Shooting High Quality Video Class (Austin)

Shooting High Quality Video with Abram Cerda 

Instructor

Abram Cerda is a full-time Associate Professor of Radio-Television-Film at Austin Community College, where he teaches production courses including Multi-Camera Field Production, Audio Production, Film & Video Editing, and Event Videography. He holds his Master’s in Audiovisual Arts as well as a Bachelor’s in Film, Television, and Digital Media from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television. 

Shooting High Quality Video & Framing Talent for Interviews

Take the first step toward creating polished, professional-quality video with confidence. Whether you're interested in filmmaking, content creation, marketing, interviews, or producing videos for your business, this beginner-friendly workshop provides a solid foundation in the technical and creative skills every videographer needs.

Designed specifically for DSLR and mirrorless camera users, this hands-on class demystifies the settings that separate amateur footage from cinematic results. You'll learn not only what each camera setting does, but why professionals use specific settings in different shooting situations. Through live demonstrations and guided practice, you'll gain the confidence to take full manual control of your camera and consistently produce clean, well-exposed, natural-looking footage.

Throughout the workshop, students will explore the essential building blocks of digital videography, including frame rates (FPS), shutter speed and the 180-degree shutter rule, aperture, ISO, white balance, manual focus techniques, and exposure control. You'll also learn how thoughtful composition, framing, camera placement, and interview techniques help create videos that look polished, engaging, and visually professional.

In addition to camera operation, the class introduces the visual language used in professional productions. You'll discover how lens choice affects perspective, how to frame subjects for interviews and promotional videos, and how to create footage that is easier to edit and more compelling for your audience. By understanding these core principles, you'll be prepared to capture content suitable for corporate interviews, documentaries, YouTube productions, social media campaigns, promotional videos, and branded content.

Topics Covered:

• DSLR and mirrorless camera setup for video
• Understanding frame rates (FPS) and when to use each
• Shutter speed and achieving natural cinematic motion
• Aperture, ISO, and balancing exposure
• White balance for accurate, consistent color
• Manual focus techniques and maintaining sharp subjects
• Professional interview composition and framing
• Lens selection and focal length considerations
• Basic camera movement and stability
• Creating footage that's ready for post-production