If you are new to the world of video editing it may seem a little intimidating at first, but rest assured that it is not as hard as it looks. All it takes is practice and a camera! Don’t worry, you don’t need to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on your first video camera. For beginners the Kodak PlayTouch Zi10 video camera works great and is incredibly user friendly. The diminutive, light weight and inexpensive camera can fit in the pocket of your pants and has a built-in USB. The camera allows you to play back, edit, and even share on social media directly from the camera.

  When out shooting, there are a few additional items that you will find helpful: a tripod, a lavaliere and transmitter, and headphones. All of these items are relatively cheap and will make a vast impact on the quality of your video. A tripod will help to ensure your camera is held steady and leveled. The lavaliere is a clip on microphone used for interviewing and the transmitter is attached to your camera to transmit the sound. Headphones are important because they allow you to hear the sound coming in to the camera.

  Before you set out into the world for your video, have a plan set out. As a beginner it is important to get a little more footage then you think you will need, just in case. Shoot for clips that are approximately ten seconds long. This will make your life a lot easier when you start the actual editing process. Try to get shots from all different angles: wide, middle, closes up and extreme close ups. Unique perspectives are also key to helping improve your finished product. Get creative! There are a few things you want to avoid while shooting, don’t zoom, pan, tilt, or talk over your rolls.

  Once you have all the footage you need, the next step is to upload it all to your computer. Windows Movie Maker and iMovie are typically included for free on newer computers. When you feel ready to move up, you can purchase software like Final Cut and Adobe Premiere. These types of software allows for a greater range of editing options. Get familiar with the basic software first and you will most likely find it much easier when you upgrade. Many free tutorials can be found online to teach you how to use these various programs.