The purpose of this video was to show my friends just a few of the basics about taping videos. My plan was to save them some time and minimize frustration. I wanted to share some tips that have worked for me over the years. I remember how lost I was when I started to do video work.

But trying to squeeze years of my own experience into ten minutes does not do the topic justice, considering that students go to school for four years to learn the basics of the videography business. I just barely scratched the surface of the topic in this short video.

The whole thing was done in less than three hours, including writing the script, gathering the props, setup and takedown. The post production took five hours, and was done by someone who just started taping and editing videos within the past two months.

Over the past eight years taping hundreds of short videos for network TV, the one thing I learned is that good equipment is an absolute necessity. Talk to any professional and they will tell you a good video camera, a professional tripod and a light kit are the basics you need to produce semi-professional results.

A good tripod is very important. Without a tripod, the video camera can move and shake. A jiggling video is comparable to static on the radio. Viewers find the movement to be a distraction, which can divert attention away from the message in your video. If you can't afford a good tripod, set your video camera on something sturdy and stable that will allow you to hold it as still as possible.

When you watch most amateur videos on the internet, you quickly see why a good camera and a tripod are necessary to make semi-professional videos. While some people are attracted to home-grown videos that have little or no editing, for the purpose of marketing their products, viewers and businesses will prefer videos that are more professional.

Some people think I was given the equipment, or was paid to say positive things. But I wasn't. I bought the equipment based upon recommendations from professionals in the video business. From years of working with tools in the building and remodeling business, I have learned that it pays to work with quality tools. That's why I buy good stuff.

I went with the Panasonic PV-GS500 digital camcorder because of the great reviews I read online. A very good friend who is a professional video producer first told me about this camera. He explained the importance of good optics, as well as the three separate color chips (3CCD). It is amazing how clear the images are when you zoom in on an object.

My tripod is a Bogen 755B video tripod with a Bogen 3130 QR Micro Fluid Head. A tripod like this is actually two separate parts. The legs are one part, and the head which connects the video camera to the tripod legs is the other.

The camera needs to be steady and level when you shoot. These quick-adjust fluid heads allow you to do that quickly. If you try to use a basic still camera tripod, you may struggle to get the camera level. A professional tripod can easily cost you four figures if you have that much to spend.

It's important to have exceptional audio. I first experimented with a lower quality wired microphone, but the results were disappointing (a lot of electronic "hum"). So I spent the extra money and went with a wireless solution. It's great having a wireless microphone. The Sennheiser EW112P-G2 Evolution System has all sorts of settings that allows me to minimize background noise and produce crystal-clear, near-perfect professional audio.

Good lighting is everything in video production. You can spend a lot of time trying to properly light a scene, adjusting and positioning lights. You have to minimize or eliminate shadows and get the right balance. I purchased a lighting kit with bounce umbrellas at a local camera shop. The high-intensity halogen bulbs produce a brilliant white light, but get very hot.

Try to have some fun as you make your own videos. And remember, it's easy to take shortcuts. I recommend that you invest the time and money to make the best videos possible. You will never regret it.

About Tim Carter...

Tim Carter is a talented builder, DIY renovation specialist, syndicated newspaper columnist and internet video producer. If you're looking for more information on Tim's work, here are some additional Tim Carter videos. His web sites include AsktheBuilder.com and ExpertToolTips.com.