Most of us have cameras with us all the time thanks to our smart phones. It takes more than just a camera to make a video, let alone a professional high-quality one. Luckily, there are three simple ways you you can make your brand videos look more professional without spending your whole budget.
1) Bright, even lighting
Lighting is king when it comes to image quality. Having bright, even lighting is key because it will make you look better and helps your audience see what's going on!
Lighting also helps set the right mood and tone for the video.
Even the best cameras need the right amount of light to capture the best looking footage. For example, bright lighting prevents the video from looking grainy.
You don't have to purchase new lighting if you don't have the budget for it. There are some simple tips for better lighting on a budget. For example, if you're filming outside to utilize natural light (and save money), make sure you film on an overcast day. Your footage will look better without the harsh shadows of direct sun.
2) Clear audio
Believe it or not, audio is MORE important than the video itself in the video world. Clear audio that has little to no background noise or echos is hard to achieve. If you can get there, it's a sign of a great video quality. Bad audio is distracting, and if your audience can't hear, they cannot understand your messaging. The human brain can listen to many sounds and pinpoint which one is the main focus. Camera microphones cannot do that. While filming in person it may seem like the talent sounds loud and clear, but when you playback the video it will just sound like a garbled mess. That's because the camera audio picks up all of the ambient noise your brain would naturally tune out. Good audio makes a world of difference for people to clearly understand your messaging. The good news is that we have 3 ways to get better audio for cheap, read about it here.
3) Steady Shot
Steady video is a must. People think handheld footage is exciting and authentic, but usually it's just distracting. No one wants to feel like they're on a tilt-a-whirl while trying to focus on a screen. Smooth, gliding footage is a sign of a professional video. If you want to avoid making your audience seasick, use a gimbal. If you are unable to use a gimbal, simply putting your camera on a tripod gives your video a better quality than trying to use handheld video.
If you are using your smartphone to record, you can get a table-top tripod or prop your phone onto a stack of books for a steady shot. You want the phone's camera to capture eye-level footage, so don't put your phone on a table and point it up towards you (avoid the dreaded "up the nose" shot!). One way to get both better lighting and a steady shot is to utilize a ring light that comes with a phone holder attached.
Want to leave it to the professionals? Hiring a videographer means you will have access to high-quality equipment and a professional who knows how to capture clear, steady footage with great sound. Schedule a free call with Angela Wolf Video to learn more.
Do you have a specific video question? Schedule a free video analysis call at bit.ly/callawv