Preserving memories using the video camera is something that can be really fun. More and more people are taking their small pocket sized video recorder to capture loved ones in their natural settings, filming events such as graduation or sporting events, and some even film everyday life on the farm.

Why take the time to learn how to use a camera and deal with distributing the videos, you might ask. Well like I said before – you’re preserving memories. You may have relatives that live in the city and don’t really know much about tractors, combines, trucks, etc. Or heck, your favorite used equipment store might even give you prize for sharing your video with them (shameless plug!). But really – there’s no reason NOT to do some video work. It’s not that hard to learn and it’s something you can always do to preserve memories and share them with loved ones.

Having a small video recorder with you while in the field can give you the opportunity to share with them just what it’s like to grow up on a farm. These devices are becoming very inexpensive and are easy to operate. I mean come on, you can set your GPS or adjust the sieves on your combine, but you say I can’t run one of those because it’s too complicated. Think of the memories for those of you who have young ones who are showing lots of interest in farming and may someday take over the family farm.

You have a ton of options to choose from, from dedicated full size camcorders all the way down to a high end cell phone, for taking quality video. Some of you might want a larger camera with more options, but for the most part you’ll want to choose something you can fit in a pocket or keep in your pickup’s glove box. You can use a digital camera (that you use to take family photos) if it has a video setting, and get good results. Many people use this option because they already have a camera for snap shots and don’t want a dedicated video camera, which is fine. At the Titan Outlet Store, we use a Flip Video camcorder, about the size of a large cell phone and costing less than $200, and get high quality HD videos of our farm and construction equipment.

We at the Titan Outlet Store also have fun using the video recorder. Every time we get a used tractor, used combine or any used equipment in for that matter we take a minute and a half video to show the customer that everything is working and they can see it in action, because although we’re based on the Minnesota and North Dakota border, we sell farm and construction equipment to customers across the United States and Canada. We also have customers in Mexico, Uruguay, and parts of Europe – when they decide they want to spend money on farm equipment coming from that far away, you better believe they want to see that tractor or baler in a video before signing a check!

Some tips for good video:

•Utilize quality light. Early morning and early evening are the two best times, aesthetically speaking, to capture images.  If you’re recording video of a subject in a shadow, it’s not going to show up well, reducing the quality of your video.

•Get creative with your shots.  Get down low – put your camera on a tripod, low to the ground, and drive by with your tractor or combine, making it look even bigger than it already does.  Or, get up on a ladder, grain bin, or even from the cab of your tractor or combine and shoot down, creating an interesting view for the person watching your video.

•Edit your videos. Many camcorders come with software to cut your videos, add music to the background, and add transitions in between shots.  The easiest to use software we’ve found is Windows Movie Maker, available to download for free.  Windows Movie Maker also has a lot of online help available, making it easier to find answers to your questions.

If you have any questions about making videos of your farm equipment or anything else, please don’t hesitate to ask – we’re more than just a place to snag a great deal on some used farm equipment.

Good luck and happy shooting!

-Kelly Graber

Check out the Titan Outlet Store Inventory for a list of our used tractors, used combines, used balers, used skid steers, and more!