Video Guidelines
We’ve all been there, trying to get that great video of our adorable friends can be nightmare. However don’t worry, a little knowledge can go a long way to achieving that goal. If you are looking for how to take a reference image refer to post: image guidelines
If you already have a few reference videos and want to make sure they will make a great animation here is a simple checklist for the things I’m looking for:
Good Lighting – is your video light enough to see your pet?
Details – are the details on your pet sharp and clear?
Distance – is your pet too far away or hard to see?
Full Body – does your pet’s full body stay in the frame of the video.
Stability – Is your video shaky or is your pet out of focus?
Unfit Reference Videos
What Makes These Videos Unfit?
- Full body cut off by camera
- Shaky video
- Cat Jumps away from frame
- Shaky Video
- Full body is cut off by camera
- Dog leaves camera view
- Shaky Video
- Cat is too far away
- Light Flickering
What they look like Animated:
Great Reference Videos
What Makes These Videos Great?
- Great lighting
- Dogs full body is in the frame
- Stable Camera
- Both Cats are in frame
- Stable Camera
- Cats are in focus
- Up-close and clear shot
- Stable Camera
- Great Lighting
What they look like Animated:
Much better right? Want to take better reference videos? Keep reading!
Tips for Filming a Reference Video
Having Two People Present
Filming good quality videos of pets by yourself can be difficult. Getting a person to help you will not only make your task much easier, but will also cut back on possible stress for you and your companion and time spent taking your videos.
Film a Steady shot
I highly suggest when filming a video using a tripod or a makeshift one. The best animations of pets are the ones that are not shaky. I personally have very shaky hands so I generally rely on a tripod. If you do not have a tripod you can always get creative! Sometimes I will prop my phone or camera on a table and balance it with a heavy object. DIY Phone Tripods: How to Make a DIY iPhone Tripod in 30 Seconds
Taking a Video with Natural Lighting
To get natural lighting film the video of your pet outdoors or near a window. It is best to not use your cameras flash. The best lighting is outside on a bright but overcast day, with the light source behind you.
Get on your Pets Eye Level
When taking videos it is best to aim to be a eye level with the pet, this will create a more natural position of the subject and their head will not appear distorted. If you have a small pet and you find it difficult to reach ground level with it, simply lift them up onto a table or bench if this is easier.
Be Close to your Pet
I love receiving reference videos from a DSLR, but taking videos from a smart phone is just fine! The biggest thing you can do to improve the quality of the videos isn’t getting better equipment, it’s standing closer to your pet.
For the Pets that Won't Stay in the Camera frame
I know from having my own hyperactive German Shepard that getting a pet to stay in frame of a video can be headache. This is what I found that helps:
1. Using treats and toys to hold your pets attention
2. Choose a time when they have just woken or after their walk when their energy levels aren’t so high.
3. If your pet is a dog try putting them on the leash and tying them up to a nearby tree.
Not sure whether your references will work?
Video Guidelines
We’ve all been there, trying to get that great video of our adorable friends can be nightmare. However don’t worry, a little knowledge can go a long way to achieving that goal. If you are looking for how to take a reference image refer to post: image guidelines
If you already have a few reference videos and want to make sure they will make a great animation here is a simple checklist for the things I’m looking for:
Good Lighting – is your video light enough to see your pet?
Details – are the details on your pet sharp and clear?
Distance – is your pet too far away and hard to see?
Full Body – does your pet’s full body stay in the frame of the video.
Stability – Is your video shaky or is your pet out of focus?
Unfit Reference Videos
What makes these videos unfit?
- Shaky video
- Cat leaves camera view
- Poor lighting
- Full body is cut off
- Shaky video
- Dog leaves view
- Shaky Video
- Cat is too far away
- Light Flickering
What they look like Animated:
Great Reference Videos
What makes these videos great?
- Great lighting
- Dogs full body is in frame
- Stable Camera
- Both Cats are in frame
- Stable Camera
- Cats are in focus
- Up-close and clear shot
- Stable Camera
- Great Lighting
What they look like Animated:
Much better right? Want to learn how to take better reference videos? Keep reading!
Tips for Taking a Reference Photo
Having two people present
Taking good quality videos of pets by yourself can be difficult. Getting a person to help you will not only make your task much easier, but will also cut back on possible stress for you and your companion and time spent taking your videos.
Film a steady shot
I highly suggest when filming a video using a tripod or a makeshift one. The best animations of pets are the ones that are not shaky. I personally have very shaky hands so I generally rely on a tripod. If you do not have a tripod you can always get creative! Sometimes I will prop my phone or camera on a table and balance it with a heavy object. DIY Phone Tripods: How to Make a DIY iPhone Tripod in 30 Seconds
Taking a video with natural lighting
To get natural lighting film the video of your pet outdoors or near a window. It is best to not use your cameras flash. The best lighting is outside on a bright but overcast day, with the light source behind you.
Get on your pets eye level
When taking videos it is best to aim to be a eye level with the pet, this will create a more natural position of the subject and their head will not appear distorted. If you have a small pet and you find it difficult to reach ground level with it, simply lift them up onto a table or bench if this is easier.
Be close to your pet
I love receiving reference videos from a DSLR, but taking videos from a smart phone is just fine! The biggest thing you can do to improve the quality of the videos isn’t getting better equipment, it’s standing closer to your pet.
For The pets that won’t stay in the Camera frame
I know from having my own hyperactive German Shepard is that getting a pet to stay in frame of a video can be headache. This is what I found that helps:
1. Using treats and toys to hold your pets attention
2. Choose a time when they have just woken or after their walk when their energy levels aren’t so high.
3. If your pet is a dog try putting them on the leash and tying them up to a nearby tree.
Not sure whether your references will work?
Video Guidelines
We’ve all been there, trying to get that great video of our adorable friends can be nightmare. However don’t worry, a little knowledge can go a long way to achieving that goal. If you are looking for how to take a reference image refer to post: image guidelines
If you already have a few reference videos and want to make sure they will make a great animation here is a simple checklist for the things I’m looking for:
Good Lighting: is your video light enough to see your pet?
Details: are the details on your pet sharp and clear?
Distance: is your pet too far away and hard to see?
Full Body: does your pet’s full body stay in the frame of the video.
Stability: Is your video shaky or is your pet out of focus?
Unfit Reference Videos
What Makes This Video Unfit?
- Cats full body cut off by camera
- Shaky video
- Cat Jumps away from camera view
What Makes This Video Unfit?
- Shaky Video
- Dogs full body is cut off by camera
- Dog leaves camera view
What Makes This Video Unfit?
- Shaky Video
- Cat is too far away
- Light Flickering
What they look like animated:
Great Reference Videos
What Makes This Video Great?
- Great lighting
- Dogs full body is in the frame
- Stable Camera
What Makes This Video Great?
- Both Cats are in frame
- Stable Camera
- Cats are in focus
What Makes This Video Great?
- Up-close and clear shot
- Stable Camera
- Great Lighting
What they look like animated:
Much better right? Want to learn how to take better reference videos? Keep reading!
Tips for Filming a Video
Having two people present
Taking good quality videos of pets by yourself can be difficult. Getting a person to help you will not only make your task much easier, but will also cut back on possible stress for you and your companion and time spent taking your videos.
Film a steady shot
I highly suggest when filming a video using a tripod or a makeshift one. The best animations of pets are the ones that are not shaky. I personally have very shaky hands so I generally rely on a tripod. If you do not have a tripod you can always get creative! Sometimes I will prop my phone or camera on a table and balance it with a heavy object. DIY Phone Tripods: How to Make a DIY iPhone Tripod in 30 Seconds
Natural lighting
To get natural lighting film the video of your pet outdoors or near a window. It is best to not use your cameras flash. The best lighting is outside on a bright but overcast day, with the light source behind you.
Get on your pets eye level
When taking videos it is best to aim to be a eye level with the pet, this will create a more natural position of the subject and their head will not appear distorted. If you have a small pet and you find it difficult to reach ground level with it, simply lift them up onto a table or bench if this is easier.
Be close to your pet
I love receiving reference videos from a DSLR, but taking videos from a smart phone is just fine! The biggest thing you can do to improve the quality of the videos isn’t getting better equipment, it’s standing closer to your pet.
For The pets that won’t stay in the Camera frame
I know from having my own hyperactive German Shepard is that getting a pet to stay in frame of a video can be headache. This is what I found that helps:
1. Using treats and toys to hold your pets attention
2. Choose a time when they have just woken or after their walk when their energy levels aren’t so high.
3. If your pet is a dog try putting them on the leash and tying them up to a nearby tree.