For your video shoots, be well-prepared and organized. Your final product will look sloppy and unprofessional if you arrive at your video shoot unprepared. As an alternative, being well-prepared means that instead of focusing on last-minute logistics, you’ll be free to concentrate on directing your actors.
Avoid wasting hours on end trying to figure out which angle you want or what line you need to deliver next. Determine your goals before filming by following the steps outlined below.
Be Original
Make sure the idea for your video project is original. Don’t just copy someone else’s idea because it’s the easy way out. Conduct persona and keyword research instead, find out what types of videos are popular and successful in your industry, and check to see if another brand has already covered the exact same angle.
Create a Strategy
Start by writing a script, drawing out the storyboard, and creating a shot list. Organize your b-roll shots to ensure that you have enough material for post-production editing. Writing a video script is very different from writing a blog post. If you need help with this, video production companies such as Hedgehogs vs Foxes specialize in storyboarding.
Be Selective When It Comes to the Subjects You Want to Film
When it comes to finding actors for your projects, be picky. It’s important to choose an actor who is able to speak naturally and who can memorize lines. If at all possible, schedule a few practice runs to iron out any grammatical errors or chuckles.
Analyze the Set With Care
Your audience won’t believe you if you “set dress” your office to look like a different location. Attention to detail is a high priority for your viewers. Your videos should be shot in locations other than your office, with interesting backdrops that aren’t too crowded, but still interesting enough.
Pay Attention to the Sound
Poor sound recording quality will give the impression that you are a novice. For sit-down interviews, use lapel or lavaliere microphones, both of which are hands-free; for larger shots, use microphone and boom setups.
Set up Lights
In order to avoid under or overexposing your footage, you should set up lights and remove any unwanted shadows. To light video subjects from a variety of perspectives, we suggest using a three-point lighting setup.
Use a Tripod
Keep your video steady and not wobbly by using a tripod instead of trying to hold it steady yourself. To maintain a professional appearance, use a tripod, either a standing one or a tabletop one.
Focus
Ensure that the camera is in focus before securing the exposure. Maintaining white balance in your shots will help to maintain a neutral and even lighting environment as well.
Follow the Rule of Thirds
Using the rule of thirds, you divide your shot into thirds horizontally and vertically and place your subject slightly off-center. When compared to a shot taken straight on and in the middle, it gives your image more movement and life.
You should ensure that your content is both memorable and relevant to your audience. Make sure your video is short and to the point. Be mindful that you only have a limited amount of time to captivate (and keep) your viewer’s attention, so be sure that your video’s introductory sequence is both engaging and informative, as well as relevant to her interests and needs.
Match the Video’s Pacing to the Emotional Response You Want To Elicit From Your Audience
What you say and how you say it can have a significant impact on the effectiveness and emotional impact of your video. Build suspense and drama by arranging your shots in accordance with your storyboard and script.
Utilize Back-of-the-Camera Footage
With the help of b-roll footage, hide your edits. If you didn’t film it yourself, you can use b-roll and other stock footage from sites like Vizeedy, but it’s best to keep your shots all in the same setting to maintain the video’s consistency. Go back and film additional b-roll if necessary.
Use Background Music
The use of soft background music can enhance your video’s tone and emotional impact by masking distracting background noises. In order to avoid your video being taken down, make sure you’re not using licensed music. Consider using royalty-free stock soundtracks from sites like AudioMicro.
Optimize Video Text
Your text and titles should be simple, classy, and clean. Text animations are a great tool for keeping your viewers interested in the video they’re watching, so make sure you use a clear and bold font and limit the number of words on the screen.
Optimize the Video For Relevant Platforms
When you’re editing, keep in mind where your video will be displayed. Exactly where do you intend to use it?
Since the requirements of each platform vary, you’ll want to include captions in your videos if you plan on posting them on Facebook, where 84% of people watch videos without the sound turned on. The first 30 seconds of a YouTube video don’t count towards views until someone has watched them for at least 30 seconds.