Video Taping Family Events & Reunions When you are the one video taping a family get-together, the process can be a little overwhelming. HomeMovie.Com understands the frustration of trying to entertain your great-grandmother and aunt at the same time! First we will give you a list of the types of family occasions that you can imagine yourself videotaping. Then, we will share some tips and tricks on what to do before, during and after the event. Family Occasions: Coming Up: July 4th, Independence Day Family Reunions Weddings Birthday Parties Anniversary Parties Graduation Parties Housewarming Parties Tips on How to Prepare for the Occasion Check your camcorder the night before the event to make sure it is fully charge Make sure you have enough tape stock. Always carry at least one extra cassette with you in your camcorder case Everything you need for taping should be in one place ready to go Try to think of a plan in advance of what you will do if something both unplanned and unpleasant occurs while you are taping Make sure there is natural lighting. Often a cloudy day is the best for videotaping, although it is hard to predict what the weather will be. Taping Make sure you are fully aware that you can’t tape everything that goes on at the event Write out a taping schedule with the person hosting the event so you know when you can relax and when you can shoot Make sure to try and tape people once they start arriving. Their reactions to the event might be good to cover at this point Some people at the event might be willing to talk about some of their stories from the past. Try to work with them and give them a time limit, like 10 minutes or so. Tape people while they are enjoying the event; for example when they are eating at a barbeque or when the bride and groom are opening their presents Follow the rules of shooting good video: wide shot, medium shot, close-up, minimal panning and keeping the camera steady (use a tripod if necessary). Make sure you are in front of a crowd if you want to tape what the crowd is looking at Include all the guests in your tape at some point, if possible Be even in the amount of time you spend with an individual or group How to Catch the Best Moments at Family Reunions For videos, check the reunion schedule and make an outline of the story you want to tell Ask the older folk to recall their childhood and to give their remedies for physical ailments and share household myths Keep the mood lighthearted. You can enlist the help of a couple of family hams to play talk-show host, having people tell their family secrets, or recall funny moments and make comments about one another Explore quiet moments also such as a mother and child cheek-to-cheek, a grandmother having a conversation with an aunt or an older child taking a younger sibling for a stroll Try to get all of the family together for a group shot. When the rest of your family is trying to get everyone together be sure to keep filming. Often the best memories come in the 10 to 15 minute time frame when everyone is scrambling to get in position for the shot. Be sure to take video of your elders and the grandchildren. This may be one of the only times in your life when you get to talk to and catch memories of them on camera Always be ready for something unexpected to happen and when in doubt, keep the camcorder rolling If you are having trouble keeping the video interesting, go around the reunion and ask a particular question to everyone, and see the reaction. For example, do you remember when Johnny was chasing his puppy around the yard and he fell into a mud puddle? Something to this affect might make the video a bit more interesting in terms of memories the family can reminisce about.