Have you ever watched the latest viral video and thought, “Wow, I wish I could make something like that!” Well, you can! Video production doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult, and if you know what you’re doing, it can be a lot of fun.
And while video production can be an incredibly fun and lucrative career, if you don’t take the right steps at the beginning, you could quickly find yourself in over your head and spending thousands of dollars on mistakes.
So, how do you do it right? What exactly do you need to know? What equipment do you need? How can you get started on the right foot? Read on.
The Importance of Videos in a Digital World
Most businesses today have a video on their homepage or embedded into their blog posts. Therefore, video content is expected, and anything less will mean that you are falling behind the competition.
If you want your business to reach new audiences and grow, you must make videos in every way possible. Here are the major steps involved:
- The production process starts with the script. The scripts should be thorough and well-written to be a foundation for the rest of the production process.
- The next step is pre production, which involves mapping out scenes, storyboards, and shot lists to ensure smooth production flow.
- Finally, there is actual production which entails recording scenes with actors or staff members and setting up lighting and camera angles.
How Long Should Your Video Be?
Most videos are five minutes long, or less, but this may depend on your industry and the message you want to get across. General best practices for videos include not going over 10 minutes and having no more than two slides per minute.
The amount of content that can be covered within a time constraint also depends on the length of each slide and how many slides per minute you have. For example, if your slides are 1 minute each with 2 slides per minute, you will only be able to cover 8 total minutes of content.
However, if your slides are 30 seconds each with 4 slides per minute, you can cover 24 minutes of content. The most important thing is to ensure the video does not go over 5 minutes without breaking up the content and having at least one break between topics or sections.
What Kind of Camera Should You Use?
When shopping for cameras, keep in mind how you plan to use it. For example, if you’re doing event videography, something like a Canon EOS 80D or Nikon D850 will work best.
However, if your company uses their own equipment, they might have their own set of cameras they prefer. Remember that every company is different, so find out what they like before purchasing. You’ll need to consider these things when buying a camera for video production.
- Rule number one: you want a camera that has a wide enough lens, and it should be a DSLR.
- Rule number two: you want the camera to have autofocus and manual focus.
- Rule number three: your camera must have settings for shooting video, such as ISO.
- Rule number four: ensure your camera has a tripod mount on the bottom.
Listing Your Video Equipment and Software Recommendations
You must spend some time upfront to evaluate what type of video equipment and additional items, like software, will be necessary for the production.
Below is a list of common video equipment and recommended software for producing various types of video.
- Lenses
- HD Camcorder
- Final Cut Pro
- iMovie
- Adobe Premiere Elements
- Green Screen Kit Axon Signal Processor
If you want to create an impressive video but don’t have a lot of equipment or software, you still have some options. For example, if you have access to a green screen and Final Cut Pro, you can make your animated videos for social media with background effects.
How Do You Get People to Watch Your Video?
Once your video is made, it’s time to decide where it will live and how you’ll get people to watch it. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube are great places to put your video because these platforms have many daily active users.
These sites can do the heavy lifting if you have a captivating caption or description. However, you should also embed your video on your website or into a relevant blog post. For example, if you’re writing an informative piece on camera angles, link to your video in the blog post’s text. If you’re sharing a recipe with step-by-step instructions for cooking eggs benedict, include a link to your video in the directions.
What Are Some Tips for Good Lighting?
Lighting is so important when it comes to high-quality video. Sometimes, this is difficult if you don’t have the right equipment or environment. But that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. You can get good lighting depending on what resources you have on hand and what type of setup you’re working with.
For instance, natural light is always your best bet for lighting your room, but this isn’t always possible. One way you can use natural light in an indoor setting is to open the curtains and turn off all other lights in the room.
Final Thoughts
Video is one of the most valuable tools to help promote your brand and establish yourself as an authority in your industry or niche. But creating a high-quality video doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive.
Following the best steps outlined above, you can shoot and edit videos like a pro without breaking the bank or doing it alone. And once you see how easy it is, you’ll be shooting lots of videos — which will help you achieve success with your business beyond what you imagined!
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