How to Make a Stop Motion Video

I work for a home security company and we wanted to create a clever idea around our product. We decided to make a stop motion video featuring a family needing a home security system. For those of you who don't know, a stop motion movie is very similar to a flip-book. The animation is created by slight differences from one picture to the next. Here are the steps we used to make our film: 

Step 1: Set up. The first thing you'll need is a digital camera. I used a Nikon D40 but any kind will do. You'll also need a tripod or stable surface to shoot on. Since you're creating a stop motion film you'll need the pictures to flow together seamlessly. Personally, I think the best way to do this is with a tripod. 

Step 2: Storyline. All great movies have a compelling plot. Therefore you'll need a main character or two, and a scene or props for them to interact with. 

Step 3: Start filming. Once you have your story idea you can start filming. While this works best with two people, it is possible to try by yourself. We had one behind the camera and one moving the characters and props. To make it look like your character is walking, you simply move them slightly forward and snap a picture. You repeat this process until they've reached their intended destination. 

Step 4: Edit. This process brings your film to life. We shot over 300 pictures and pieced them together 0.30 seconds apart. We edited some of our pictures with Photoshop to create talk bubbles and give our characters different facial expressions. We also added music to give our film more personality. Altogether editing takes about 2-3 hours. 

Step 5: Publish. Once your movie is finished share it! We shared it with friends, family and most importantly our customers. We saw some wonderful feedback and engagement with the bad home security idea. 

Here's what the final project will look like once you're done filming and editing.