We've been helping nonprofits understand video for years, and there are usually a set of common questions among nonprofits.  We've answered a handful of them below, but we're sure there are more.  If you have a specific question, just shoot us an email and ask!

The Hardware

What cameras do you recommend for nonprofits?

There are so many great cameras on the market today, but they’re not all going to be right for your organization. If you’re just shooting for the web, we recommend the Flip video camera or the Kodak Zi8, which allows for an external microphone. They're both cheap, portable, and perfect for online use. And nonprofits are eligible for good deals as part of the Flip Video Spotlight program.

If you’re looking for a solid, inexpensive hand-held, we like the Canon HV30. It allows for external mics and has high quality optics. If you do a lot of your own video and need to make a long-term investment, then go with what we use: the Sony EX3.

Where can I get good, cheap equipment?

Of course, making a video doesn’t end with the camera. There’s all the equipment that goes with it. Look for gear on Amazon.com or New Egg. Sign up for their alerts so you’ll be the first to know when something becomes available.

But also get creative. Instead of buying a tripod, use a table. Instead of buying professional lights, use the lighting around you and a couple of clamp lights from Home Depot.

Don’t skimp on the microphones, though! We’ve found that viewers are more willing to excuse poor visuals than poor audio. Good sound makes all the difference.

If we want to edit a video on our own, what software do you recommend?

We're a Mac shop here, so we use Final Cut Pro.  For PC users, try Windows Movie Maker, which is good for beginners.  We would also recommend Adobe Premier, which can be purchased for both Macs and PCs. 

Online Tools

Where do you suggest we host our videos?

We are big fans of YouTube because of their services and tools for nonprofits, but we know that YouTube isn't right for every organization.  It all depends on what capabilities you need and how you want to present your video online.  Some other sites to check out are Vimeo, Veoh, Viddler, Blip.tv, MetaCafe, Revver, DailyMotion, and DoGooderTV.  If you have accounts on all of these sites, you can upload your videos directly to TubeMogul and distribute it across all of them at once. 
 

Where can we find inexpensive images and music for our videos? 

We use a lot of different services like Killer Tracks and Reuters for our videos,  But for inexpensive music, try Music Bakery. For stock photos, try Fotolia. Check out Creative Commons, too—you might find quality photos that you can use as long as you attribute the source.

Are there online video tools designed specifically for nonprofits?

The YouTube Nonprofit Program offers nonprofits increased branding opportunities and some great video tools, such as Linkable Annotations and Call-to-Action Overlays.  It's now open to nonprofits in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, and it's completely free. 

Animoto is another excellent service for nonprofits on a budget.  With Animoto, you can make videos automatically out of your images, text, and music.  We've seen nonprofits create some very engaging, high quality videos using this tool. 

What do you recommend in terms of live streaming?

Live streaming has become incredibly simple, and many of our clients have used this technology to broadcast and archive both training sessions and press conferences.  We recommend using either UStream or Livestream.

The Logistics

How can my staff or volunteers learn how to shoot and edit video?

We've been hired to do video trainings for organizations, but that's not always in the budget for every organization.  If you have staff that are good at the DIY stuff, check out Lynda.com and Creative Cow for tutorials and training.

We also do live trainings at events like the Nonprofit Technology Conference and the Community Media Workshop, so send your staff there if you can! 

What are the best practices around getting video releases?

We use a standard release for all our shoots, whether it's documentary or commercial style.  If you work at a school or a workplace where you expect to be recording events on a regular basis, then you may consider including releases as part of your organizational handbook or rules. 

Then again, there are times when you don't expect to be filming and you need to capture footage on the go.  In most cases, getting verbal agreement from your subject on film will be enough to cover you.  Just make sure you're clear with the subject exactly how you intend to use the footage. 

Got more questions?  Email us.