Elf Reading a Book | Elf on the Shelf Ideas 2022
THE FESTIVE SEASON CAN BE BOTH MERRY AND CHAOTIC!! That is why it is important to enjoy the quiet moments no matter how few there are during this time. Even your on the clock Elf understands the importance of downtime. So why not show your kids what they like to do when no one is watching. Perhaps it will have the lovely side effect of encouraging your kids to read more because who doesn’t love getting lost in a good book from time to time?!
This Elf idea, using stop motion, will be an easy win for parents in a pinch looking to get more creative with Elf on the Shelf ideas.
What you’ll need:
iPhone or Android with our app, Life Lapse
Tripod or DIY tripod
Elf on the Shelf, of course
Props: in this case, we used a board book because the sturdiness of it made creating the stop motion a breeze. Make sure the book isn’t completely hiding your Elf.
Step 1: Set up your Elf somewhere comfortable (why not a big cozy chair?!) with their book, and lock exposure, focus and white balance to make for a smooth transition. Set up your interval timer to take a photo every 10 seconds or use a bluetooth remote if you have one with the pro version of our app.
Step 2: Start with the book open to the first page. Take two photos (better to take multiple photos now then have to duplicate in the editing process).
Step 3: Pick up the book, turn the page and place it back where it was (this is where the ghost feature comes in handy so you can line it back up as best as possible). Wait for two photos to be taken.
Step 4: Continue until the book is at its last page. Make sure to try to line the book back up each time you turn a page, so that the video is the smoothest it can be!
Step 5: Launch the editor. Duplicate frames (if you didn’t take multiples during the filming...Elf isn’t a speed reader after all), freeze the end frame, adjust the brightness, or make any other adjustments to perfect the video.
Step 6: Save and share! Tag us @lifelapse_app or using our hashtag, #lifelapse. For Elf on the Shelf content only, take a look at our hashtag #elfontheshelfvideo
