How I Made the Love Machine Valentine’s Day Video

Posted on: February 14, 2010
7 comments so far (is that a lot?)

We had a Valentine day VAIO and bag bundle in the Sony office for a few days before Valentine’s day and I wanted to do something with it before it had to be shipped out. This video is so simple and silly, but it got a great response. I also produced it with the most minimal staff and gear.

Basically, I pressed record and I put my arms in front of the camera, and there you have it! Ok, maybe it’s a little more complicated than that but it really was a barebones effort. For this shot, I used a tripod (if you watch any of my work you know I do a lot of handheld) because I knew I would do some kind of time lapse or transitions that would work better with a steady shot. I also knew I wouldn’t be talking, though if I wanted I could use voice over. The part of this production that is the coolest, I think.. is that I shot this video with a Cybershot camera in movie mode. That’s right, I used a still camera to record the video and then upload the clips to my computer to edit.

Besides the cheerful color of the VAIO and bag, the music really helps make this piece fun. I used royalty free music which I found from a site recommended by friends on twitter. Music is really important for setting mood and pacing of a video. The cuts on this video and the audio are very rough but it was a quick edit and the outcome is a really fun and quickly shared piece.  If you have any questions about the process or steps, please ask. I am still amazed at how easy it is to make something fun and share it. For those of you who are still new to video blogging, don’t let anything stop you.

Here are some simple DIY video blogger tips:

* Use a tripod.
* Try out different devices for recording video, see if your still camera has a video recording function.
* Look for music to help match the mood you’re trying to accomplish. See the royalty free music link above.
* Try editing, even simple cuts can help polish up your video.
* Just do it.

  • Raj

    Hi Sukhjit,

    What editing suite are you using? and would you recommend it to a novice who primarily takes family event videos, nothing pro or even semi-pro?

    Thanks
    Raj

  • http://twitter.com/sukhjit sukhjit

    Hi Raj! Thanks for stopping by, I've mostly used more advanced video editing software, just because that's the industry I come from, but for something like what I produced above, you could potentially use what ever software comes with the camera you are using. For instance, some Sony cameras come with Picture Motion Browser and that should allow you to clean up video, do simple fades as well as add music. iMovie is also a good choice. It is supposed to be great for beginners. You've motivated me to investigate… I'm going to try a few things out. Maybe you can let me know what you try out too. Thanks again for the visit!

  • http://otir.net/dotclear Otir

    This is a nice video indeed! I love that you are sharing good tips and educating us on the making of your videos, I love learning!

  • Raj

    Hi Sukhjit,

    Thanks for your prompt response. Over the years I've used various applications such as Adobe Premiere Elements and Pinnacle Studio. But I find these either buggy and slow, even with a powerful PC, or a steep learning curve. I basically want to create fun home videos without taking a masterclass in video editing.

    The two cameras I have don't have very good editing software and are too limited. I want something inbetween. I haven't looked into Picture Motion Browser, but I have played with iMovie and does seem simple to use but with good functionality…problem is I'll have to get a mac.

    I'll continue investigating….

  • http://twitter.com/sukhjit sukhjit

    Raj, I'm using Sony Vegas. Have you tried that? I didn't realize you had as much experience as you do… Premier and Pinnacle are both pretty good. Vegas and Final Cut Express are my exiting suites of choice.

  • http://twitter.com/sukhjit sukhjit

    Thanks a million, @Otir! I was really happy with how that silly video turned out and it was so simple. I figured it would be a good share the simple tips that can make a big difference. Thanks so much for the comment. Sukhjit.me has been a very quiet site lately.. it's nice to see friends stop by. :)

  • http://www.winbatterycharger.com/ shuaiqi

    wow,done well.This is a nice video indeed!