What Am I doing Wrong? How Can I try to make it Right!?

[Jay Cash]

I love my Canon XH A1, and Its a sharp camera and I deffinitly get a bunch of OOO's and aahhh's when i pull it out! I edit with Final Cut Express.

I am using mostly Automatic Settings and Few manual settings, all of my video just looks flat and BLAH

nothing sharp like ALL the videos I see on here. I am making a little bit of money making this commercials but I have to step up my game before I'll ever to advance to anything more.

- I need some advice on getting better video!

All i can get is video to come out looking like this!

YouTube - JRC 522 ACRE Auction- WPSDtv 30 Second

YouTube - Stallons Estate Auction

YouTube - Borders Estate - Grand Rivers


I think what all you guys do looks awesome! anyone feel like being kind?

[Nate Haustein]

Secrets below:

• Shooting in the middle of the day usually produces lackluster results. Try for morning or evening during the "golden hour."

• Use ND filters on your camera to control the light. Shoot shutter speed at 1/48 or 1/60 with aperture at F2.0 to F5.6.

• Use the picture setting presets available for the XHA1. Try "Panalook", "Panavision," and "VividRGB."

• Color correct in post for saturation and highlights.

• Add a subtle vignette.

Those are all my secrets. Use them for good, never for evil.

That's all technical stuff, though you could probably benefit from some tips on everything else as well. I'll leave that to the others.

[Don Xaliman]

A few more close-ups and varied perspectives would help. Pick-up lots of cut-aways and artistic framings of the hilights of the estates.
A bit more time on location is required as well as more editing. However, this effort will put you in their good books.

[Don Palomaki]

Going beyond image enhancemen, maybe add some life to the images; e.g., when you say hunting, either have a couple hunters afield or show some native wild game in the field to give visual confirmation of the points being made.