12 Tips to Make Your Video Look Professional (without the professionals)
When trying to DIY an Internal Communications video, it’s often difficult to get the right look and feel, especially when you are filming it yourself with your phone camera. You want video footage that looks great and gets the message across without looking tooooo DIY.
We’ve got your back. By implementing these simple tips when making your video, you can make the finished product look so much better in the end.
Let’s look at the top 12 tips to make your video look more professional.
Plan the content/research
Before shooting any kind of professional video footage, you’ll need to do the groundwork for the content that will go in it. Research as much as you can about the topic, including senior stakeholders and other members of the team, to get the content planned out and cover all the necessary topics. You can create a rough outline of what kind of content you want to cover and potential types of shots, as that will help you plan your shoot.
Plan your shoot
Once you have the content down, the next step is to pin down logistics. Where will the video be shot? What kind of schedule will you need to have to ensure you get the footage you need? Use the outline and shot list you’ve created to start planning the shoot itself and schedule anyone who will be participating in the video. Book any locations you need well in advance of the shoot itself where possible to keep your video shoot organized and stress-free!
Tell a story (i.e., video storytelling)
To make your video compelling, it’s essential to have a narrative. If you think of your story as a written thesis with a hypothesis, arguments, and conclusion, you’ve at least structured it to make clear sense. But you run the risk of boring people to sleep. After all, the whole reason you are making a video is to engage your coworkers in a different way than using the written word. So think like a storyteller. Hero, conflict, resolution. Who is the hero of your story? What is her goal? What stands in her way? How does she overcome the obstacle? What’s the world like after she achieves her goal? Surprisingly, this basic story structure is forgotten by lots of people who pick up a camera to tell a story. Don’t be like lots of people. Take your viewers on a journey. They’ll be much more engaged.
Have good lighting
A good, professional-looking video is a well-lit one, that much is certain! With any kind of professional video footage, you want to spend some time getting the lighting just right - especially if you’re looking to add good outdoor shots. On a DIY budget, daylight is your best friend. You want to film in locations that have great indirect sunlight. Consider what time of day you’ll be filming, how much natural light you’ll have, and whether you’ll need any additional lighting to supplement.
Check your audio
Nothing screams DIY like poor audio. Before you begin filming in earnest, record a test to make sure your microphone is working properly. And always record dialogue in a quiet place. No barking dogs, sirens, people talking, music playing, jackhammers, or leaf blowers. Even a loud air conditioner can be a problem, especially if it changes sound frequently. Pick a nice quiet spot. And ask people to refrain from making noise while you film. Then check your recording.
Use a simple background
Videos with busy backgrounds and too much going on can end up distracting the viewer. It’s best to keep your background simple and uncomplicated so that your subject is the star of the scene, not that weird cactus behind her ear. When in doubt, clear it out! It’s almost always better to remove items from your background than to add them.
Experiment with angles
Most likely, your video will need shots from multiple angles to look good. That’s why it’s a good idea to experiment with different angles and try different things, from wide shots to mediums to close ups to extreme close ups. This will give you lots of things to cut to during your edit.
Shoot in small sequences
When you shoot in small sequences, you get a lot more to work with as an editor during video editing. You can correct and adjust camera placements, angles, and any other improvements. And when you’re putting it all together with a good video editor, you have more footage to work that’s easier to edit and conveys the desired effect.
Keep the editing simple
When it comes to good video editing, simple is always, always better! While it might be tempting to throw in lots of crazy effects and get creative, always try the simple edit first. You’d be surprised at how good video editing can transform the final product, and the simple edit tends to win out ultimately.
Select a good video editing tool
Jumping off from the previous point, another way that videos get the professional look is by using good video editing software. Ideally, the tool you’re using should be able to splice together footage quickly and easily with simple drag-and-drop functionality. It should also give you options to enhance the look and feel of the footage through various color settings.
Use high-quality stock media (if required)
Another way to make your professional footage engaging? Add high-quality stock media. It’s an interesting element that makes the video richer, and with a good video editor, it will add seamlessly to existing footage. You can add stock media related to the content to break up some of the visuals you’ve shot yourself and also as a supplement for any footage you were not able to capture.
End with a CTA
The final element to make your video more professional? Add a call to action (CTA) in the end. A call to action is crucial because it hooks the viewer in and gives them an action to complete after watching the video. After all, you showed them this video to get them to think or do something. Don’t leave them guessing. State it. In clear simple language. For example;
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FAQs
How can I look good in video?
You can look good in a video by having the right lighting and choosing a simple background. You can also enhance the quality of the footage after shooting using a good video editor to improve any lighting and correct any flaws that you spot in the video footage.
How do I edit videos like a professional?
You can edit videos like a video editor by using a good video editing tool. The key is to make transitions look seamless and to put together the footage you have with a clear narrative in mind. Think about what story you are trying to convey with the video and edit the footage with that in mind.