Step up your content creation: 8 expert video production tips every beginner needs

Video is the most widely consumed and favored form of content for several reasons. Watching a video is simpler than reading about a topic or product. Additionally, video is the most dynamic and adaptable medium for audience interaction and communication. If you’re aiming to produce professional videos for any purpose, these essential video production tips for beginners will help you get started.

Prepare for Your Video in Advance

• Creating a professional video involves more than just pressing the record button. The key to success lies in thorough planning before the filming even begins.

Here are some effective pre-production strategies:

Define Your Objective

• Clarifying the purpose behind your video before you begin is crucial. Understanding the objective enables you to organize the planning, filming, editing, and promotion processes, saving valuable time and resources.

Moreover, a clearly defined goal enhances the effectiveness of your video in attaining desired outcomes. Here are some questions to assist you in outlining your video objectives.

• What do you aim to accomplish with this video?
• Are you promoting a product or service?
• Do you intend to educate or inform your audience?

Identify Your Target Audience

• This is essential for effective communication. Your audience dictates how you script, shoot, and edit your video, as well as where you distribute it online. Consider who you want to reach and where they typically spend time online to tailor your distribution strategy accordingly.

Conduct Thorough Research

• Before video production, conduct thorough research on your chosen topic. It’s essential to select a topic or theme that resonates with your target audience while aligning with your goals.

Choosing the right topic involves focusing on relevant keywords, especially if you aim to improve your visibility on search engine result pages, particularly Google.

Select The Appropriate Video Format

• Once you’ve determined your video topic, the next step is to decide the type of video you’ll create. This choice influences the tone, style, and overall production process, whether it involves filming, animating, or editing. Opt for a format that aligns with your content style.

Consider these video formats:

• Animated
• Live-action
• Screen recording
• Whiteboard
• Motion graphics
• Typography
• Combination

Create a Script

• After determining the topic and format of your video, shift your focus to its content. This involves creating a video script that outlines your narrative. You can opt for a detailed, word-for-word script or a broader outline of the topics you intend to address in the video. The goal is to have a reference document to ensure you cover all essential points during filming.

Use A High-Quality Camera

• You can choose between using your mobile phone camera or investing in a professional camera.

Mobile camera

• The top mobile phone brands are capable of recording 4K videos at 60 FPS. This level of quality makes mobile phones a viable option for video recording.

Professional Camera

• While mobile phone cameras are suitable for many purposes, they may not meet the requirements for creating professional-looking videos in certain situations. In such cases, investing in a professional camera offers greater control over video quality and additional features such as image stabilization and interchangeable lenses.

When selecting a camera, consider your specific needs and the type of videos you intend to create. For in-house videos, a DSLR may be suitable, while vlogs may benefit from a more compact mirrorless camera to ensure convenience during filming.

Ensure Proper Lighting

• Lighting is essential in producing a professional-looking video. If your video appears too dim or overly bright, viewers may be inclined to skip it altogether.

Two main sources of light are typically used for video production:

Natural Light

• Natural light is an excellent choice for beginners. It’s a cost-effective way to enhance the appearance of your subjects. To maximize the benefits of natural light, consider filming outdoors on a cloudy day or during the golden hour.

During these times, natural light is soft and cinematic, avoiding harsh shadows and preventing your subject from squinting.

Studio Lighting

Investing in lighting equipment can significantly improve the quality of your videos. Here are some types of lighting equipment worth adding to your production setup:

• Key light
• Rim light
• Triggers and flashes
• Softbox or light modifiers
• Reflectors

Improve Audio Quality

• The audio quality of your video is crucial, as it can significantly impact the overall perception of your content. There are simple steps you can take to ensure optimal audio quality. First, avoid relying on your camera’s built-in microphone.

While these microphones may be good for basic recording, they often fail to capture high-quality audio. Instead, consider using an external microphone dedicated to audio recording.

Here are three primary types of microphones to choose from:

• Condenser Microphones
• Dynamic Microphones
• Lavalier Microphones (or Lapel Mics)

Selecting the right microphone depends on your specific recording needs and environment. Invest in a microphone that aligns with your requirements to ensure high-quality audio capture.

Utilize Advanced Video Editing Software

Video editing tools empower you to enhance your videos with simple transitions, precise color grading, engaging titles, subtitles, intros, and outros, ensuring a polished final product that captivates your audience.

Here’s a curated list of some of the most popular choices:

• Visme Video Maker
• Adobe Premiere Pro
• Apple Final Cut Pro
• DaVinci Resolve
• Adobe Premiere Elements
• Corel VideoStudio Ultimate

Be Confident On Camera

• The presence of a human subject in your video, such as in a vlog or video podcast, significantly influences its quality and effectiveness. A comfortable, smiling subject wearing appropriate attire engages the audience, making them more inclined to watch and listen.

To enhance your camera presence, consider these tips:

• Maintain good posture by sitting or standing upright with shoulders back, projecting professionalism, focus, and relaxation.
• Speak slowly and pronounce each word clearly to ensure your message is easily understandable to viewers.
• With consistent practice and experience, you’ll gradually improve your on-camera presence over time.
•  Regardless of the type of video you use, it’s crucial to effectively share it with your audience using social media channels, forums, groups, etc., for maximum visibility.

Bottom Line

• Producing professional-quality videos may seem daunting, but it’s more achievable than you think. By implementing the tips outlined in this article, you can enhance your video quality, engagement, and overall results significantly. Additionally, you can always seek the services of reputable video production companies for producing high-quality videos.

Unleash business growth by connecting with Grey Sky Films. We are a seasoned Video Production Agency situated in Northern New Jersey. With a remarkable experience of 20+ years crafting captivating branded, commercial, and corporate video content, we commit to delivering top-tier quality that deeply connects with your audience. Let’s collaborate to create videos that resonate and leave a lasting impact. Call us at (973) 625-6911 or email us at info@greyskyfilms.com. Your next video journey starts here!