Composition question and other

Hey Guys (and girls :) )

So big thing.....I need to get my feet wet in this video business. I am fully kitted( 5D MII and most L lenses,software,etc) except for the walkthrough tours with the stabilizer.

I have watched many videos over the last few months to get a feel for it, but some questions I have:
Composition - what is critical(purist) and what is trendy?

Also what irks me is when they pan up and down a room, say from top to bottom, then you will have major distortion in the verticals (typical photographer) and that seems quite acceptable? Is there something to keep in mind with this that I am not seeing or thinking?

Thanks and hopefully I can get some video shot this weekend

Regards
Chris
www.chriscloete.com

On pans, depending on the wide-angle lens you're using, you can do it without too much distortion.  The major distortion happens when you're panning with a wall, refrigerator, or some other tall straight object very close to your camera.  If you do have "one of those" wide-angle lenses (mine isn't extremely 'wide-angle'), try staying back away from those walls, etc.  Doing that will make it less noticeable.

My biggest thing is getting the biggest selling points in the first 60 seconds... using voice-over on the video is a good way to get some of those things out there in an "introduction" sequence to the video before your footage gets there.  You need to have 1 or 2 points that can catch people right off.  On the other hand, if someone on the MLS clicks through from the picture/listing to see the details, and then clicks through to the tour, they are already interested and very well may watch the entire video.

Another thing you can do with WellcomeMat: add chapters to the video so viewers can skip to the parts they really want to see.

Biggest thing (especially if your clients aren't paying a lot of money and/or it's not a luxury listing): don't spend time making it fancy.  One thing I've noticed is that agents & buyers aren't looking for fancy & artsy stuff.  They want to see the house, they don't necessarily want to be entertained.  It's needs to present well, but too much is distracting from what the client really wants to see.

OK, call me old-fashioned, but if you're promoting yourself as a videographer and asking people to pay you as a professional for coming and filming a listing you should have a real video camera.    Two main reasons:

1)  From camera to shampoos, any product that does one primary function does it better than a multifunction product.  Your camera is a super still photo SLR, but you can't tell me it is as good at video as a prosumer/professional level dedicated video camera.

2)  If you're billing yourself as a professional videographer and charging according rates, you need to look like a professional videographer.   I'd be darned disappointed if I were a realtor paying a good sum for a professional video and the person walked in with a SLR still camera.   I use a Canon GL-2 and supplemental lights, and when I have a new client  I almost always get a "Wow, that's some impressive equipment..."  It immediately tells them, that's why they're not filming this with their  $2-300 consumer family home video camera and why their paying me is justified. 

You have to convince the client that you do quality work and that their paying you as a professional is justified. 

Amy,  Hearth & Home Videos

Thanks Dustin and Amy

Dustin:Some very valid comments. Thanks for the advice

Amy: I hear you, I really do. But I have seen some impressive work done with it and my first attempt at it was not bad either. Couple of things that I can get right with practice. About being impressive.....I know the feeling. You have not seen when I arrive on site. Lights, dollies, assistant and All the best Lseries lenses. There is no doubt in my mind that the camera is more limiting than your video camera, but I only want to shoot real estate with mine.

But lets see. I am really open to all critisism and welcome any suggestions

Personally, I think you'll do fine with the MII for real estate video.  If you branch out into anything else, you should consider getting a dedicated camera.  Fred uses that for photos and video on every listing!

Also, I would never show up to do a house with fancy lights, dollies, and an assistant.  I use 2 simple photo lights (inexpensive and lightweight... easy for me to move room to room by myself).  On occasion when it's a large home and they want more of the home shown in the video, I'll bring an assistant with me to help move the lights through quickly.

All in all... make it as uncomplicated as possible.  It's hard to get away with charging a lot of $$$ in real estate video, so there is no reason to make a big production out of it... it doesn't pay enough to justify that.

Although it's an interesting video camera, most professionals have unanimously agreed that the Canon 5D Mark II outputs some of the best quality video for any camera under $25,000!  With a full frame sensor, it's superb in low light conditions (which are most residential homes), plus you're able to use high quality glass - lenses which cost over $1000 each providing exceptional picture quality.  

Most customers (if they bother to say anything at all) are impressed and amazed that you can DO video with a still camera.  I never use lights - I carry all my equipment in one bag....  and I get an average of about $300-$400 per shoot...    

One thing I learned long ago.  Clients don't give a hoot about your equipment - they could care less.  What they care about is the final product and the price.  100% of my business comes from my product, not the equipment I use.  

Thanks Dustin  and Fred

It all makes sense.

Fred your pricing sounds about right. That is what I had in mind for video too.

I hope to do another test this weekend and post a video on monday or so for some critique!

Your guys input are realy appreciated