There’s a lot to prepare for at Christmas (understatement of the century), but there’s one more thing you might not have thought about; the Christmas morning video! These have always been popular among Dads with camcorders, but have found new viewers thanks to the rise of YouTube and social media. But how do you make sure the filming goes smoothly? Here are a few things you need to consider before and while you’re filming those happy scenes on Christmas morning!

Hold the camera properly!

Before you even press the record button, think about how you want to film it. We mention this a lot, but if you’re recording on your phone, we still recommend shooting in landscape mode as opposed to portrait mode. It looks better when viewed on a TV, and it’s less strenuous on the eyes than a vertical video.

If you’re using a camcorder, this isn’t an issue. But make sure you hold the camera with a steady hand, no one likes watching a video that looks like it was shot during an earthquake!

Keep away from the zoom!

We’ve mentioned this before, but unless you’re a skilled cinematographer, improper use of the zoom button will make your video look even more amateur. If you want to bring a far away object into focus, it’s better to simply move your camera closer to the object. It might mean getting off the sofa, but the video will look a hundred times better for it.

Make sure you get all the important moments…

Different events will have different levels of importance. For one family, the kids getting up and opening their stockings will be the highlight of the day, others will prioritise the reveal of presents under the tree, the grandparents arriving, or the reveal of the turkey etc. Whatever the moment you prioritise, make sure you’re ready and filming with the camera before the action starts. You don’t want to catch the aftermath of the moment without the moment that triggered it!

…but don’t film everything!

Although it’s essential to capture the important stuff, don’t go overboard. Chances are it won’t be necessary to film every single present being opened, every single family greeting and every single sprout being ingested. Remember that the holiday video is supposed to be like a highlight reel, a retrospect of all the best bits of the day, not a full second-by-second recap of absolutely everything that happened. If you do have too much by the end of the day, you can always (and should always) edit it.

Don’t forget to be part of the day!

It’s easy to sit back and observe everything while you’re filming it, and this can lead to you being less involved in the day itself. Don’t spoil your day just so you can film it, look back and think ‘That looked so much fun, shame I was too busy filming it.’. Put the camera away for a while and enjoy yourself too!

So, to recap:

Hold the camera properly!

Keep away from the zoom!

Make sure you get all the important moments…

…but don’t film everything!

Don’t forget to be part of the day!

So, those are our tips for filming your Christmas morning video! Are you planning to film anything this Christmas?