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HOME » Create The Best Pet Adoption Video for Your Rescue

Create The Best Pet Adoption Video for Your Rescue

19/05/2018 by Marjorie Dawson 22 Comments

I want to help you make the best pet adoption video you can. Even if you are a nervous “never made a movie before” newbie. Why? Because shooting great video is a skill you can learn and it can be a big help to your local rescue.

You don’t need to be a Hollywood director to make an adoption video to get your cute kittens or wonderful special needs rescue pet adopted. Making how to videos about kitten or neonatal can could even save lives.

If you want to do the best for your rescue, invest a little bit of time in sharpening skills you already have from using a smartphone. If you can make a ‘phone call, you can make a movie.

Top Cat Video Tips

First of all, don’t stress about fancy video equipment. 

You do not need fancy videography equipment if you are a beginner. You do not need an expensive DSLR video setup, just grab your smartphone. Be fearless, get out there and tell an adoption story, or a rescue tale.

making inspiring animal shelter adoption videos

I have been placed in two BlogPaws® Nose to Nose Finals using an iPhone to shoot movies. If I can achieve this kind of attention, so can you. I created those videos on my own with no extra help, so keep trying.

You may be a blogger with close links to a rescue – use those links.

Get a story idea down on paper them try to tell it as a movie. It’s the best way to practice. Try a puppy getting adopted video, or cute senior cats at a local adoption event.

Use your unique selling point to brainstorm a short video to introduce your rescue family to your readers. Spotlight the beauty of adoption of a disabled pet, show a hopeful future.

Need Some Video Rescue Ideas?

  • Give five rescue top planning tips,
  • introduce a local volunteer,
  • show how to cope with finding an ‘abandoned’ kitten.
  • Create a small pet adoption commercial for social media and who knows, you might end up featured on the Dodo funny animal videos.

Remember, be confident and get filming. With a few video camera skills, you can tell an inspiring story.

Beth cat closeup

Create an Inspirational Pet Video

With your skills improving every day, why not start a video project for a rescue. This can spotlight a pet, the cattery block or rabbit family. You can record an event that inspired you as BlogPaws® inspired me. Watch this.

Whether you are shooting video indoors or outdoors, at home or a rescue. Just remember, have confidence. With a few video camera skills, you can focus on telling an inspiring story.

I make this sound easy, don’t I? Let’s say it’s easier when you have a few intentions in place to guide your progress. Try these ideas:

  1. Focus on your subject.
  2. What is it?
  3. Who is it?
  4. What is the story?

Plan a simple narrative. If you need a structure or list of shots you can use our printable sheets for the UK or the USA. Having your plan in visual terms gives you an anchor to guide your story forward.

European A4 StoryBoard pdf

US Letter Size StoryBoard pdf

Pet Movie Post at Dash Kitten

Planning a Movie

My tip is to develop a movie idea or story so that when you start work you do not feel as if you are stepping off a cliff,

with no support

and no idea what will happen.

Let me give you an example of how a bit of forward planning can help you be more prepared to create a movie that makes sense.

My Video Story Plan

Our cat Miranda is a lively tree climber and I knew I wanted to capture her on her fearless climb upwards during the lovely Spring weather. 

I scribbled down a movie idea to capture how much fun Miranda has in our garden. I also knew that if I was out doing some gardening she would be in a tree climbing mood. I filmed some ground shots and camera at the ready I waited for her to climb her favourite tree.

I added some licensed music to give it a cheerful vibe. If you want music AudioJungle has a range of prices, each with an official licence.

For you, the story might be a kitten’s first climb up a cat tree, or a senior venturing onto the catio.

Miranda from The Dash Kitten Movie Crew on Vimeo.

Now Make Your Rescue Movie

If you wait until you stop feeling nervous you will never start. Do it while you are scared and you will slowly realise that you can create a mini-movie.

Remember to shoot a little more than you need so you have lots of clips for your narrative. 

You will need to edit your movie. Just keep it simple, join your clips together. Add a little bit of text with crucial rescue contact details and then SHARE for your rescue cat or dog.

If you are like me, you will start off thinking that your movie is not very good but don’t be too hard on yourself.

Your videography techniques improve with every movie you make. Keep working at this and keep sharing your videos.

Add Static Images with the Ken Burns Effect

Here’s how.

Smartphone pictures can be video between the clips. You can also add printed pictures once they are scanned into a computer. After you add them, use the ‘Ken Burns‘ effect.

Let me tell you a bit about this simple but clever visual tool that allows you to use photographs and still keep your movie flowing.

The Ken Burns effect is a panning (moving across) and zooming (moving closer) effect used in video production. It will help you create the best pet adoption video for your rescue candidates by letting you include static images that appear to be moving even if they aren’t.

People expect a movie to do just that – move. The Ken Burns effect is another small but effective tool in your armoury as a smartphone video maker.

NOTE: The name derives from extensive use of the technique by American document maker Ken Burns.

People expect a movie to do just that – move. The Ken Burns effect is another small but effective tool in your armoury as a smartphone video maker.

NOTE: The name derives from extensive use of the technique by American document maker Ken Burns.

Smartphone movies cat and dog

A Video to Address a Rescue Event or Challenging Issue

If you find an issue arises repeatedly for your rescue, work with other volunteers to create a video for your Facebook page and other social media.

Have an ‘Adoptapalooza’ coming up? Showcase the cats available, spotlight the seniors and disabled cats.

  • You could create a movie on keeping community cats warm; raw feeding tips, or handling a lost kitten.
  • Do a short promo for your rescue’s longest resident who needs a home. Keep it brief because that way it will work on a wider range of social media channels.
  • If you aim for Instagram coverage – shoot SQUARE.

How Do I Edit My Pet Video?

Editing takes a bit of practice but if you can do it on your computer if the phone screen seems too small.  Look at your clips. You will see what ones you like, drag those to your timeline and start fooling around.

If you need editing help YouTube has lots of videos so there will be one for your smartphone app. Just take it slowly. No-one was born knowing how to make movies so don’t be hard on yourself.

If you need editing help YouTube has lots of videos so there will be one for your smartphone app. Just take it slowly. No-one was born knowing how to make movies so don’t be hard on yourself.

When You Need It Now

When you need a short video very quickly, our favourite instant movie secret weapon iMovie’s ‘Trailer Template’ function or the free version of Adobe Spark app.

A post on feline probiotics used up the time I had so I used a short iMovie trailer template for extra sparkle. The template consists of a pre-assembled sequence of placeholders for video and still shots. There is space for text inserts and an uplifting track perfectly timed for the template.

For a rescue volunteer, a movie is something you can plan, and incorporate into your schedule when time allows, or when you have an event to spotlight.

OK, I’m Ready What do I do?

Step One: Check our video shooting basics for the skills to get you up and running. This is a really helpful post packed with nitty-gritty advice given in a non-scary way.

We have smartphone app advice for beginners here if you need them too.

Our best advice ever?  Just get out there and film stuff. Learn to hold your smartphone as a camera, and how to keep your rescue pet centred in the frame. See if you can do a close-up. Have fun and laugh when you get it wrong, then try again and do it better,

TIP Your video is not Gone with the Wind (3hrs 58mins) it is a message to your potential adopters and fosters. A short and meaningful message you can share on your social media channels can make a big impression.

Final Video Shoot Tips

  • Shoot in the best light you can
  • Be an engaging and friendly presenter
  • Use a lapel mic if you have one
  • Add captions for hearing impaired people
  • Hold your camera steady or use a tripod.

Making inspiring animal shelter adoption videos gets pets into homes! 

Now tell me, what kind of rescue video are you going to create today?

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Filed Under: Smartphone Movie Posts Tagged With: cat movie, make a pet movie, smartphone movie tips

Meet Marjorie, Writer and Photographer

Portrait by a window with teddy bears Taken with a smartphone.Marjorie is a cat lover, photographer and smartphone moviemaker who loves sharing her knowledge with learners.

Marjorie is a Cat Writers’ Association Professional member, CWA Muse® Medallion and Certificate Winner, and winner of the CWA Kuykendall Image Award for her photography.

 

Comments

  1. Holly says

    25/05/2018 at 5:06 am

    I’m dying to do a video on agility. None of my creatures will willingly participate properly (in public) and it is hard to get a good set of footage. I’m getting bits and pieces at a lot of shows. Eventually, hopefully, I’ll get enough to do something with it.

    Reply
    • Dash Kitten says

      25/05/2018 at 7:28 am

      That’s how I would do it! Your aim – Agility. Your method – My Dogs, how they learn, how they improve and how they succeed!

      Reply
  2. Tenacious Little Terrier says

    24/05/2018 at 12:34 pm

    I need to do more dog training videos! I’m thinking about participating in the 100 days of dog training challenge so maybe that will be motivation.

    Reply
    • Dash Kitten says

      24/05/2018 at 1:05 pm

      You should try a video. It does not need to be long, just pick one element and work with that.

      Reply
  3. Sweet Purrfections says

    24/05/2018 at 10:07 am

    Making more videos (effective) is one of our goals this year. We’ve done simple videos, but we’re ready to tackle something a little more involved. We couldn’t find the Super 8 app on our iPhone. Is it under another name?

    Reply
  4. Joelle says

    24/05/2018 at 9:03 am

    I’ve been playing around with making videos. I’m not sure they’re any good! Your tips will help!

    Reply
  5. Julia Williams says

    24/05/2018 at 9:01 am

    Wow, this was super informative. I really know so little about video, but it’s something I would love to learn. Thank you for sharing your expertise and giving me lots of food for thought!

    Reply
  6. Anita Aurit, Purrsonal Assistant to The Tribe of Five says

    24/05/2018 at 8:34 am

    You have inspired me! Now all I need to figure out is how to be more stealthy because every time I sneak up on one of The Tribe of Five to capture a purrfect moment they wait just until I’m ready to hit the button and zoom, off they go! I need to try some videos, I might have better luck!

    Reply
  7. Anita Aurit, Purrsonal Assistant to The Tribe of Five says

    24/05/2018 at 7:53 am

    Many great tips here. I am still struggling with photographing The Tribe of Five. They have the uncanny ability to sit still in a perfect position and move, just when I’m ready to take the shot. Perhaps I need to take a class on how to be stealthier! These video tips were very helpful and encouraged me to do more videos. Thanks!

    Reply
  8. Ruth Epstein says

    24/05/2018 at 7:50 am

    I use a camera for all and still trying to understand everything, like I can put a water mark through my camera onto all pics and video and have tried like 10 times and still cannot do it LOL. I would love to be able to do better pics and movies like you, maybe by the end of the year I might have managed something – I need to learn more from you

    Reply
  9. Lola The Rescued Cat says

    24/05/2018 at 3:34 am

    My problem is editing. I don’t have an iPhone and I’m lost with editing software. I know video is the way to go.

    Reply
  10. Beth says

    24/05/2018 at 3:22 am

    That video is epic! I love it 🙂

    Reply
  11. The Daily Pip says

    24/05/2018 at 1:46 am

    I love seeing how far you have come with video. It’s truly inspiring and your videos are always so professionally done. Love Harvey’s video endorsement of Humarian!

    When I take video I kind of just do it on the spot – I need to take your advice and do a storyboard or at least have some kind of plan.

    Reply
  12. Shannon says

    23/05/2018 at 10:54 pm

    Thanks so much for the great tips! I’ve taken away so much and will probably need to reference in the future as a reminder!

    Reply
  13. mommakatandherbearcat says

    23/05/2018 at 4:54 pm

    I have raw video that I’m REALLY excited about sharing … but having never edited a video before – the task feels gargantuan. I don’t have a smart phone either – so I don’t have access to many of the apps available to everyone else.

    Reply
  14. Seville at Nerissa's Life says

    22/05/2018 at 2:21 am

    Problem with these smart phone thingies is, the phones are smarter than my peep!

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

    But seriously, my friends, you’ve given everyone some REALLY GREAT pointers here on makin’ videos. Excellent points, for sure. PURRS.

    Reply
  15. Erin the Cat says

    21/05/2018 at 8:04 am

    Excellent advice, and well presented.you sure do make it easy for beginners to get to grips with things….
    Toodle pips and purrs
    ERin

    Reply
  16. Monika says

    20/05/2018 at 11:05 pm

    I am planning on starting with videos in the future but it always seems so overwhelming. You make it sound doable and easy 🙂 I’ll really have to just get out there and film stuff 😀

    Reply
  17. The Swiss Cats says

    20/05/2018 at 6:40 am

    We love your video information ! We did some short videos, with iPhone and iMovie, and you’re so right : no need of fancy equipment to begin, just do it ! Purrs

    Reply
  18. Brian Frum says

    20/05/2018 at 12:54 am

    We love your video information, we just never seem to get around to doing it. If you were a dog blogger you would have won.

    Reply
  19. Lone Star Cats says

    19/05/2018 at 5:59 pm

    Good tips!

    Reply
  20. Summer says

    19/05/2018 at 3:20 pm

    You have gotten so GOOD with these videos! Wow.

    Reply

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