CORPORATE VIDEO BLOG

The DJI Phantom is an impressive little quad-copter, and the Key West team is excited to now have one in our possession!

Key West Video recently acquired a new toy. Well, it's a bit more complicated than child's play. More expensive too. But well worth the cost. Our videographer Chris has a fun time taking our DJI #Phantom out to a nearby park just the other day, along with our #GoPro to test it out.

The #quadcopter can get quite high off the ground, thus allowing for some pretty impressive shots. The opportunities for more dynamic shots are definitely increased with this addition to our equipment roster. Along with our sliders and Steadicams, the #DJI Phantom will aid in bringing our clients videos to a higher production value.

Whether it be for an establishing shot of our client's location, to b-roll around their facility, or intricate walking shots, there are a variety of uses for this production tool. We already have a few ideas in mind, and are plotting out how we can integrate it into some of our upcoming shoots.

Check out the video below which showcases the DJI Phantom in action!

Here's what others had to say about the DJI Phantom:

It's so fun to fly! Seriously, it's one of the coolest toys I've ever played with. Ever. Everybody who tried it came away grinning. Once it's all set up, it's really pretty easy to fly, as long as you don't get carried away and go to fast/high. The GPS features are all fantastic and may be a literal life-saver. The Wi-Fi repeater is a really smart idea, and being able to adjust the camera with your phone is fantastic. The JPGs it takes are fine, but if you don't mind tweaking your photos later, shooting in DNG is really nice. The POV stills embedded in this post were all shot in DNG and then tweaked in Adobe Lightroom.

-Brent Rose, Gizmodo

DJI's Phantom quadcopters are the first I've flown that really open my eyes to the potential of RC and autonomous drones. It combines a mix of technologies--gyroscopes, GPS, Wi-Fi, smartphones--in just the right way to make it much more than the sum of its parts. The flying experience really feels magical; it's something you may have to fly or see in person to appreciate. But I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it if you're in the market for a prosumer RC quad.

-Norman Chan, Tested

Do you need to know how to make a corporate video? In this weeks animated video blog we dive into the key items you should consider before getting started.

So you need to know how to make a corporate video? Well, there are a few things you should consider before you begin. Your video needs direction. Make sure you know the message you are trying to convey, the style you are trying to achieve, and the audience you are trying to reach. The best videos are quick, concise, and tailor made to highlight your goals.  You may think all you need is a camera, but great video production encompasses many skills that work with the camera to produce the best possible results. Lighting, location, lenses, audio, and makeup are all equally important. And of course, you need a talented editor to put it all together. Overall, make sure you keep your video simple, short, and meaningful… and if you ever need help, don’t hesitate to call Keywest Video.

Here are some links to other blogs we have written that may be helpful in your search for how to make a corporate video:

Outsourcing: 5 Q's to Ask Yourself

5 Tips for Choosing a Corporate Video Company

Employees vs. Actors for Your Corporate Video

Testimonial Videos and Business

Internal Videos: Top 5 Benefits

Campaign Goals for Your Video

Promotion Techniques for Your Corporate Video

Interested in watching more of our video blogs?  Please subscribe to our site, or follow us on social media.  Keywest releases a new #vlog every week with helpful information and tips.

Are you a business interested in producing your own #CorporateVideo?  Check out our website https://www.https://www.keywestvideo.com, and speak to one of our producers today.  We’ll be happy to hear from you!

Vlog Tips: Vlogs are a great way to stand out and connect with your audience on a more personal level. We’re going to give you a few pointers on how you can improve your #vlog.

http://youtu.be/J9MR9J6rtOg

Content. Make sure that you’re providing your dedicated vlog viewers with something good to watch. Viewers don’t generally appreciate watching someone ramble on and on without any sort of direction.

Lighting. Let’s face it: we like to watch videos that look good. Try your best to make sure that your vlog is lit properly. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to go out and buy all kinds of fancy equipment, but try to record your vlog in a well-lit setting so that you as well as your location look bright and engaging.

Sound. As much as we like things that look good, we also like things that sound good. There’s nothing more frustrating than poorly executed audio. If possible, try to invest in a microphone so that your voice is heard loud and clear, without any strange echoes, buzzing, humming, or anything like that - the last thing you want is a distracted audience.

And finally, keep your vlog short. Viewers prefer to digest little tidbits of information, rather than watch everlasting seminars. The key to keep your viewers coming back is to make sure they’re entertained with short and sweet #videos that are easily shareable.

Interested in watching more of our video blogs?  Please subscribe to our site, or follow us on social media.  Keywest releases a new #vlog every week with helpful information and tips.

Are you a business interested in producing your own #vlog?  Check out our website https://www.https://www.keywestvideo.com, and speak to one of our producers today.  We'll be happy to hear from you!

http://youtu.be/JylPgK9pCYY

The display resolution of a digital television, computer monitor or display device is the number of distinct pixels in each dimension that can be displayed.

HD is a term that’s thrown around a lot these days, but what does it really mean? There is no one answer. We’re going to walk you through the different formats, and compare them to scale.

After this demonstration, it should make a little more sense. This will work best if you view this video full screen, at 1080p resolution.

This is 480p, this is how clear television was for years, and it’s also the resolution of DVD video.  Most video in this format also has a 4 by 3 aspect ratio, and that’s why it’s not quite as wide.

Now let’s move up to 720p. This is the resolution provided by most satellite and cable companies, advertised as HDTV.

This is 1080p. This is the current standard video resolution. Presently, the majority of consumer and professional video cameras shoot at this resolution. It is also the resolution used for Blu-Ray Discs.

Lastly, this is 4K resolution. Essentially it is 4 times the size of 1080p. The professional cameras that shoot in this resolution also have increased latitude and dynamic range, making the raw footage far more versatile.

There are many digital standards and #resolutions– it’s important to know which ones are available to you, and best suit your needs.

Interested in watching more of our video blogs?  Please subscribe to our site, or follow us on social media.  We release a new #vlog every week with helpful information and tips.

Are you a business interested in producing your own #vlog?  Check out our website https://www.https://www.keywestvideo.com, and speak to one of our producers today.

Vacation videos and home movies aren't what they used to be. Recently, one of our videographers was on vacation in the San Francisco area and shot some footage in the Muir Woods National Monument.

Vacation Video:

This vacation video covers the highlights of a hike, which starts at the park entrance, passes by thousands of old-growth coast redwoods (which are the tallest living things in the world), and finishes up with a fantastic sunset view of the area from the adjacent Mount Tamalpais State Park.

High levels of diffuse light and finishing the hike at sunset (otherwise known as "Magic Hour") helped the image quality and added some depth to the images. Those factors, in conjunction with a professional DSLR camera and a monopod, take this video a few steps beyond the average home movie, potentially making for a great Facebook post, which is no small feat lately.

There are plenty of ways to take your home movies and vacation videos to the next level. Everyone has heard of the GoPro; it is probably the most well-known consumer-level video camera, and it produces some striking results when used correctly. Though it's perhaps best demonstrated in the extreme sports field, there's no reason why you can't put it to use on your next vacation and achieve remarkable results. Check out this GoPro video of Kelly McGarry doing a backflip over a 72 ft canyon.

Canon has recently started a new ad campaign encouraging photo and video enthusiasts to "bring it," which in part, refers to a bulky DSLR.

Ad campaigns like this highlight the benefits of using professional equipment. Some of those benefits include added depth of field, increased dynamic range, reduced noise, and fully manual aperture controls, just to name a few.

If you make a point to bring a professional camera with you on vacation, as opposed to taking photos and video with a cell phone, the results will speak for themselves.

If you prefer to take a professional video crew on your vacation, contact Key West Video!