You’ve decided to wander into video production territory as a way to better develop the scope and reach of your business. Smart move. Now you need to make a video that will grab your audience in about ten seconds and then keep it there for about another two minutes to get your point across. This may sound simple, but in this day and age, people have a short attention span, and they can easily click away at the slightest discretion. Basic videos are easy, but you need to pack a punch, so here are ten tips to help with your video.
Tripod – Use it. This is a major issue in many videos. Many people think that they are able to keep their camera steady by simply holding it, but this is wrong. It will never work out and it never looks professional, thus your company looks unprofessional. Many cameras come with a tripod, but in order to get the smooth movement and a sturdy enough base, an ideal tripod will range from 100 to 200 dollars. Be sure that it is also designed for movies.
Pan, Zoom and other Moves – Another amateur mistake that is made, is too much deliberate movement with the camera. When you take a shot with the camera, be sure to hold it there for approximately 10-20 seconds, stop recording, and then take your other shot. Don’t simply pan from one object to another with a quick motion; this will look unappealing to your viewer. When panning, use slow and deliberate motion. This is much easier on the eye and thus more watchable.
Shot Composition – Before you even hit the little red record button, look at the scene as if it were a still picture and evaluate everything to make sure it is situated as you see fit. If the picture is not perfect before you start recording, then it will not be up to par in the editing room.
Form a Relationship with your Camcorder – Know your camcorder. The best videographers know their camcorders inside and out. Intimate knowledge of your camcorder is essential in creating a better video. The reason for this is that when you are shooting, you won’t have to fumble with the zoom, focus, or making other corrections. Beyond knowing where all the controls are, it is important to know the functions that affect the image, such as white balance, exposure and backlight.
Story Time – Tell a story with your video, even if you don’t have the time to go back and edit them. Use a chronological order that your audience will be able to follow. The narration of the story matters just as much as the actual content of the story; more people are compelled to watch a story than some random images that show up on the screen. You don’t have to physically narrate the clip. You can use images in an order that will tell a story through the pictures.
Here are the five first tips when it comes to producing a video. In the next article, the last five will be addressed.