject very well and are already comfortable working with you, you can begin right away. In the case of portrait photography, it works best by using your best judgment before executing any shots. 

Baby Portrait Photography

If you've never had kids and wonder why your mom-friends keep showing pictures of their babies to you every chance they get or why they are so obsessed with taking baby portrait photos, the answer is simple. Baby Portrait Photography is a very fascinating and enjoyable leisure!

Mothers and fathers have taken the art of baby portrait photography into their own hands. In fact, if you're a new parent, I bet you have a camera tucked in your bag all the time. To capture the witnessed unexpected 'firsts' or simply, capturing the right moment that candidly presents itself, are sure the ultimate joys of a parent.

Poses at Specific Ages

However, there is also a challenge in taking baby photos; and that is, babies do not know how to pose. The subject is still too unaware of its surroundings or at certain ages, unpredictably active. So it would be helpful if we could be least expecting of their abilities to strike a pose. We know babies can barely hold up their heads or retain a particular position at 0-3 months that's why we would need to hold them to pose.


Experiment on how the baby could be held but make sure that the focus of the photo would be on the baby and not on any one else. You must find a way to capture only the baby's profile while being held by another person. There are still limited positions you can capture when you are taking photos of babies between the ages of 3-6 months. The good news is that babies can now hold their heads up so it'll be much easier to get the face into profile. Costumes and props that are safe for these ages may also be used to liven up the photos.

Babies begin to sit around 6-9 months and this is when you can capture very odd poses from the babies. Since the babies start to become very active, this is the time when you need to master the shutter speed feature of your camera. And from ages 10 months onwards, some babies may be able to recognize that their photos are being taken and might even hold their poses a little longer. Candid photos may do very well during these ages. 

10 Things to Keep in Mind about Baby Portrait Photography

1. Make sure that your camera has film all the time and that your batteries are fully charged all the time
2. If you are using a digital camera, it is best to have batteries ready.
3. Familiarize yourself with the use of shutter speeds and camera flashes.
4. Do not be afraid to take ultra-close up photos of your babies.
5. Try shooting at distances and capturing the drama of the scene.
6. If you are going to pose your babies, hold them securely.
7. Your babies need not be dressed in costumes all the time, just make sure they are clean unless you intend to take photos of them wiping chocolates go on their faces which is very adorable too.
8. Try shooting in grayscale. Black & white photos come out very classy and elegant, so if you intend to frame the photos, you will never go wrong with it.
9. Remember that babies can easily get distracted, if you caught your baby doing something very nice, be quick in clicking the camera or you might miss the moment.
10. Get others involved. Have your relatives of family members make coo-coo sounds to make the baby smile or simply talk to the baby to get eye contact.

There is nothing like capturing the essence of a child in a photograph. They grow up so fast so you want to really get every precious moments on film. You will learn simpler baby portrait photography techniques as you go along, and you'll be proud each time you get a cute little smile recorded for eternity.  

Getting that Baby on Film

In the many types of photography you may have to do as a photographer, baby shots may be the most difficult.  Even if you are not a professional photographer but you are trying to get a great looking portrait of your own child, getting them to cooperate is a major undertaking.

 The first rule to live by with baby photography is that, as a matter of face, they ARE the boss of this shoot.  The entire process has to be built around that fragile mood of this child.  But there are a couple of tricks of the trade you can use, professional or amateur to get the best shot of that sweet baby.

Baby’s respond well when they are fed and rested, with people they know and trust and when they get all the attention.  So right off the bat, you as mom and dad can see to it that the shoot happens when requirement number one has been met.  Now, that is not always easy.  If you have an appointment to take the baby to the get his or her portrait made at the local photography studio, that mood may not be the way you want it to be.

That is why, if at all possible we would discourage taking the shots in a studio.  If you can set up a shoot at the baby’s home, where there is a comfortable setting and much that is familiar around, you have many more opportunities to get that smile that will make the portrait of a lifetime there.  Now that calls for a “house call” by the photographer but if he or she is a photographer that wants only the best shot of the child, they will work with what you want.

Another advantage of scheduling the shoot at home is that you know when the baby usually is at his or her best so you can schedule it when that time of day is just right.  In fact if the photographer can show up during nap time, there is plenty of time to stage the shot before the angel awakens.  And by eliminating the car ride to the studio, you take away a huge risk of that fragile mood going south en route.

A second tip comes from the fact that babies like people they know.  So if the photographer has time to meet the child, play with him or her and get a rapport started, then they will be more receptive to playful direction to get the shot you want.  You will have to be clever how you introduce the camera as it can either be an object of fear or looked upon as a toy and the baby will want to play with it.

As far as the camera goes, think about the kind of equipment you will utilize to get that perfect baby portrait.  You want it to be portable, so you can do those on location shots that work so much better.  It should be small, both for portability and to not alarm the child.  Digital is best because you can shoot lots of shots and never have to reload.  But make sure it’s a good quality piece of equipment that will shoot at a high resolution so when you get that prefect shot, it will transfer to a portrait printing nicely.

By setting up the room with the kind of backdrops that will create a good portrait, you can then have the baby begin to play with her or her toys and interact with parents, siblings or the photographer in a happy way.  Before long that sound of the camera clicking and even the flash will become familiar and the baby won’t pay it any mind.  

The best shots are of the baby laughing.  Try to get on the same level with the child as he or she plays.  Mom and dad know the notices or games that always get a giggle so exploit their inside information extensively.  The baby will enjoy getting to know you and hearing those familiar games coming from you should do well at getting that sweet laugh or smile you want.

By learning the baby’s personality and how to get in sync with the child, you can coax pictures from the shoot that might other wise be impossible to get.  And that is what you want if a portrait of a baby that you want to last a lifetime.

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Camcorder

Getting the Best Possible Audio from a Camcorder

When you move from photography to videography as your means of capturing moments either personally or as part of your profession, you enter into a much bigger world with greater challenges as well.  For one thing, you now have to deal with issues of movement.  The problems of lighting and surface noise are just as big of an issue except now you have subjects that may be on the go and you have to go with them.

 

But when using a camcorder to capture the event under scrutiny, whether it’s a wedding, a speech or presentation or some other significant event, the issue of having the best quality sound presents unique challenges.  So its best to do some concentrated planning on how you are going to accommodate the sound needs of the event to your equipment because if you have wonderful pictures but the words and sounds of the event are muddy or lost, then the quality of your final product is seriously damaged.

Many an unsatisfactory video was taken with a camcorder because the operator depended too heavily on the small microphone that is built into the casing of the machine.  The only situation where this microphone may be adequate would be if you were conducting a one on one interview in a small room where you could position the camcorder within three feet of the subject.  Even then, surface noise from the surrounding building could become part of the audio outside of the awareness of the operator at the time.

To assure that you have complete awareness of what is going onto your video recording of each event, the investment in a good set of closed back headphones to monitor the audio is an outstanding move.  You can plug it into the camcorder and you are dynamically aware of what is going onto that tape at all times.  If something gets into the audio that is not appropriate, you can use editing techniques or even re-shoot the segment if that is possible in the context of the event.

For the majority of events, plan to use the auxiliary audio input plug to incorporate a mobile microphone unit rather than depend on the onboard microphone in the camcorder casing.  This small plug alone opens up a large range of solutions to the problem of poor camcorder audio that is so often endemic of videos made with this technology.


If you are working with an external microphone, be aware of the limitations of the wire if you are not working with a radio frequency microphone unit.  In a situation such as a speaker doing a presentation, you can lay the cord down between the recorder and the speaker’s stand assuming you have sufficient cord length to reach the where the microphone will mount on the stand.  Be careful with the excess cord, perhaps securing it with duct tape so those listening to the presentation don’t trip on the cord or pull it free which could cause injury and damage the equipment.

In many situations such as one in which you plan to interview people in a roving fashion or to record a speaker who is on the move a great deal, a radio frequency microphone may be necessary.  These can be more expensive but without the investment in this technology, your audio quality relying exclusively on the camcorder built in microphone will almost certainly be disappointing.

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3 Pieces of Essential Sound Equipment

Making sure you have all of the critical pieces of equipment that you need to create a feature film can be very complicated.  Ensuring that everything works together to create the perfect film that you are envisioning is never easy, but taking the time to ensure that everything is proper before you start recording your film is very important.  Without good sound, you are likely to lose a large number of people who would make up your potential audience.  This can often cause a great film to wind up largely ignored and a filmmaker extremely frustrated.

Your first piece of equipment is going to be a microphone.  This is something that should be looked at far in advance of actually shooting any of the scenes so that you can be certain you are getting the best sound possible.  Each microphone will have a different range that it works best.  Your key to having good sound from each is knowing the proper range for the microphone that you are using.  If you need a microphone that records close up, then you need to ensure you have proper placement, without getting so close that you are interrupting the filming of the scene.  A microphone dropping into the scene during recording can ruin footage and create additional headaches in the future.

Microphone cables will be your second critical component.  This needs to be properly installed or you will find that after spending a day shooting a scene that you love, you have no sound to work with.  Nothing is worse than finding out you have wasted an entire day filming because the microphone cables were not properly connected.  A period check is essential to ensure that they are connected.  Aside from just ensuring the cables are connected, you need to ensure you pick up cables that are a good quality.  Poor quality cables can cause problems when you are trying to record the sound and can add interference into the recording.  Being very careful to avoid interference as well as ensure proper connection will go a long way towards ensuring that sound is properly recorded.

A final step is looking at the sound software that you have.  Using good quality sound editing software you can make huge changes to the recording because you will have the flexibility to easily change the order of speech and sounds.  You can also work to adjust the sound levels for a scene to adjust for ambient noises as well.  You might discover that while you were recording there was an annoying siren in the background that is distracting from the scene, having additional ambient sound footage you would be able to replace the siren, which can help you to save the footage entirely. 

As you can see, each of these three components is necessary to create the overall feeling for a movie.  A feature film that has poor sound will likely lose the attention of the audience very quickly.  Taking the time to really pull together the proper sound equipment is a great step towards ensuring the success of your movie.  Taking pride in the sound will show as people are viewing your movie, and gives you a great opportunity to play with different sound scenarios to discover what really works best for the individual feature film that you are creating.  Knowing how to make the changes and produce the quality results will be a key benefit that will serve you well for all feature films you create. 

camcorder
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4 Tips to Picking the Best Film School for You

Everyone knows there are dozens of film schools all around the country, and then hundreds of other colleges that might teach some courses that are helpful to a filmmaker.  Gaining the most experience possible in a highly creative environment is important to help ensure the success of any filmmaker though and it can mean a huge difference when it is time to start looking at which school you are most interested in attending.  If you have any questions about which school is best for you, you need to start looking at the schools objectively to help you narrow down all of the choices.

Your first step should involve looking for a school that has at least one instructor that you are very interested in working with.  Your desire to work with this instructor should have several reasons, not just simply you think they look nice.  Instead, there should be a specific film that they have worked on that you admire, a specific film making technique that you respect or even a method of teaching that you feel will blend well with your particular learning style.  Remember; avoid picking a school simply because the teachers look nice.

You should look for a school where the students look like they are actually happy.  This might seem strange, but students who are always upset and mad are not going to be fostering the creative atmosphere that you need to succeed.  You should look for a place that encourages students to be happy because a school that is trying to pull students down will often stifle creative ideas as well.  Filmmaking is a process that relies quite heavily on creative thinking.  All films at some point start out as nothing more than ideas written down on paper, the creative process that each individual involved in the film brings helps ensure that as it comes to life, it is something truly spectacular.

You need to also look for ample equipment at the film school.  While you may not have access to all of this equipment making films on your own, it is important to learn how to use everything properly.  A film school that merely teaches students how to use homemade or alternative equipment is not going to fully prepare you for everything ahead of you.  In contrast, you also want to look for a school that will allow you to improvise with equipment at times.  It is a good skill that is badly needed for most filmmakers.  No matter how much you plan, something will occur where a piece of essential equipment is broken and you need an alternative solution quickly.

A final consideration should be the style of the school.  In order to get the best experience possible you should look for a school that will teach all aspects of filmmaking.  For example if you are attending a film school you need to ensure you are taught about story lines, scripting, working with actors, editing, filming and time management.  Each of these areas all work together and you may find yourself working in each of these areas when working on a film.  While you should have a crew to assist in many areas, having the experience to know what needs to be done, and when is something that is extremely valuable and can really set you apart as a filmmaker.  This diverse experience will be quite helpful as you set out to create truly spectacular feature films.

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5 Tips to Creating the Best Feature Film Ever

It is important if you are looking to create the best feature film possible that you start looking at several major aspects that will have a huge impact on your final product.  A feature film is not simple to make, there are numerous steps that will affect your film.  Being aware of these critical steps can make you very much aware of the possible problems, and better position you to mitigate the possible problems before they arise.

A script is your first line of defense towards success.  A poor script will have everyone including your actors losing interest very quickly.  On the other hand, a strong script will keep everyone interested because the story draws them in.  It is especially important to spend a lot of time developing characters.  If your audience is emotionally invested in characters of your feature film they will spend more time really paying attention to what is happening.  If your characters are grossly underdeveloped, it can negatively affect the entire movie, creating problems in holding the attention of the audience.

Looking at your actors you should be able to tell that they are interested in the script.  An actor who is merely showing up and talking is not an asset to your film and can drag down the entire story.  While it is true you cannot afford the ultimate Hollywood actors on an independent film budget, you should still look for actors passionate about your project.  The results of their passion will be obvious for anyone who is viewing the final movie.  A final note about actors, always ensure you select someone who fits the role.  There is nothing worse than watching a really bad actor attempt a role that they are not right for.

You should spend plenty of time setting up the schedule for shooting.  Always be sure to set into the script extra days for reshoots and possible weather problems.  Everyone wants to pretend that there will be no problems when shooting their film.  This is a dream that rarely ever happens though, just remember it is better to have extra days set aside that are not used, rather than run over on time and possibly have to scrap the entire film because you are out of time.  Additionally, a bit of your budget should be set aside for these delays as well.

Edit the film in pieces rather than all at once.  If you try to rush through editing and work on it all at once you might keep a straight train of thought going, but you are also likely to become tired and start making minor mistakes.  This can be awful because it could allow you to make a tiny mistake that really pulls down the entire film.  Taking your time and breaking it up over several sessions will ensure that you approach the sections with a fresh mind, and ready to really see the project.  If possible, it is a good idea to wait a few days after wrapping shooting before editing so that you can approach the material fresh as well.

Your final step is actually showing the film to get feedback and taking the feedback graciously.  No filmmaker ever wants to be told that their film is horrible.  But if your film has problems, you should take the feedback that you are given and look at it against your film.  Is the feedback good, or is it something that is just personal preference?  For example, saying that your story line is a bit vague would be considered good feedback.  Saying that your leading lady should have blond hair would be a bit more preference usually.  Being aware of the feedback of others can help you to really develop your style as well as connect to the audience.


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Average Length of Feature Film Scripts

If you are looking to create a feature film for any purpose, you are probably wondering how to get started.  The average filmmaker has a process that they use to actually get started.  The specific process that each filmmaker uses is often quite different because everyone chooses to approach their film differently.  While many filmmakers approach the process of creating feature film with the simple idea that pops into their head there are many others who begin the process of creating a film by starting with a script.  The length of the script that a filmmaker typically starts with is quite varied in general, which leaves everyone a lot of options to explore options available to them.

Many filmmakers begin working on a feature film based off a tiny script or even a small book.  This can be something that is as short as only 5-6 pages or as long as 100 pages easily.  The exact length of the script often varies based upon the length of the film itself and many times the length is changed substantially as the filming process starts to unfold.  In general, a shorter script will translate into a much shorter film. 

Another guideline that you can use to help you determine how long your film script should be is to use the average idea that each page of script will consist of approximately 30 seconds of footage.  This is only a rough estimate though; extensive lines of spoken script can take longer to do while fewer lines will generally take less time.  This is important to keep in mind if you are working towards filming a film that will be a specific amount of time when you are finished.  

It is also very important to remember that everything shot for footage will rarely actually be used.  Most filmmakers will edit out various parts, change the layout a bit and make additional changes to the film, which can alter the length.  Typically speaking if you shoot 60 minutes of footage you can expect that to translate into only a 30-45 minute feature film.  If you find that you have additional footage time you could choose to shorten the film further, or you could be satisfied with the length that you have achieved.  

The major problem that many filmmakers experience when working with scripts is trying to ensure that they are detailed enough to provide enough footage.  For example, if you are trying to create a feature film that will be at a minimum 15 minutes you would need at least a 30-page script to fill out the entire 15 minutes allotted.  In many cases you would need to further lengthen the script as well so that once areas have been edited out you still have the entire 15 minutes that you are striving for.

If you are working with a writer or a team of writers, it is generally much easier to handle the task of editing the script.  As a filmmaker, you would be responsible for reading over the script initially and writing down any notes that you have.  These notes would allow the writers to expand the script in areas where you as the filmmaker would like more information and details.

If you are quite creative with fleshing out scripts at the last minute, you may find that the actual length of the script you have is not important.  It is possible for many feature filmmakers to easily take a very short script and turn it into a very extensive film.  This is not something that everyone is capable of, and frequently this ability is fine tunes as experience is gathered.  There are many filmmakers who find that years after beginning a career in the film business they are able to easily flesh out scripts at the last minute, but the main ingredient to success is starting with a script that has plenty of detail and creativity to it so that you can easily grasp the entire breadth of the film and enjoy the creation process.

Best Time of Year to Shoot Your Feature Film

While the idea of shooting a feature film in the spring or summer may be top on your mind there are several reasons why it might not be a great idea.  Knowing exactly what these reasons are may make it necessary for you to adjust your film schedule, or it would be at a minimum a good indication of potential problems that loom on your horizon.  Making appropriate choices about the season to film your feature film is very important to success; after all large problems that are completely unexpected can shut down your film before you ever wrap filming.

One of the biggest problems is the best season to film.  Winter is typically the best season to film.  This is especially true if you are working with a very small, or even zero budget.  While there are always actors around to choose from, they are likely to be working on top projects during the warmer months that will pay better.  If you are unable to match the pay of the larger projects, or even the scope you will need to work around these schedules.  Be prepared to experience huge problems replacing cast at various times as they drop out to work on other projects if you do not schedule for a winter shoot.

The weather is a huge downside to shooting in the winter.  If you are truly serious about wanting to shoot your film during a different time of year you must make certain there is ample time built into the schedule to accommodate these problems.  Additionally, you need to be extremely flexible if you are trying to work around production schedules for different projects. Without the added time and flexibility, you will find that you are fighting an almost impossible battle that you will not win.  Being aware that this is a battle you cannot win is critical.

If you want to shoot most of your scenes in the winter but save a few for warmer seasons make sure that the cast and crew are aware of this ahead of time.  All indoor scenes could be shot in advance for example.  If you are only shooting a small amount of footage outside you could cut the time needed in the warmer weather down to a matter of days, rather than weeks or even months.  This would go a long way towards ensuring that your budget is able to hold up, and your cast and crew will still be around for you.

If you absolutely do not want to start production until the warmer months you need to be sure that you have a budget that is able to pay the actors and crew.  Filmmakers who are working with extremely small budgets have to be a lot more flexible in schedules.  In contrast, if you are paying a premium wage to the cast and crew, you have a much greater right to be demanding that they adjust to your schedule.  Regardless of the wage you are paying, you will find that during the warmer months you are going to have a higher rate of people calling in, rather than coming into the filming as scheduled.  This is again where an appropriate schedule is absolutely critical to ensuring that you are able to keep the project on track and targeted to be released appropriately.

Choosing a Good School – Is It Necessary to Make a Feature Film?

Many, many, and even many more filmmakers have all attempted to get into a prestigious school.  The result is that a few are accepted and many others are turned away.  There is only so much space sadly; this does not always have to mean the kiss of death for a filmmaker though.  A good vision and a determination to learn and grow can overcome even being passed up at a film school.  It may put the filmmaker at a slight disadvantage, but many others consider it a good idea to bypass film school.

You might be curious about exactly why it would be considered a benefit to bypass film school.  After all, don’t successful film makers need to go to school in order to learn how to create a film?  The truthful answer is that while film school can be a very valuable asset to have, it is not something that is required.  The internet as well as connections can go a long way towards providing you with all of the information that film school would offer you.  This can save you a lot of money, plus allow you additional time to really look into all of your options for creating a film exactly how you want to.

Film making school can be a huge asset for many filmmakers, and it is not something that should be completely discounted.  However the costs can often far outweigh the benefits to the program and will ensure that you are able to really develop your own create style.  One of the complaints that many film makers have is film school teaches how to create films in all the same manner, this can often limit the creativity of each person.  While at the same time, going to film school has also served as a great way to open the eyes of many people into new options that are available.

Working with all of the details that come into effect is very important, after all film schools are notorious for packing information into a very short period of time.  A lot of work is done in regards to the various aspects of making a film from the very start until the completed process, which can make it quite easy to learn as much as possible about the entire process.  It is critical to the development of many filmmakers to have this experience because often skipping film school has the effect that filmmakers are only learning about a very limited area of the process. 

Most filmmakers who are working entirely without professional experience find that they are working with a very limited range of experience that can ultimately harm their movies.  Working around these limitations is extremely important to the overall success of most projects but is not always easy to do.  If a filmmaker is willing to take constructive criticism it is much easier to actually create the wonderful pieces that will serve to build their creative process.  If you find that you absolutely want the experience of going to a film school you need to make certain that you select a school that you feel comfortable at.  This might seem like a small issue, but in fact it is quite large.

Being uncomfortable at your chosen film school can really reduce the amount of creativity that you have.  You are spending more of your time trying to fit in or make yourself at home, rather than focusing on improving your film making skills.  Spending a large amount of time searching over the different film school options available to you will help you to determine which school fits your needs the best.  Always remember that you need to ask as many questions as possible, which can allow you to really get a good overall feel for the school, prior to signing up for classes.  Picking the right film school can have a huge impact on your career, so choosing carefully is very important if you choose to go this route.

Developing Characters to Ensure a Hit Film

If you are working to create thorough characters that will be able to actually connect to your audience, you have a rather large task ahead of you.  Most audiences will agree that they are more interested in what happens to characters that they are emotionally attached to.  This emotional attachment is not impossible, and is in fact quite easy to create if you take the time to fully develop your characters.  Just as people in real life have many aspects, your characters in the feature films that you create should be much the same.

You need to first begin by creating a complete background for your character.  Information about where your character comes from, who their parents are, where they went to school and other details of the past may not actually be used in the film you create, but they can help to define your character.  You may even decide to use some of these details in the film itself.  Ensuring that each character has a life story will help make them much more real.

Regardless of the career that you select, each character needs to have a job.  This is not to say that they should all love their jobs.  After all, in real life many people dislike their jobs.  Choosing appropriate careers that are suited to the character can create a smooth feeling, while picking out a job that is grossly incorrect can create a rather funny situation.  Choosing the type of job you select for your character is very important to help set the tone, especially if there are parts of the movie that focus around scenes at work.

Friends, family and even pets are also needed.  Most people have each of these aspects in their real life.  A character that seems to merely fall out of the sky with no friends and family will not be very real to the audience.  Again, a character that is not capable of getting an emotional attachment from the audience will likely cause your movie to suffer.  Create a few friends, or at least attempt some awkward attempts at friendship.  Once again, not all friendships have to be deep bonds, mimicking life is ideal in this situation.

Another place where the characters often fail is in personality.  Is your character a clean freak, do they prefer to ignore the housework.  Do they stress out if all of the vegetables in their kitchen are not organized alphabetically?  Must shirts be thoroughly pressed with starch?  These types of small details can really develop your character and provide endearing traits that are beloved by the audience.  Consider the television show Monk, the quirky detective is loved by fans due to his strange and erratic behavior. 

Developing each character is important.  A lot of filmmakers will spend an excessive amount of time on their main character and leave the others in the dark.  Giving each character a good workup will help to ensure that your film is well balanced.  Unless you plan on making a movie with only a single character present for the majority of the movie, such as in the Will Smith movie “I Am Legend” you will need to develop each character to help the audience understand how they all fit together.  This creates the larger picture that will really help your audience grasp all of the details, and really start to care for your characters.

Ensuring the Success of Your Feature Film with Actors

The final area that many filmmakers worry about is actually finding actors.  This is a huge problem though because often you are then left grasping at straws and looking for someone to fill a role just to fill it.  This could have devastating results on your movie and can really pull down the entire atmosphere of your whole movie.  Instead, it is very important to start looking for great actors very early into the process.  The exact point you should start looking for actors may vary a bit, but there are several guidelines that you should follow to help ensure the best results possible. 


Start looking for actors while the script is still in process.  This will allow you plenty of time to start looking at all of the different actors that are available.  Not all actors that you find will be suitable for your project, plus not all actors that are available are going to be really interested in your project.  It is very important to ensure that any actors you are considering are completely committed to your project.  While this does not mean that you should look for actors who are only working on your project, you do need to look for actors who are interested in being a part of a very successful experience.  It is possible for actors to work on several films at once, especially for smaller films but they should still show your film ample professional respect.

Looking around for actors should be a very structured process.  Look for someone who is professional, this means though that you should feel free to look for some actors who just act as a hobby since they can often be a great resource to tap into.  With cheaper prices than actual professional actors, a good hobby actor can be a great asset to your budget.  You can also look around at some of your friends as well; you might find someone who is interested in getting started at acting this way.  Just be sure to let each potential actor look over all of the details of the script that you feel comfortable releasing so that they can get a good feel for the character and you can see how well they fit the part of that character as well.

If you are interested in trying to create a truly spectacular movie and do not want anyone to talk about it with anybody else you need to consider having your actors sign a NDA or non-disclosure agreement.  This would prevent anyone from discussing details of your movie with anyone else that is not directly related to the project.  If you are planning to enter a contest for example, this might be a good idea so that your movie is kept entirely secret until it is actually submitted.  This would prevent someone from stealing your ideas and potentially damaging your movie.  Just be careful asking friends to sign a NDA, they may be offended that you would even ask.  Friendship should always be a primary concern even over the safety of your friends if you expect to still have friends when the movie is over.

If you are still struggling with the task of coming up with actors there are plenty of ways you can find people.  You can search around at the local theaters, post ads, ask friends and even look at the local acting classes.  If you have a performing arts school in your area this would be another great way to find some wonderful acting talent.  The benefit of most of these places is the fact that you are able to save a lot of money in your budget typically.  Many people, especially students will work on films for free, because they are gaining a lot of experience, which is much more valuable for them.

If you are paying for actors, ensure that you have an adequate budget to pay.  Plus, you also need to ensure that you are able to fulfill any agreements that you make with actors.  Nothing will harm your reputation as a filmmaker more than having actors who are upset because you never follow through on promises.  If necessary you should write down all promises so that you can remember what you promise to each actor, just be sure that the promises are reasonable to fulfill.

Essential Tips to Shoot the Best Film of Your Career

There are several different ways you can shoot your footage when you are creating a perfect film.  The choice of which shooting perspective you want to use is entirely up to you, but there are clear advantages and disadvantage to each.  If you are just starting out in your film making career you might want to spend a lot of time playing with both shooting styles so that you can determine which you are most comfortable with.  While following the tips and suggestions of other filmmakers can help make things a bit easier for you, it will ultimately be your own personal style that will determine how you shoot your films.

The first major shooting style is going through during your film and shooting the same scenes but at different angles.  If you have a lot of equipment including cameras you could just record each scene once from the different angles.  If you only have a single camera, you will need to move it around and record each scene multiple times.  The method that you prefer will often be heavily influenced by your budget and the number of good cameras you have available.  If you are using several different cameras to record, the same scene once you need to ensure that all of the cameras are the same recording quality.  If you have a camera that does not record at a good quality you will find that almost all if not actually all of the footage shot with the inferior camera is wasted.  

By shooting in this style, you can easily edit the film later using a computer and the software of your choice.  There are many advantages to shooting this way since you can use the software to create a myriad of special effects and transitions that are fitting with your film.  However, you need a good set of software in able to actually make the film look good during editing.  Poor quality software could make it quite difficult to edit, as well as could negatively impact the quality of the video that you have shot making it almost impossible to actually product a professional quality video.  There are some pieces of software that can help to repair and correct any deficiencies that your camera might have, and if you have lower quality cameras you might find that this is well worth the expense.

The second shooting style involves editing the movie as it is recorded.  This would involve more work during the filming, but once filming is done you have a completed movie.  This would involve backing the video up and starting scenes over exactly perfect from whichever angle you wanted to see.  This is something that can be extremely difficult to learn, because without a proper idea and even a good creative vision your film could look extremely choppy and dicey.  This style of shooting reduces the need to have a computer and extensive software and if you are good at shooting in this style, it could even reduce the length of time it takes you to create each film.

The biggest drawback to this method is you are often able to see minor mistakes in the footage later as you are viewing the completed film.  Due to the fact that you shot each scene only once, and have no footage to edit with you are left with the mistakes as well.  While the mistakes may be minor or they just might be a missed word in the script or possibly something major they cannot be corrected.  There are times when this type of shooting is best though, especially if you are looking to create a video that is recorded as a single shot.  However, practicing this method is highly advisable before attempting to create an entire movie so that you have ample opportunity to refine your skills.  To achieve the best results you should work out a couple of scenes that you want to practice with and then use this as an opportunity to build your skills to the necessary level.

Following the Schedule of Film Maker Success

While following a strict rigid schedule might not seem like the best way to let the creative juices of film making flow there are some times when it is absolutely essential to have a schedule.  Just realize, the number of people working on a film can vary greatly and could range from just a small set of dates reserved for the filming process up to an entire set of shooting schedules that is broken down into hour increments.  The choice is yours in how you decide to lay out the schedule, but creating the schedule is very important to successfully shooting a feature film.

Just imagine the chaos that could ensue if you were simply calling up actors the day you wanted to start shooting.  You would likely find that it is very difficult to actually get all of the actors that you need, exactly when you needed them.  The larger your cast is, the harder it becomes trying to locate everyone at the same time.  However, if you have a rough schedule created in advance such as when you are doing the initial casting you would be able to let everyone know when they would be needed which could be a huge help in trying to rearrange their own personal schedules.  Just imagine the hassle of having an entire cast minus our main character when you are ready to shoot only to find that they were not given the schedule in advance.

Sticking to the schedule down to the minute is certainly not necessary.  If you find that you work best under those conditions it is acceptable and entirely up to you.  However, breaking down into a schedule that at least has day part and day laid out is helpful to cast.  Not everyone is able to devote every day for a month to a video, especially if they are not being paid.  Using volunteers or actors that are working for extremely cheap wages means you really need to take into account the schedules of others in order to have actors willing to work with you again.  

There are occasions when it is virtually impossible to start scheduling shoots in advance, for example if you really need a natural rainstorm you should let the cast know this upfront.  Keep in constant contact with people when rain is expected and ensure that everyone knows as far in advance as possible.  It nothing else, if your cast knows you are in search of rain they may contact you at the first sight of rain to make it much easier to locate everyone.  

It is best to always have a schedule available as quickly as possible for cast members to refer to as well.  If there are any changes that need to be made, these should also be passed along quickly.  A cast is not going to enjoy working with you if you fail to ensure they are informed about the important issues such as the schedule in advance.  Just continuously think about how you would feel if you were the person left out in the dark on the schedule, you likely would not enjoy it.  Showing your cast a bit of professional courtesy can also go a very long way towards having people talking and saying good things about you. 

Often this professional courtesy of an advanced schedule will be able to extend into other benefits as well.  Actors are notorious for talking, if they talk to other actors about how much they love working with you and why, you should see an increased turn out at your future auditions for films.  This can make the selection process much harder ultimately, but will certainly provide the benefit of giving you plenty of actors to choose from, and a much more advanced set of actors to choose from.  Just remember, this is another area where practice makes perfect.  Be willing to make a few mistakes and take responsibility for them, the cast and crew will notice and appreciate your approach.

Getting Your Next Feature Film Script off the Ground

Getting your actual feature film script written is one of the hardest things you will ever do as a filmmaker.  Learning how to make the most of the script is very important to having a good film.  Many filmmakers have found themselves completely stuck on a project because they simply have no idea about how to get started, how to complete the script, or even how adapt the script to their particular needs.  Learning how to get the biggest impact out of your script is essential because a good script will be quite helpful to ensure that your film is a huge success.

You should always start your script with a good story line.  This should be something that will determine the overall feeling of your film and should help you to determine a bit of information about the main characters.  You can flesh the story line out as much as you like, but at least having a base to start with is critical.  If you have no story line, you will likely find that your script is quite lacking which leaves you with a feature film that you are not proud of.

If you have gotten a story line worked out, you need to create an outline for the script.  This should include any key facts that you want included in the script, as well as how you want the movie to start, and how you want the movie to end.  All details that go in the middle can be added later if necessary.  Knowing exactly how you intend to start the movie, as well as how you intend to end the movie is very important.  Many filmmakers have no idea about how to start the process, much less how they are going to end the movie.  Getting these two major points down on paper can give you plenty of ideas to work with so you can be sure you create a great movie script.

Often if you get stuck when creating your script, you should attempt to get outside and start walking around.  Just be sure to take a pad of paper with you so as good ideas come across your head you can write them down quickly.  Getting out into the great outdoors can often be a great way to get ideas.  Seeing people interact with each other is often very helpful to ensure that you are able to get some ideas from the natural relationships that occur between people.  One key to helping create the best films is ensuring that the relationship between characters is seen as natural.

If you have a situation while actors relationships seem a bit unusual or awkward you need to ensure that this is the vision that you have in mind.  If you notice this during the filming, you may need to stop and adjust the script in order to really smooth out the entire flow of events.  Do not be afraid to stop and make changes to the script as you progress through filming.  When you have gathered a large amount of experience, you will find you need to make fewer adjustments, but this time can be a huge benefit especially in the beginning since you are able to learn a great deal about your own personal filmmaking style.

While you might be tempted to merely film an improvisational film you will likely find that the final results is not something you are overly proud of.  Having a script that at least covers the basics is critical so that you have a good structure to fall back on.  Knowing exactly what is going to happen in your script is a huge benefit not only for yourself, but also for your actors.  Starting with the beginning as well as the end of the movie will allow you a lot more time to develop the story line as well which can be quite helpful to the entire filmmaking process.

Is Professional Equipment Necessary to Create a Feature Film?

The simple answer is of course you need a good set of professional equipment to create a feature film that you are planning to generate income from.  However most people honestly do not have the access to the cash required to purchase the equipment for strict hobby purposes.  This can make it very complicated for people who are looking into breaking into the movie industry.  Finding yourself in this position is not only zero fun at all but it can be extremely bad for the quality of the movies that you are making.

As a general rule of thumb, you can work with only a few pieces of professional equipment.  Once you have the basic equipment it is much easier to start slowly replacing the rest of the equipment that you have and producing feature films that are a much higher quality.  In general, if you take your time and shop around you can also find some very good deals on equipment that will allow you to make the most of a limited budget.

In the beginning as you are trying to work towards building up your equipment you are probably going to want to purchase at a minimum a good camera.  While this does not have to be a professional camera, you are certainly going to want something that allows you some options with focus, range and even the lighting controls.  While professional cameras are easily priced at $5,000 and upwards, simply looking for a good digital camcorder in the range of $500 and up should be sufficient for a brief period until you can build up other equipment.  Searching around for the best camera you can afford is important, and if you are looking to make good quality films you need to be very concerned with the quality of the recording so shopping around is essential.

Once you have purchased the camera you need to start considering exactly what you want to record.  If you are merely interested in doing real films using only real people and images your needs are likely much less extensive.  However, if you envision using awesome special effects such as shown in movies like Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and even Men in Black you are going to need a green room.  This can be set up quite inexpensively and can be adjusted based upon your budget, as well as the amount of space you have available.

The best thing to do is to devote an entire room to your green screen; this can be done by sealing up doors and painting the entire room an appropriate shade of green.  Most people though, especially in the beginning do not have this as an available option.  If you find yourself in this position you can purchase green screen drape which is technically called a chromakey, purchasing a muslin styled chromakey is most recommended since the quality is much better, however cheaper plastic models can be used as a replacement. 

The chromakey is absolutely essential if you cannot devote an entire room to the green screen if you want to use animations of any form in your feature videos.  Aside from the purchase of a chromakey, you will need to purchase either appropriate light trees, or you can make light trees using good industrial spotlights.  You will need a minimum of two so you can effectively light up the chromakey behind you.  Once you have set up your green screen area the last major purchase that you will need is a good set of animation software.  This will allow you to insert the animations into your digitally recorded video and create many of the great special effects that you see in feature films.

While this might seem like a huge shopping list to make those feature films of your dreams it is quite brief.  There is a lot of equipment that is involved for advanced users such as sound equipment, wind machines and even lighting supplies but having the basic equipment can allow you to get started and expand your skills without breaking the bank.  This also gives you plenty of time to practice with each new piece of equipment you buy before moving onto the next so you can harness the full potential of your film making.