Video is a powerful marketing tool that can help you reach and engage your audience. But creating a high-quality video takes more than pressing record on your camera.
Pre-production is all about planning, scriptwriting, and assembling the resources you need to produce your video. Production is where you bring your vision to life and capture all the footage that will be used in your final product.
1. Know Your Audience
Mastering narrative and visual storytelling requires a deep understanding of your audience. Your videos must resonate with them and captivate their attention to stand out from the competition. This involves identifying their pain points, goals and interests to create engaging stories.
It is also important to know how your video will be distributed and promoted. This will influence how many views and engagement it gets. This can be done through uploading it to video-sharing platforms, sharing links on social media, collaborating with influencers or putting paid advertising behind it.
Before shooting, you should have a clear idea of what type of content your video needs to be effective. This will help you plan the video, including the types of shots and what kind of tone and pace it should have. Depending on the type of video, this may include a storyboard or table reading, where you read the script out loud to identify redundancies.
You should also take the time to shoot b-roll, which is footage that will be cut out during the editing process. This can include shots of the location(s) from different angles, shots of your talent preparing or setting up and any other relevant footage that supports your narrative.
2. Know Your Subject
A video production is more than just a camera and some lights, it’s an entire process that takes planning and teamwork to execute. It’s important to know your subject and how you want your video to look before you ever begin filming. Whether you’re a lone-wolf BDR with no budget, a marketer with a small team, or a big-budget agency with tons of equipment, mastering the fundamentals of video production can make your next project easier.
When you start planning your video, first find a story that aligns with your goals and resonates with your audience. This will help guide the direction of your video and determine what types of shots you need to capture. It’s also helpful to create a table read and storyboard before shooting. Storyboards are an easy way to translate the ideas in your head into tangible, visual goals that will ensure you capture everything you need on shoot day.
After capturing your footage, you’ll need to edit it in post-production. This is the most time-consuming part of the process, but it’s a necessary step to make sure your final video looks its best. You’ll need to cut out any unnecessary footage, correct lighting and audio issues, add music and captions, and more.
3. Know Your Camera
Video production is an enthralling dance of technical prowess and artistic vision. By taking the time to plan thoroughly, executing with precision, and refining through post-production, you can create captivating visual content that will captivate your audience.
Before you begin the production phase (phase two), it is important to have a clear vision and script for your video. This will help you decide which shots you need, and how to get them. In addition, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with the equipment you will need. There is a wide range of camera, lighting, and audio equipment available for varying budgets. Most of this equipment is also available for rent, which can save you money and provide access to higher quality equipment than you would otherwise be able to afford.
Mastering camera techniques can greatly elevate your video productions. This includes understanding framing, composition, and exposure. For example, it is recommended to use the “rule of thirds” when composing your shots. This involves dividing the frame into thirds vertically and horizontally, and placing important elements at their intersections to create a more visually appealing composition. In addition, it is important to know how to utilize camera movements, such as pans, tilts, and dollies, to add dynamism to your footage.
4. Know Your Lighting
Lighting is an important aspect of video production that can dramatically change the look and feel of a shot. Proper lighting can draw attention to a subject, establish the mood of a scene, and create depth and dimension. Experimenting with different lighting setups and techniques can help you master the art of video production just like how a Video Crew in NYC do.
Camera techniques are another element that can help you elevate the quality of your videos. Framing your shots and using camera movements like pans, tilts, dollies, and tracking shots can add dynamism to your videos and keep your audience engaged. However, it’s important to use these techniques with caution and avoid overdoing them, as excessive or unnecessary movement can distract the viewer from your message.
When deciding on a lighting setup for your scene, you’ll want to start by establishing what your key light will be. This is the main light that will illuminate your subject from above, and it can have a major impact on the overall look of your shot. For example, positioning your key light behind your subject can create a more spooky or mysterious atmosphere while placing it in front of your subject can generate more of a cheerful and optimistic vibe.
5. Know Your Audio
A video’s on-screen content is its main hook, but audio is also essential. It helps viewers understand the video, and muddled or unclear audio can be frustrating to watch.
Mastering the basics of recording and capturing audio for a video can help you get better sounding videos. It’s not as difficult as it sounds, and with a little practice, you can record a great quality audio track for your video.
In addition to recording your own audio, you may also need to add a background music track or voice over to your video. Having a good understanding of how to create and edit a music track or voice over will save you time when editing your final video.
The pre-production stage of video production is where the bulk of the planning happens, and it’s important to have all your ducks in a row before shooting or animating can begin. This can include determining the right equipment for your project and creating a shot list that specifies all necessary shots. It can also involve preparing the location, arranging talent, and getting client approvals (if needed). B-roll footage is often captured at this stage as well, which can be used for behind the scenes or social media posts.
6. Know Your Software
Having the right software for video production is important. Not only will you need a good editing suite, but you’ll also want a tool that supports iterative feedback, allows for collaboration with team members, and offers quick version comparison.
A great way to increase your productivity is by learning a few keyboard shortcuts. This will allow you to navigate the software faster and save time. Additionally, establishing a standard naming convention will help you organize your files and find them later.
Incorporating music and sound effects in your videos can add a lot to the emotion of your content. Experiment with different types of effects to see what works best for your video.
Mastering the art of video production requires knowledge of the various stages of filmmaking and an understanding of how to use the camera. It’s also helpful to know what type of video your audience will respond best to. Whether it’s a blockbuster movie in an iMax theater or a four-second clip on TikTok, knowing the difference between different types of video content will help you create engaging and captivating videos for your audiences.
7. Know Your Timeline
Video production is a complex process. It requires meticulous planning, the thrill of filming, and the finesse of post-production. This guide can help you master this enthralling art form.
During the pre-production phase, you’ll map out your video strategy and script. You’ll also create a storyboard and determine the types of shots you need to capture. This is a critical step to ensure that the finished product meets your video objectives and aligns with your brand’s vision.
Once you’ve finalized the details of your production, it’s time to begin shooting. This can be done either on-location or remotely using software like Riverside. During this stage, it’s important to remember your video objective and keep your team motivated. It’s also a good idea to have a backup plan in case of bad weather or unexpected circumstances.
During the production phase, you’ll also record any voiceovers and gather B-roll footage. Then, you’ll put it all together in your video editing program. Finally, you’ll finish by adding music and any special effects. The end result is a polished, professional-looking marketing video that will engage and resonate with your audience. It’s a video your audience will want to share!