1. Plan and set a goal.
We would all prefer to just hit the record button, do our one, two speech and there it is a nice video for our business. However, we both know it doesn’t really work that way. There are multiple factors that play a part in video production. Honestly, most of the work is done during the planning stages before you create your video. So, you decide you want to create a video for your business to share on social media and the first question I would ask you is what’s your goal?
Understanding the goal is key to help you plan, shoot, edit and position your video for promotion. The most important factor is that it will help your video achieve the results you desire. Here’s a few questions to ask yourself in your planning stage of your video production.
· What do you want to achieve with your video?
· Do you want them to visit your website?
· Are you trying to promote a product or service?
· Are you teaching them something new?
2. Identify your target audience.
Who attention are you trying to capture with your video? You want to have a clear vision of your audience to have a clear message. Your audience will determine the way you write your script, the flow of the video, and how you edit it. It also plays a big part in how you position your video online. You want to think of who you want to see your video and where these people are online. This will let you know exactly where to place your video so that the right people see your video at the right time.
3. Decide on the right type of video.
So, you have a good plan, and you know your audience, now what type of video will you be creating? This will set the tone and style of your video and effect the entire process of shooting and editing your video.
Here are some types of videos to consider:
· Animated
· Live action
· Whiteboard
· Motion graphics
· Typography
Research each type and determine which style is within your skillset to execute. It’s important to think about some videos are made for formal and professional videos, and others are more casual.
4. Film with a high-quality camera.
We all know that you really don’t need a big expensive camera to get high quality video anymore. Our phones usually come with features that allow you to enhance the quality of your videos just by slightly adjusting the settings on your device. I currently use an iPhone 11 and honestly, I can put together some quality video clips.
You would want to research your phones video features, and if possible, shoot your video in 4K at 60 FPS. This will give you a good enough quality to compete with most DSLR cameras.
5. Lighting, lighting, lighting.
Now you can adjust the setting on your iPhone 13 all you want, but if you don’t have good lighting, you won’t achieve the results you are looking for. There are two primary light sources available, let’s talk about them briefly:
Natural Lighting.
This is a perfect option for beginners. It’s practically free and capable of making the subject of your video look stunning. You want to remember for best results shoot outdoors on a cloudy day or during the golden hour. Natural light is soft and cinematic and won’t cause you to have to squint from a super bright sun in your face.
Studio lighting.
Studio lighting may take a little technique to master but try a few looks and see what looks best from your point of view. You will want to invest in lighting equipment to enhance your videos. Here is some lighting equipment you may want to add to your film gear:
· Key light
· Rim light
· Soft box
· Ring light
· Reflectors
Check out this video from Aputure to walk through some lighting techniques for your production.
6. Upgrade your audio.
Now we all are guilty of clicking next on a YouTube video that had terrible audio that we couldn’t bear to get through even if the information was beneficial. So, you want to make sure you have good audio in your video even if that means investing into equipment that will enhance your audio quality.
The best way to capture audio is to use any microphone other than your camera’s built-in mic. There are generally three types of microphones you can use that all have options to connect to your phone.
Each microphone has different uses, so do some research and determine which microphone will work best for your needs.
Bonus tip.
7. Be comfortable on camera.
This one may take a little practice, but it plays a big part in the viewer experience of your video. Your camera presence can impact the quality and effectiveness of your video.
If you’re uncomfortable, the video will feel uncomfortable. If you’re excited, the video will have the same feel. To improve your camera presence, you can sit or stand straight with your shoulders back, so you look professional. Anyone that has shot with me will tell you my phrase is “posture up”. That means sit up and feel confident in your delivery.
Make sure you speak at a good pace as well as enunciate each word clearly, so your message is easy to understand. As you create more videos you will get used to, and more comfortable with your style and delivery and your audience will grow to connect with your videos.
In conclusion.
Creating professional videos sounds intimidating but jumping in the game and getting started is a big step in your development of video creation. By following the tips we’ve discussed you will see a big difference in the quality of your videos. Remember it doesn’t have too necessarily be perfect. As you grow your experience and delivery you will become a great content creator and represent your brand remarkably.
If you would like to talk with us about creating professional videos for your brand, contact us today. Let’s talk about your ideas and see if we can collaborate with you to create a stunning video that will not only gain exposure for your business, but also convert into sales of your products or services.
Once you have your awesome video content created check out ways to create a marketing strategy!