17 Things You Must Ensure & Avoid When Making Videos
Creating high-quality and engaging videos requires more than just a good camera. Read on to find out what you should be looking out for and what you should avoid when making videos.
Have good lighting
Good lighting is essential in video creation as it determines the quality of the shots captured. Other than natural light, which refers to light that comes from the sun and moon, there are three main types of artificial light that you can use.
First is the key light, which is the brightest light source that sets the mood of the scene. It is typically positioned close to and at the side of the camera. Second is the fill light that fills in the shadows created by the key light. Lastly, there is backlight, which shines light on the subject from their back to create depth. To get the best picture, you should try out different combinations of intensities and positions of these studio lights.
Have good audio
A video with bad sound quality is not one viewers are willing to watch.
Ideally, you should avoid using the camera’s built-in microphone as it often picks up on ambient and background noise. Instead, use external microphones like boom or lavalier microphones. It would also help to put on your headphones during the shoot to ensure there is no background noise, whether from clinking jewellery or a humming air conditioner.
Make sure the video is stabilised
A shaky, handheld camera creates amateurish-looking shots that undermine your professionalism. It is possible to stabilise your video during the post-production stage, but this does not always eliminate the shakiness entirely. Hence, it is ideal to use a tripod to better control the camera’s movement and position at all times.
Plan well
Video creation starts even before you start recording. Multiple pre-production elements contribute to the creation of a good video, including in-depth research, scriptwriting and planning the shot list. This gives your project direction and will facilitate the video-making process.
Keep things organised
Labelling your files and footage clearly is crucial to the post-production process as it enables the editor to find what they are looking for.
Make sure you have backups
It is vital to keep backups to prevent data loss as they allow you to recover lost files that may have accidentally been deleted or corrupted.
Pay attention to the visuals
Although text and audio help get your message across, the visuals are what viewers pay the most attention to. Therefore, what the viewer sees should be able to communicate the key message effectively.
Keep it short
You should avoid making long videos unless you are making a detailed documentary. Most audiences online have a short attention span and are likelier to engage with one or two-minute videos than an hour-long video.
Show what your target audiences want
It is necessary to understand what your target audience is looking for and what best captures their attention. Researching the demographics you are targeting allows you to tailor your material to evoke emotions that drive them to act in a desirable manner.
Vary your shots
It is challenging to keep your audience engaged if your video is composed of only one shot. Using a variety of shots allows you to convey different information and evoke a broader range of emotions. For example, wide shots are useful in establishing the scene while close-ups focus on the details of the subject.
Do not rely on your equipment to substitute good technique
Using high-quality equipment does not eliminate the need to practise good videography skills. Good lighting, direction, and audio quality are always essential when creating a video.
Do not assume interest
You should avoid assuming that your audience will immediately be interested in your video; they will most likely only be engaged if the video benefits them. Hence, you should focus on creating something that will be both entertaining and useful for your audience.
Avoid being static
Having too many static shots may impact the audience’s ability to remain engaged with the video. There should be some camera movement to create more dynamic and interesting visuals.
Avoid being restless
Excessive movements and cutaways are disadvantageous as they make it hard for audiences to keep up with the narrative. Instead, there should be a combination of static and moving shots.
Show instead of tell
There is no need to state everything that is going on in the video; allow the audience to figure out the narrative and message through visual cues instead. This will make the video more engaging.
Don’t shoot from too far away
Shooting from too far a distance introduces distracting elements from the surroundings that will take away the audience’s attention. Most of the frame should be filled by the subject and essential props.
Check for spelling
Ensuring that there are no spelling mistakes in the subtitles or credits is necessary to creating a professional video.
Conclusion
There are several steps to creating professional and engaging videos, from getting good lighting to varying your shots. Simply follow the tips stated in this article to improve the quality of your videos.
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