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Tips for taking the perfect 10 second video

Ella Perryman

5 min read

Sawday’s are launching a competition to find the best ten second (or less) video clip of your place. Your video should answer the question: ‘what’s one thing that makes staying at your place so special’? We'll use the clips to show off your place on our social channels. If you're not sure where to start, here are some top tips to help you.

Phone is best

Unless you’re a pro with a video camera, use a smartphone to create your clip. Play back the video and experiment with different ideas.

Good lighting is key

Shoot your video in daylight or the golden hours (sunrise and sunset) as the natural light then is the best. Avoid having any window or light source behind your subject as this will make your foreground look dark and dingy.

Stay steady – use both hands

Using both hands ensures you get steady footage. And, sometimes it’s easier to keep the camera still rather than try and pan across a wide scene.

Get clear audio

We are looking for short video snippets with little to no audio, but if you are including audio such as birdsong or the babbling brook then do make sure it’s crisp and clear. Ensure there’s no distracting background noise, as this will help focus the subject of your video on one, simple thing.

Penally Abbey Hotel

Horizontal, not vertical

Make sure that your video is landscape as opposed to portrait.

Think about interesting points of view

We love videos that evoke emotion and capture a moment; this is often easier to do with people in the frame. If you’re showing off your breakfast spread, why not shoot from above or behind someone who’s reading a paper and overlooking the ocean? Or, if you’re showing off your garden are there ways to highlight the different aspects such as the resident birds, the quiet sitting spot or the beautiful walled garden? By trying different perspectives, you could end up with a shot that’s unique and beautiful.

So what are we after?

We’re asking you to create a 10-second clip that tells us ‘what’s one thing that makes staying at your place so special’? With such a short video, make sure you keep it simple. We’re not talking about every detail but those individual moments, experiences, quirks or activities that make for beautiful holiday moments. The list below isn’t exhaustive, but just illustrates the kinds of content that work well:

  • Collecting vegetables from your garden
  • Baking the welcome cake
  • Throwing open doors or windows
  • Pulling off wellies after a muddy walk
  • That slobbery welcome from the resident dog
  • Cookery classes
  • Tea in the garden
  • Walking along the nearby beach
  • Feeding the resident donkeys, sheep, llamas, goats, cows
  • Jumping into the lake from the rope swing
  • Children playing

 

For video inspiration, check out these rolling waves at Penally Abbey Hotel and this tour around Old Lands. To get some subject matter ideas, scroll through our gallery of photos below.