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To Jason McKelvey, A/V Director for Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale, quality camera work is important because it facilitates an expanded reach for the message the church teaches every week. "We believe we're called to put together a production that is on par with the level of the spiritual message that's being presented. We don't want people tuning out because the camera work's horrible or the picture looks so bad it's a distraction," Jason says.

Since their cameras pull quadruple duty for image magnification (IMAG), overflow, webcasting, and TV broadcasts, this principle undergirds everything they do with video. Jason explains, "I look at the cameras in the sanctuary as an extension of the ministry." Having those cameras enables Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale to let everyone see the stage well, even people in the back of the sanctuary, in overflow areas, and watching on the Internet or on TV.

Although Jason brought several years of video experience to Calvary Chapel, he says there was still a learning curve. IMAG in a church setting is a new enough application that many churches are learning by trial and error. Jason shared what he has learned to help other churches getting started with IMAG avoid common pitfalls.

Keep this in mind when purchasing and using your equipment. The screen needs to be large enough to actually magnify the image. "A waist-up shot of the pastor is a pretty good starting point," Jason says. "Hand motions are used by most speakers, so taking a wide enough shot to catch those is important."

That's where screen size is important. "If you can't make out facial expressions, your screen is too small!" Jason notes. Keep in mind that if you need a larger screen, you'll need a brighter projector as well. Check with a vendor that specializes in projection for IMAG.

Camera operators should stifle the urge to use creative camera movement. Panning, zooming, and quick camera cuts might work well on TV shows or in films, but for IMAG, these kinds of techniques can be intense distractions. Almost all camera movement should be secondary to the purpose of magnifying the image. Jason points out, "During the teaching, good IMAG consists of a larger-than-life picture of the speaker that allows you to see emotion and facial expressions, but isn't such a tight shot that all you see is a head."

Jason also encourages camera operators to keep wide shots to a minimum during praise time. "It lets the audience experience close-ups of the worship leader, singer, and instruments."

Place the camera as close as it needs to be to get a good waist-up shot, and rearrange your seating around the camera. An average camera with an average lens should be placed 30 to 50 feet from the pulpit. A common concern among churches is that this will block sightlines for some people. However, once you start using IMAG, you'll be surprised at how few people look at the platform. In most churches I've visited, even people on the front row watch the screens. It serves more people to get good shots than to worry about a few seats.

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