Are you tired of having a camera full of videos that are bland and unwatchable? I have some tips and tricks to help you create home videos that will make your memories last forever!

We all love to capture the precious moments of our loved ones, be it a first holiday, a birthday party, or a school recital. But let’s be honest, not all of us are skilled video editors or have professional equipment. Well, fear not because with these simple yet effective steps, even busy moms and dads can get WAY better at making videos on your phone that everyone will want to watch.

Lights, Camera, Action: How to Create Home Videos That Are Actually Good

I created this video of an everyday trip to the library my little one. Give it a watch, and then I’ll walk you through my process of creating a video like this that glamorizes the everyday moments and captures me and my kiddo doing something we love together.

If you’re interested in an easy-to-follow course, this one by DIY Family Films is SO GOOD! I was able to watch all the lessons over the course of two days, and then put everything I learned into action to create the video above — not bad for a beginner videographer, right?

Plan and Prepare:

Before you start filming, make sure you have a clear idea of what you want to capture. Is this a special milestone moment? Or an everyday activity?

Take some time to think about what you want to capture, who in your family is going to be a part of it, and what kind of mood or emotion you want to convey through it. Map out your shots and decide which angles and perspectives will work best (more on this below in Record the Action). This will help you save time and avoid wasting footage.

Some technical advice:

• make sure your phone or camera is charged
• make sure your phone or camera has enough storage space

Keep it Simple:

The biggest mistake that most people make is trying to include too much in their home videos. Remember that it’s not a documentary, but a short film of a specific moment or activity that should be easy to follow and enjoyable to watch. So, focus on a few key moments, and don’t try to cram everything in.

Record the Action:

The whole point of home videos is to capture the action, so make sure to record plenty of it.

Take establishing shots that make it obvious where you are. When you watch these videos again in a few years, you want to be transported back to that family vacation.

Get creative! Take different angles and close-ups to add variety. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different angles and perspectives. Try shooting from a bird’s eye view or low to the ground. Play around with the zoom and focus to create depth and dimension.

Angles to capture:

• wide shot
• close up
• from above
• from below

And if you’re recording people, try to capture their expressions and reactions, as they often tell more than words can.

Use a tripod or selfie stick to make sure you’re in the video, too!

My secret weapon to making home videos look more cinematic — shoot your clips in slow motion.

Edit with Care:

Once you have all the footage you need, it’s time to edit it into a cohesive and engaging video. Slice and dice your footage and piece it together in a way that tells a story.

• Use a simple editing app on your phone like InShot or CapCut.
• Cut out any unnecessary footage and keep the video length under 5 minutes.

And most importantly, don’t be afraid to cut out anything that doesn’t add value to the story! My video I shared at the top of this blog post was 10 minutes long originally 😳; I was afraid to trim out all the cute footage of Glen exploring the library, but I was able to remove 7 minutes and still tell a super cute story!

Depending on where you sharing your finished video, you may need to trim your video even shorter. For example, the FamilyAlbum app that we use to share photos and videos of kiddos without posting them all over social media only allows video uploads shorter than 3 minutes.

Add a Soundtrack:

Music can make or break a home video, so choose your soundtrack wisely. If dialogue is important in your film, don’t let the music overpower the sound of people talking or the natural sounds of the scene.

You can find lots of free music on sites like PIxabay, but be aware of any copyright rules if/when sharing your video online.

Share Your Video:

Congratulations, you’ve created a great home video! Now it’s time to share it with the world. Upload it to social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, or share it on YouTube. Consider creating a private link for family and friends to view, so you can keep those precious moments close to your heart.

There you have it — my top tips for creating home videos that are actually good. Remember, it’s not about having the most expensive equipment or being a skilled editor, but about planning, simplicity, action, music, and editing with care. With a little bit of time and effort, you can create a video that you and your loved ones will treasure for years to come instead of a bunch of clips that just sit on your phone or computer. And who knows, you might even impress your friends and family with your newfound videography skills! So, grab your camera or phone and start capturing those memories that will last a lifetime.

Top Questions About Recording Family Videos