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Professional videos allow you to speak directly to your audience and capture their imagination. You shouldn’t underestimate the power of this medium. A massive 78% of marketing professionals say that videos have helped increase sales.
So, how can you make sure your professional video stands out from the crowd? Getting to grips with the best video production tips is the answer.
In the following guide, we will take a look at the small changes you can make that will enhance your videos immensely.
What makes a video good quality?
Before you start your video, you may wonder how to make it good quality. While the answer is practice, there are some tips that newbies can use to enhance their video production. Here are four of the approaches you should keep in mind.
Planning and storyboarding
Ahead of working on your video, you need to have a plan. You should have an initial brief that explains what will happen in the video. When you have perfected that, you can move onto your video storyboard. That means planning out the video scene-by-scene in detail.
Clear audio and video
To ensure that your video is of the highest quality, you want to capture clear visuals and audio. You can achieve this by investing in high-end recording equipment. The more research you do into the right gear, the more likely you are to get it right.
You should also ensure that the software you use is up to scratch. Using Riverside to record your content can help you get super clear audio and video. It’s these small and simple changes that can make a big difference to the quality of the work you produce.
High-quality production
As a rule, the production quality of your video needs to be high. That means investing in everything from the actors — should you use them — to effects and the background. When you are starting out, you should create a budget that allows for these expenses.
Editing
While you can rarely fix the quality of your video during the editing phase, good editing can enhance the way your video looks. Make sure that you are well-versed in how to edit videos before you get started. You should also choose the best quality software.
What do you need to produce professional videos?
Ready to get started and make your own professional videos? Before you shout “action,” you need to be 100% clear on everything that you need. As we have already covered, you need to invest in recording equipment. Next up, it pays to read up on the recording and production process. You can learn more about this in our comprehensive video production guide.
Aside from having excellent gear on hand, the software that you use is also important. Utilizing a versatile and reliable platform is the answer. Riverside is an affordable and high-quality option on which many companies rely. Creating an online studio and recording your content takes a matter of minutes. You can then use the text-based Editor to finish your video effortlessly and add additional media, such as your logo or a bespoke background.
15 Video Production Tips for Engaging Professional Videos
If you want to engage your audience with a high-quality professional video, you’ve come to the right place. The following video production tips will help you enhance your content. Whether you’re a filmmaking pro or new to the world of video content, we have you covered. Here are 15 tricks you can apply to your video production processes.
1. Plan your video first
First things first, you need to plan out your video. Rolling the film and hoping for the best won’t get you anywhere fast. As we have mentioned, you need a brief and a storyboard. You should also write a script if your professional video includes a voiceover or a piece-to-camera. Have your actors or whoever will be on camera rehearse thoroughly first.
2. Choose the right location
The location of your professional video matters. When you’re planning out your content, consider what the location tells your audience. It’s vital that you scout out the location in advance. Head to it, see how viable it is as an option, and look into particulars, such as background noise. Ensuring that these things are on point will help you along the way. As a bonus, you may choose to do a “test shoot” to see how the location looks on camera.
3. Make use of soft lighting
Proper lighting can make or break your professional video. When it comes to video production tips, this next one should be a major priority.
As a general rule, you should shoot your video using soft lighting, rather than hard lighting. Hard light is bright and tends to create dramatic shadows (which is great for horror movies!). Soft light is more all-encompassing and doesn’t cast severe shadows at all.
While you can use equipment to get the lighting right, natural sunlight is one of the best sources of soft light. Choosing to shoot your video either early in the morning, when the sun is rising, or later in the evening, as it is setting, will give you premium soft lighting.
Alternatively, if you’ve got the budget you can always setup a three-point lighting system. You’ll use three lights, one in the front and two behind the subject to help illuminate your shot perfectly. Learn more about this setup with our three-point-lighting guide.
4. Ensure the backdrop is simple
Audiences are easily distracted by additional objects, shadows, or graphics in the background. If you want to direct their attention elsewhere, you should make sure that you keep the backdrop super simple. Eliminate anything that doesn’t need to be in the shot.
5. Steer clear of shaky footage
If there’s one surefire way to make your professional video look amateur, it’s shaky footage. Unless you’re filming the Blair Witch Project, your audience should not notice your camera work. To avoid that trembly effect, you can use a tripod when filming.
6. Use the rule of thirds
The rule of thirds is common in photography, but you can also apply it to the realm of videography. It dictates how you compose the scene. Break down the scene into thirds diagonally and vertically, to create a grid setup. Some cameras will have a setting that allows you to do this, or you may simply have to use your imagination.
Use these lines as a guide when you are positioning your subject. For example, if you are filming a person, you may place their head inside the middleboxes with their shoulders hitting the second horizontal line. The grid also highlights some interest points, i.e. where the lines cross. You can use these to position points of interest, such as eyes or mouths.
7. Perfect your on-screen presence
Are you a natural-born presenter? Do you have charisma coming out of your ears? If the answer is yes, you may be the perfect front person for your professional video. However, if you have an awkward on-camera presence, you might want to look further afield.
There are plenty of options to consider here. You may want to audition staff members and see which of them work best in front of a camera. Alternatively, if you have the budget to do so, you can hire professional actors to be the star of your video.
8. Use manual focus not autofocus
Do you use autofocus when shooting videos? If you’re relying on this presetting, it’s time to change your ways. While this mode can be useful and does much of the heavy lifting when it comes to focusing still shots, it can prove to be a real pain when recording.
Autofocus may switch focus to the most obvious subject while you are filming. One of the best video production tips is to use manual focus. When you are setting up your equipment, you can choose what the central focus is, and that will stay static.
9. Shoot in short sections
Shooting an interview or piece-to-camera? You might want to break it up. Doing the whole thing in one take means you end up with a massive bulk of content. You will need to edit that and may have zero clue where the best nuggets of film are. To avoid this problem, break things down while recording your video. Stick to short and sweet clips.
This will help the presenter to avoid rambling on or going off-subject when speaking. You can easily edit the clips together when you are in the post-production phase of the project.
10. Stick to a time limit
You comprise your final video out of shots. So, how long should they be? If a shot is too long, you risk losing the audience’s attention. If it’s too short, the video looks chaotic.
To get things just right, each shot needs to be between five and 10 seconds long. This captures the viewer’s imagination and is the right amount of time to hold their attention. Since the average attention span is 8.52 seconds, this amount of time works well.
11. Focus on the audio quality
If your audience can hear what you’re saying, there’s no way you’ll be able to get your message across. Ensuring that the audio quality is top-notch has to come high on your priority list. There are a couple of ways to get the best quality audio recording.
First of all, you want to eliminate any background noise. If you’re recording inside, make sure that you surround yourself with soft furnishings. That way, the sound won’t be echoey or bounce off hard surfaces. On the other hand, if you are filming outside, ensure your microphone has a muffler on it. In addition, you should use software, such as Riverside, to produce clear audio.
Read more: How to Improve Audio Quality of a Recording: 10 Effective Tips
12. Capture several angles
Want to mix things up? If you’re looking for a way to hold the audience’s attention, one of the best video production tips is to make use of angles. Don’t merely stay static. Shoot your subject from a variety of different angles and edit them together to create one piece.
Tip! If you’re on a budget, you can use Riverside’s mobile app to turn you phone into a secondary webcam.
13. Use high-quality editing software
When you have already shot your video, the next step is editing. Kick things off by ensuring you have the best editing software for the job.
By using Riverside, you can record your content and edit it all in one place. Create a seamless video in a matter of minutes. Our text-based video editor makes creating precise and professional videos as easily as editing a text document. We use Ai transcriptions which you can easily use to edit and navigate through your recordings.
14. Keep your editing simple
Are you getting over-excited when it comes to adding effects? While the odd snazzy transition may add to your professional video, too many of these can end up looking tacky. The best course of action is to keep your editing style slick, smooth, and simple.
15. Edit out unnecessary shots
Are you keeping unnecessary shots in the final product? We’ve already mentioned the fact that audiences don’t typically have a long attention span. Your video editing needs to be tight to accommodate for that. Edit out any shots that aren’t adding value to the video.
5 don’ts in video production
Now that you’re well-versed on some of the best video production tips, let’s talk about what not to do. Many first-time video makers fall foul to rookie mistakes. Here are five that you should avoid when you are making your professional video:
- Don’t rely on the equipment — you need technique too. While it’s important to have the right equipment for the job, you also need to have a proper technique. Take the time to learn about video filming before you get started here.
- Don’t make your professional videos too long. You’re not shooting a feature film. Ideally, professional videos should be only a few minutes long. You need to ensure you can hold the audience’s attention with valuable content.
- Don’t forget to check the sound quality. Clear audio is a must when it comes to filming videos. When you are filming, check the sound quality first.
- Don’t rush into making your video without a plan. While you may be eager to get started with your professional video, you need to plan it out before you begin.
- Don’t try to be too unique or flashy. Does your professional video look slightly over the top? Trying to be too “out there” with your video won’t do you any favors.
FAQs on Video Production Tips
What are the 3 stages of video production?
The three stages of video production are Pre-Production, Production, and Post-Production. You can learn more about the production process here: Video Production Process: Easy Step-by-Step Guide
What is the most important thing in video production?
While there are many factors at play when you’re making an engaging video, editing plays a central role here. When you’re about to make your professional video, make sure you’re up to scratch on the latest techniques and that you have the right software is key.
What should you avoid in video editing?
You should always avoid flashy effects and garish transitions. While there’s no harm in adding in the odd transition, be aware that this can detract from the content of the video.
How do I record a video perfectly?
Looking to get started with your video? Make sure that you plan ahead, get the right equipment and software, and take things slowly. You don’t need to rush this important process. If you follow the steps at a reasonable pace, you will get it right.
How can I improve my video skills?
Using the right software is a good place to start. Selecting a platform, such as Riverside, will help you to get the basics right. From there, it’s a case of practice makes perfect.
What makes a video more interesting?
To ensure that your professional video is interesting, pick out two or three central points. Don’t confuse the audience by trying to weave in too many different narratives.
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