Shred It & Edit: Video Editing Tips for Board Sports
Shred It & Edit: Video Editing Tips for Board Sports
by Virginia Buechel on May 20, 2015
We got a lot of love from She Shredders about our most recent feature: how to take great shredding photos to help score a board sport sponsor. And you asked us for more! So we’ve pulled together some primo tips on how to capture your next trick or jump on the go — and how to edit the video effectively. Setting yourself up for the best angles, timing, and view is important if you are looking to reach out to potential board sponsors or looking to win a video contest like Tigé: My Wake Global Challenge.
If you don’t know how to set up video shots and clips correctly, a great shred it and edit can become time-consuming. Which is why the SheShreds Team has put together some great tips to help you capture the video you need to succeed.
Set It Up & Pay Attention To Requirements
If you are looking to “wow” a sponsor or stand at the top of a video contest podium, you have to know what you’re getting into —before you get into it.
Grab Your Gear: Whether you are riding snow, asphalt, or water, we suggest using a GoPro for a diverse set of shots and options. If you have a GoPro be sure to bring a wide variety of mounts or angle options. If you don’t have a GoPro camera, we suggest checking out Backcountry to get the gear you need. Also don’t forget to charge your camera and any accessories before heading out.
What Are You Looking For? Whether you are entering a contest for videos or applying for a sponsorship, check the requirements needed. Some video contests like My Wake Global Challenge by Tigé ask for specific tricks or time constraints for your submitted video. If you are trying to reach a sponsor, ask them if they have a set of guidelines for a video submission.
Let’s Get Shooting
Now that you have your gear charged up and the requirements needed to start shooting a rad video of your riding, it’s time to start with some things you should and shouldn’t do when shooting your videos. With some “what not to do” help from Alliance Wake Magazine and Shred Betties Tips, let’s first set some rules of what not to do with your GoPro.
What NOT To Do:
Pick The Right Mount, Even A Few: Head and helmet mounts for board sports are very popular, but aren’t always the best option. No one is going to want to see your perspective the whole video and you also don’t want to just show the mount on the front of your board. The same goes for selfie-sticks. While it’s fun to see that angle, don’t shoot all your footage from one particular angle.
Use The Safe Accessories: If you are using your GoPro or camera in the water be sure to use the float attachment (if available). You would be devastated if your few-hundred-dollar camera landed up swimming with the sharks, or at the bottom of a cable park.
Get Close, CLOSER: If you are looking to get the best shots of your friends or the shredding star of your video, be sure to get as close to them with your wide-angle camera. The further away you are the less details of the maneuvers and tricks your watchers will see.
Try Not To Use Your Phone, But…If you have be sure to not to take the video vertically. You can get more in the frame and it will look better if you shoot the video horizontally.
Now that you have a few ideas of what to avoid when you head out to get some footage, below are some ways to get some interesting shots.
What To Do:
Grab Different Angles: When you head out to make some laps in the park, or cruising runs through the water, be sure to try different angles. If you have the ability to shoot two or three cameras at once (combine your friends’ camera gear), this can help to capture the right angle. Depending on the angle of the sun, some shots may be shadowed and having multiple angles can allow you to cut and edit properly.
Keep It Rolling: Sometimes when riders have a camera mounted to their body or their board they have a tendency to get “button happy,” and starting and stopping the camera during different features or runs. Instead, if you remember to charge your camera, just let the video run for the whole run. This way you can also go back and clip out what you don’t want, but still ensure you don’t miss anything.
Remote Control Camera? If you are using a GoPro that isn’t within reach, consider getting a remote that can control your camera. This can be great if you are shooting your videos solo and you have to set up a tripod or mount before you hit a feature. The GoPro remote’s wristband keeps camera control at your finger tips.
Protect Accordingly: If you are using your smartphone to take videos (remember most smartphones shoot HD videos), be sure to have the right protection. If you’re on land you may want to get a rigid case that can handle a drop on concrete. Or if you’re on the water, be sure to get a waterproof case to prevent any leaks.
Let’s Get To The Edit Room
Now that you have some raw footage, it’s time to bring out the best parts for a potential sponsor, or submission to a contest. But before you start clipping, cutting, adding, and editing, it’s important to get the right video editing software.
If you have a Mac or MacBook, iMovie is a good option to upload and edit your videos. If you want something a bit simpler, you can use YouTube’s Video Editor for easy tools and great options for adding music and effects.
Time It Right: Would you want to sit through 15-20 minutes of someone riding over and over through a park? Probably not. So think like you’re a viewer. If you are following the guidelines that you may have been given, you may be limited to a 3-5 minute video. That’s enough time to get some rad tricks in and some great technique footage to show off your skills to the shredding world.
Music Anyone? If you are looking to hook up some sweet music with your videos, it’s important to get the right copyright guidelines for using music in your videos. Most mainstream music has specific guidelines and video sites like YouTube have guidelines to get you started for general behavior. Remember, you want to use some upbeat music to get your viewers just as excited as you.
Effects: If you are looking to add special lighting or effects like black and white footage, be sure to do it with some moderation. You don’t want to turn your video into a circus of colors. All you really need is to add a touch of color and a few slo-mo clips once in awhile. When it comes to capturing the attention of your viewer during a special moment, less is more.
Check out the videos below of SheShreds Pro Wakeboarder Taylor McCullough & Snowboarder Abigail Berg:
Now that we’ve given you the rundown of some helpful video tips for snowboarding, wakeboarding, skateboarding, or any other board sport, get out there and start shooting! SheShreds.co is partnering up this year with Tigé Boats with their My Wake Global Challenge, offering cash and prizes for your wakeboarding, wakesurfing, and wakeskating video submissions. Check out the deadlines and contest details, then get your shred on! Shred it and edit!
