To hone the creative skills needed to be a master visual story-teller, it’s easiest to begin with simple visual drawings. No expensive equipment needed! Beginning Film School students are usually given assignments using simple still pictures.

If you’re new to video production, the thought of creating your own story can be both thrilling and intimidating. How do you tell a story about your niche: organic gardening?

No matter what type of video you're making, the first step is ALWAYS to consider your audience. WHO is the video intended for and WHAT do you want them to get out of it? The answers to those two questions will determine most everything else.

Quality audio is probably more important for viewer satisfaction than quality video. Straining to hear simply isn't worth it for your average viewer. They'll turn you off rather than endure the noise! Viewers are more forgiving of grainy, shaky, poorly lit video than muffled audio.

Inside, diffused light can be obtained either by using photographic equipment such as reflective umbrellas, diffusion gels and cloths, or the light can be bounced off something reflective.

The #1 mistake newbie video makers commit is to move the camera so much they induce sea-sickness in their audience.

Using supplemental lights can often take a video production from the realm of amateur to that of professional. Technically, a video picture is nothing BUT light, so the better your lighting, the nicer your shot.