Becoming a Hybrid Photographer & Videographer

Technology has come a long way, and today’s cameras are packing high-end cinema features into compact bodies. This is a game-changer for photographers, allowing us to seamlessly switch between stills and high-quality video.

With social media evolving to prioritize video content, it’s important for photographers to learn how to create top-notch video. Here are some tips to get you started.

Does Your Camera Have Video Capabilities?

Most cameras—along with your phone—can shoot video, but if you're focusing on wildlife or action shots, I recommend capturing at 60 to 120 frames per second. Shooting in a higher frame rate allows you to slow the footage down in post-production for smooth, cinematic clips. Additionally, using a higher frame rate gives you the option to stabilize your video with tools like Warp Stabilizer in your editing software.

When shooting video, your shutter speed should be set to double your frame rate. For example, if you're shooting at 60fps, set your shutter speed to 1/120, and for 120fps, set it to 1/240. While you can adjust this, be cautious—deviating too much from the ideal can introduce motion blur or stutter, resulting in poor video quality.

A Tripod Is a Necessity

I started with a used Gitzo carbon fiber tripod, which I still use as a backup today. However, my go-to is now the Sachtler video tripod with the Activ 8 head. Once you experience how smooth a quality tripod can make your pans, you’ll never go back. Research various brands on YouTube to find one that fits your budget. Don’t worry—your video tripod head can still be used for photography, making it a versatile investment.

Invest in a Quality Variable Neutral Density Filter

A VND is essential for shooting video in bright conditions. Once you've set your frame rate, shutter speed, and ISO, you’ll need to cut down on the incoming light. A VND acts like sunglasses for your sensor, allowing you to maintain proper exposure without altering your shutter speed or aperture too much. When shooting photos, you can adjust shutter speed or aperture to control light, but for video, I recommend sticking to my earlier guidelines for shutter speed to avoid unwanted effects.

Keep in mind that any imperfections like dust or smudges on your lens or dust/dirt on your sensor will be much more visible in video than in photos especially at higher aperture numbers. It’s harder to fix these issues during video editing, so regular cleaning is a must.

Hard Drive Storage

Video files take up a significant amount of storage, and depending on your camera’s codec, the files can quickly become massive. My recommendation is to invest in an external SSD drive to store your video footage. SSD drives are faster and more reliable than traditional hard drives, though they are a bit pricier—expect to pay between $250 and $450 for a SanDisk 1TB to 4TB SSD. I use two 4TB drives attached to my laptop to keep internal storage free for programs to run smoothly.

Video Editing Software

Editing video isn’t easy, and finding the right software can make all the difference. The good news is, DaVinci Resolveoffers a free version that’s perfect for getting started with editing. If you’re new to video editing, expect some frustration along the way, but there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube to guide you.

If you’re on a Mac, iMovie comes pre-installed and is a good option for basic editing. Other paid options include Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro, both of which offer advanced editing features. Additionally, CapCut offers a subscription service for easier editing on mobile devices.

Final Note

Now is the perfect time to experiment with your camera’s video capabilities. When you hit a roadblock or feel frustrated, take a break and look up solutions online. With patience and practice, you’ll soon be creating great short clips in no time!