Hi Jess just a few tips on making a watch-able video.

Bali, with its vibrancy, is a terrific place to begin, as colour and movement is what video does best.

Video making is story telling, so plan a beginning, middle and end for both the whole shoot and/or on a daily video segment basis. All filming has evolved with rules or grammar, which provide the 'bones or structure' one has to grasp before taking shortcuts, so here are a few basics.

There is no point in shooting anything if the light is either poor or is directly in front of you. So leave silhouettes for later and follow the old adage of having the sun either at your back or side. Video is painting with light, so without sufficient light, there is no point in trying to make do. DO use the stabiliser, except when panning. ie the sideways movement of the camera. More later.

Let the action happen in front of the camera rather than over-use the zoom. Video really shines when close-up so get as physically close to your target as possible. If zooming, the best convention is to go from close up to zoom out. Turn off the digital zoom, as it is useless and hard to hold.

By Jenny Garrett

Jenny Garrett has been a passionate video maker and teacher for 15 years, principally as a teacher with ACE (Adult Community Education ) now known as Byron Regional College in Northern NSW.

Professional work done has included travel docos, teaching DVDs with a physiotherapist lecturer, recording, editing and making videos for Southern Cross University and every thing in between including weddings, funerals and family events.  Running a one person business where everything from pre to post production has to be done is very satisfying.

As someone who is self taught she has benefited from membership of The Gold Coast Video Camera Club, and by being a teacher has learned to make extensive clear notes and have fun doing what she loves.

Her other passions include her human family, two dogs, travel, reading, bush walking and the beach in all its forms.