Make a Tribute Video Today!
June 11th, 2013
Ever wanted to make a video tribute? It’s pretty much a video dedicated to something you love – maybe your family, friends or team. Here is how you can make yours excellent.
1) Choose a topic. If you are reading this, chances are you already know what you want to make the tribute about. You should be somewhat passionate about your tribute-subject, otherwise it’s not really much of a tribute.
2) Get pictures or video. Pick inspiring or dramatic photos. If you pick photos that cast your subject in a bad light, again, then it’s not much of a tribute.
3) Import your photos into your movie making program (iMovie or Windows Movie Maker). Arrange them in an order you think would be appealing.
4) Add music. This is one of the most important parts. The music may be what determines whether your audience watches or decides to look at something else. A silent tribute is the worst you could do, because then it’s just like staring at still pictures which lacks emotion. Pick a song that is a personal favorite, or one that fits the subject of the tribute in a certain way.
5) Upload your video to YouTube or another video sharing site. Name it something like “[Insert Name here] Tribute” or “A Tribute to [Insert Name here].
Don’t have time to make a tribute video, or need to sprinkle some extra awesomeness into a movie for entertainment? Contact us today to make a video tribute for you! View a sample here:
Consolidation at its Best!
January 30th, 2013
Here at Storyteller, we live to organize your photo and video collections. Decluttering is a way of life for us. So imagine our reaction when we found this article of great suggestions about organizing and decluttering space with everyday products such as toilet paper rolls, can openers or bread clips?! One word: AWESOME!
Check out this link to see what we mean:
http://twistedsifter.com/2013/01/50-life-hacks-to-simplify-your-world/
Sandy Aftermath – Back up those photos and videos
November 30th, 2012
In the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, thousands of families have not only lost power, but they’ve lost some priced possessions as well…including old family heirlooms.
After speaking with several clients, Storyteller thought it important to remind people that accidents do happen. Whether it’s from a fire, flood, or just having a fried computer or phone…backing up those memories are essential. Here’s how to do it.
UPLOAD PHOTOS AND VIDEO TO INTERNET, AND STORE ONLINE!
Popular sites include: Flickr, Photobucket, Snapfish, Shutterfly, Picassa, Smugmug, and Cloud Storage Sites. Not sure which one to use? For the Pros and Cons of all these sites, click here.
STORE PHOTOS AND VIDEOS ON EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES!
USE DATA DISCS!
When the other options aren’t available, Data Discs will make do. As with the external hard drives, make sure you make copies of the data discs and send them to a family member, safety deposit box, or office.
Tape Video Correctly with Phone
September 16th, 2012
If you tape video with your Phone, don’t suffer from VVS (Vertical Video Syndrome)! Not sure what VVS is? It’s when people hold the phone vertically instead of horizontally while taping video. And eventually, when those videos are transferred off of the phone to view on a TV screen or internet, they look bad.
Still not sure what we mean? Take a look at the humorous PSA video featured in this month’s newsletter to educate yourself, and catch those precious memories the right way!
Best Photo Sharing Sites 2012
August 9th, 2012
Are you looking for a site where you can share and archive your photos? With all the choices out there today, making a decision can be a little overwhelming. The key is finding a site that suits your photo sharing needs and sticking with it.
If you’re only looking to share your images with others online, you should go where your friends are, which often means social networking sites like Facebook. But if you want to archive your photos, make prints, or create photo crafts, you’ll need a different type of photo sharing site. There are a bunch of them out there, so check out our picks to find the one that delivers what you need.
.
Best Consumer Camcorders for 2012
July 11th, 2012
Although a good majority of consumers use their iPhone, Android or Blackberry to tape video, there are still limitations for capturing video on a Smartphone. Most are not equipped with a digital zoom, plus picture and audio quality may be sacrificed.
If you’re looking for a video camcorder that does a little more than your Smartphone, check out this website for some great options in 2012.
Archiving Old Memories
May 11th, 2012
Archiving a Shoebox at a Time
Proof that times have changed: Grandma just friended you on Facebook, and your 1-year-old says “iPad” amongst his first words. Storyteller digitally converts those moments caught on photograph, film, or video…so your family can access and share those memories to their heart’s content (on the internet or at home).
Memories to Archive may include:
- Mom wearing purple bell-bottoms
- Mullet haircuts and yearbook photos
- Your little squirt’s first bicycle ride
- Old 8mm family footage
- Embarrassing baby pictures
- Prom night; Pink dress; Poofy hair
We make it easy to digitally convert, organize and share pictures, slides, negatives, film and video. Using the latest technology, the Storyteller team scans fragile photos, and can convert any film footage – 16mm to High-8 to VHS.
Video Creation for Special Events
April 11th, 2012
As you may know, Storyteller’s specialty is creating videos for special events, including Weddings, Birthdays, Anniversaries, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, etc. By fusing advanced video editing techniques, creativity, and your ideas, Storyteller will create something fun to watch for whatever type of event you’re planning!
This month, we’d like to share a short video excerpt of a video made for Christina and John Dolina’s wedding on March 17th, in Indianapolis, Indiana.
This slideshow features our cutting edge designer software, full of special 3D visual effects that make the photos even more magical! Take a look at the video excerpt below and see for yourselves!
View the couple’s portion of the video below.
Online Videos for Businesses are a necessity!
March 26th, 2012
The internet is not a text-based medium these days. It’s about delivering video. Consumers demand video. We watch video for a number of things, including entertainment and education… but most importantly, because it’s easy!
According to a widely cited study, 93% of web users don’t look beyond the first page of search results.
Highly regarded for its data, Forrester Research found that: “…a properly indexed video is 50 times more likely than a text page on the same topic to appear on Google’s first page of search results.” Better search engine results translate to greater consumer awareness, which results in ringing phones and higher revenue.
If you have a business that’s in need of an online video, give us a call! We can discuss your vision and budget from script to screen.
View one of our online video commercials here:
3 Common Mistakes to Avoid when Scanning Photos!
February 1st, 2012
If you have time and are taking on the huge task of scanning your own photos, please read these tips for better scans!
1. Crop the Previewed Image.
Many people make the mistake of not cropping the photo before they hit the scan button. This will cause a white background to appear on all sides of the photo, resulting in a lower quality scan of the actual photo.
2. Choose the right resolution.
A good rule of thumb is to scan your photos at a minimum of 300dpi (Dots Per Inch) to assure decent quality for enhancement and restoration techniques. If your photo is smaller than the usual size (2×4 or smaller), scanning it at 600dpi or larger would be better.
3. Avoid using correction effects while scanning.
While checking certain effects like unsharp mask or color correction may seem like time savers, they might make your photos look worse. Just scan your image with its original look. Then afterwards, try to make any corrections in a graphics software program which offers much more control.