Keep it Short

• Plan your content in advance.
• Break up your videos (procedures, exams, skills) into steps.
  • Aim to make each step less than five minutes long.

Choosing a Location

• Select a location that is quiet and has strong, soft, even lighting
  • Minimize background noise.
  • Minimize shadows.

Positioning the Subject and Camera

• Place the action so that the strongest light is falling on the subject.
  • Avoid backlight (where a light is behind the subject.)
  • Surgical lights are often too bright–try dimming them.
  • Increase the ambient light in the room.
• De-clutter the background.
• Place the camera in the optimal position for the action.
  • Close to the subject
  • On the same plane as the subject
  • Near your eye level
    • Often where you would stand to examine or observe–standing, squatting, or kneeling
    • Raise or lower the camera to your corresponding eye level.
• Ask someone else to operate the camera while you do the demonstration, exam, or procedure.
• To stabilize hand-held shots:
  • Hold the camera with both hands and with your elbows at your sides.
  • Place your feet shoulder-width apart.
  • Soften your knees.
  • Move as if you’re holding an egg on a spoon.
• Use a tripod whenever possible.
• Have a step stool handy.

Framing

• Hold or fix the camera in a horizontal (landscape) position.
• Move the camera as close to the subject as possible (don’t zoom.)
• Frame out extraneous details.
• To pan or tilt:
  • Practice the move before recording.
    • Determine the end frame.
    • Determine the start frame.

Focus

• Check that your subject is sharp.
• Many cameras will automatically focus on the subject in the middle of the frame or closest to the lens.
• Many cameras will allow you to adjust the focus and exposure by tapping the screen.
• Some cameras will allow you to lock the focus and exposure by double tapping the screen.

Camera Setting

• Select “record video” at 1080p 30fps in camera settings.
• Bring your charger because the camera and microphone will drain your battery

Audio

• Place your mic close to the source.
• Use an external mic whenever possible.

Editing

• Canvas (best option)
  • Panopto
• iOS or Mac OS
  • iMovie
• Windows or Android
  • In Shot
  • Power Director
• Keep in mind editing can demand a significant amount of time (often 10x the time it took to record the source media.)

Example

• A clinical video produced by Denae Campanale, DVM, MPH, Imaging Resident using a simple but effective setup (phone, external microphone, tripod.)
  

Resources 

• A video about how to record videos with your phone
• ESS Basic Editing in Panopto post

Assistance

The ESS team has professional multimedia producers, a medical illustrator/animator, and educational technologists available to provide assistance.

Please contact us for a consultation.