3 Simple Tips to Drastically Improve Your DYI videos!
So you’re making a quick video to post on your website or social media. Follow these 3 tips and you’ll look like a pro in no time!
1. CONSIDER YOUR LIGHTING -
From our random Facebook posts to major Hollywood productions, lighting is one of the most important considerations. Most of us have been there. We shoot a simple video on our phones for social media and after a couple of awkward takes we finally nail it. Our delivery is next to flawless. “THAT TAKE WAS AWESOME! READY TO UPLOAD!” And then…well then we watch it back. And…. it’s lame.
It’s not that our delivery was poor but our faces are shadow filled, the background is overexposed and it is unflattering and just doesn’t represent us in a professional way.
You’ve been diagnosed with poor lighting. The good news is this problem is easily fixed.
WHAT TO DO:
Avoid non directional florescent lighting. Instead sit by a window. You’ll want to sit parallel with the window so your ear is facing it. This will give your face flattering dimension.
Shoot during golden hour. If you are filming outside you’ll want to avoid shooting in the middle of the day. The most visually appealing light will come the hour after sunrise and the hour leading up to sunset.
2. STABILIZE YOUR FOOTAGE -
Few things scream unprofessional in the world of video like shaky footage. Fortunately this too is an easy fix.
WHAT TO DO:
Pick up a Joby GorrillaPod stand for your cell phone. These are great little tools. The tripod legs are flexible. This means you can use it as a tradition tripod or wrap it’s legs around a wide variety of objects to make impromptu stands. They are relatively cheap and totally worth it if you make a handful of videos a year.
You can certainly still have stable footage even if you don’t have a budget for gear. Simply lean your cell phone against a book or a tissue box.
3. GO HORIZONTAL -
How many times has it happened to you? You’re watching a video that was filmed vertically and instead of enjoying the content you’re distracted by the big black boxes on each side of the video. It’s like looking at the world through a prison window. Don’t do this to your viewers!
WHAT TO DO:
Yeah ok, the solution is pretty obvious for this one. Vertical is ok when taking pictures of tall things but do your viewers a favor and flip your phone horizontal for videos.
Simple things can make a huge difference when it comes to our videos. Keep these tips in mind next time you’re putting a video together.
Have a question? Reach out to me by clicking HERE.