Post | Fleurfoodie

Stop motions can provide an interesting image and it provides variety. A stop motion is immediately noticeable and you can also use it for one of your clients. A stop motion is also very noticeable on social media. It is great fun to make and the results are amazing. With Instagram reels and TikTok, videos become more important.

In this food Photography blog I give you 9 easy steps for making a stop motion. I also explain how you can make a stop motion with your camera and with your phone.

To make a stop motion you need to know how to make an action photo. If you don't know how to make an action photo. Read my blog post about action photo's.

What is a stop-motion?

A stop-motion is a film technique in which multiple images are mounted one after the other with one movement. An object is placed in a certain position and a picture is taken of it. Then the object is moved slightly and a photo is taken of it. By then (quickly) playing all the pictures one after the other, it seems as if the object is moving by itself and it becomes a film.

What do you need for a stop-motion?

Camera or mobile phone
Tripod
Video editing program, like iMovie or an video editing program on your phone.

A tripod is really indispensable for a stop motion. Also try to take photos from a distance, using tethering (connecting your camera to your computer) or using a remote for your camera to prevent movement of your photos. There is a chance that if you touch the camera to take a picture, the camera will move and see movement when you merge the image.

How do you make a stop motion with your phone?

There are several apps on your mobile that you can download to make a stop motion. In most apps you can make a stop motion and you can see where you left off. In many stop-motion apps, you often need a paid version for various options (such as adding music or removing a watermark). You can also just take photos with your camera without using an app and then you can follow the steps of 'how to make a stop motion with your camera'.

How do you make a stop-motion with your camera?

Start by thinking about what you want to include in your stop motion. What story you want to tell.
Get everything ready , set everything in place + set up the right camera settings into your camera.
Use the burst mode on your camera to take continuous shots if you want to create an action stop-motion, such as pouring something liquid. In burst mode, your camera automatically takes many photos in succession. Make sure your hands are out of the picture. You can only apply this with moving elements. Another option, as it should be with stop motions, is that you take a photo of your object separately each time. You put the subject down, you take a picture. Then you move the subject and take another picture. In this way, making a stop motion is time consuming.
Optional: upload your photos to an editing program and edit all photos with the same settings, otherwise you will see big differences between the photos.
Import your photos into iMovie or another video editing program.
When using iMovie, click on crop per photo and change it from key burns to fit in frame (otherwise iMovie will automatically zoom in the photo and you don't want that with a stop motion).
Change the duration of the photo to your desired speed. In my stop motion I used 0.05 second. Normally they often recommend around 0.1 second, but of course it depends on what you like and what suits your video.
Export your video
Unfortunately, iMovie doesn't allow you to resize your video and you always get a landscape format. Do you want to use your video for your instagram stories, for your instagram reels or for anything else that requires a different format. Then you can see in the video below how you can easily adjust the format after you have exported your video.

Did you make a stop-motion? If you share this on social media. Don't forget to tag me @fleurfoodie or #fleurfoodie.