Time lapse photography can be a fun way to showcase a subject as it changes over time. However, many people, both amateurs and pros alike, are reluctant to try this fun hobby because it seems time consuming and overly detailed. We have some good news if you have been holding off for these reasons: time lapse photography can be simple and entertaining when you follow these few basic guidelines.

Choose your subject wisely.

This will be an in depth operation, so make sure you have chosen to document something that you are passionate about. Most of us have seem the YouTube video of the man who takes a photo of himself every day, and there are numerous similar videos of children and even pregnancies. If you aren’t looking to document a personal period of growth, consider less personal subjects such as the night sky, flowers blooming, ice melting, plants growing, a busy street or other monument, and even sunrises or sunsets. The possibilities are endless, although we suggest starting small with a project that can be completely photographed in a few days or even a few hours.

Decide how long you want your time lapse video to be.

This will determine how many shots you need. Most movies and television shows use between twenty and thirty frames per second, but this creates a seamless video feeling that may or may not serve your purpose. If you want a blockier video, use ten frames per second. Simply multiple the frames per second by the number of seconds desired to see how many photos you will need to complete your project.

Work out the details ahead of time.

This will not only prevent wasted time and frustration, it will also help you make a final decision about your subject. You should know first how long the event is going to last. This could be a few minutes or go on indefinitely. You should also decide if you want your time lapse video to be smooth or blocky. These two features should help you decide how often to take photos. A benefit of a long or very short interval is that it doesn’t require special equipment. However, if you decide to photograph something every hour for three days, you will certainly want timers and automated equipment. Read on for information about necessary equipment.

Gather your supplies.

You will need a camera, with the amount of functions depending on the type of video you are planning. In fact, time lapse videos have been successfully produced with everything from professional film making equipment to fuzzy, black and white webcams. Use a digital camera for best results, as the photos will end up on the computer regardless. Whichever you choose, be sure to use a tripod or other firm surface so you can take your pictures from the same height and angle every time. You’ll thank yourself when it comes time to edit! You may also want to invest in an intervalometer, which will take a picture at every interval for a set amount of time. This can come in handy if you need photos every two minutes for several days.

While the type of recording doesn’t matter so much with other forms of photography, it can be very important with time lapse because you will be taking many pictures and thus using a large amount of memory. JPEG is a good photo format for this as it is relatively low memory and easy to manipulate. You should also set your white balance and exposure to manual so you can get the same basic effect with every photograph. Last, make sure your batteries are completely charged to avoid running out midway through a complicated project.

Time to edit!

This is the step that scares many otherwise accomplished photographers away from time lapse. However, it doesn’t have to be complicated or difficult. Sometimes editing is unnecessary, and all you will need to do is compile the photos into a video using basic software. However, sometimes the light needs modified or exposure needs tweaking. At these times, the program Photoshop can be very useful. Once you know what needs done, you can use the Automate Batch feature to perform the same action on every photo in your folder. Imagine the time saved when hundreds of photos get edited in one click of the mouse.

Make your movie.

This best program for this is Quicktime Pro, which is available for around thirty dollars both in stores and on the internet. This program has an image sequence function that makes it easy to create a movie without detailed computer knowledge. However, there are several video editing programs, all of which offer the same functionality with varying levels of difficulty. It’s important to choose a program that matched your personal level of comfort with the computer.

Add the finishing touches.

What would a movie be without opening titles and a soundtrack? Your movie needs these as well, and they should be easy enough to add with the help of the software you used to make the time lapse movie itself. As you get better at working with the software, you may want to add a few special effects, such as panning or zooming to emphasize important details in your film.

The benefits of time lapse are clear:

few of us have the patience to watch a flower bloom or even watch the sun go down. However, many people would love to see these events, especially when they are squeezed into a time period that better suits our television commercial attention span.

If your time lapse video is well done, you can use it to showcase your photography skills and impress both family and future clients. You can even make flip books and time lapse montage photos to sell or give as gifts. Once you know the secrets of time lapse photography, the sky is the limit. Soon you will be sharing your own time lapse photos with others and enjoying the fruits of your labor.