How do you shoot a video tour of your home without it looking hokey?

Question

I want to shoot a video showing my vacation home to show to my friends and relatives. I tried doing it before where I followed someone around as he pointed to things and it looked very hokey.

I just got a high def camcorder and I want to do a very nice tour. Is my best bet to put it on a tripod and slowly move it around, rather than walk with the camera?

Any tips?

Answer 1

You're right: walking around with a hand-held camera always looks like something ready for America's Funniest Home Videos.

Rather than moving at all, how about a tripod setup in the center of the room and pan around with each room.  End pointing at a door.  Stop the filming, move to the next room that's shown in that door, point back at the room you came from, then start filming again.  This'll give it some continuity.  Edit the shots together with a quick dissolve.

Answer 2

The tripod is a good idea. You're making a documentary not an action film.