If you are new to the world of video production, then it is completely normal to be overwhelmed, as there is a lot to learn and to take into consideration before you can start making professional videos that are impressive and get your point across. Because you’re overwhelmed, it’s a good idea to take time before you pick up a camera to ensure that you are prepared for the best video production experience. This will ensure that you know what to expect and that your filming goes smoothly. Using a video production guide for beginners to help walk you through the three main steps of video production is important.
By using a guide, you can make sure that you understand how to plan ahead, what equipment to use, and how to keep the process as simple as possible by filming shorter segments.
Plan Ahead
One huge mistake that beginners make when they are going to start with video production is that they jump right into filming without taking any time to plan ahead. While working on a video project is a lot of fun, it does take a lot of planning to ensure that it runs smoothly and to make sure that you get the professional-looking results that you want.
Most people know that you need to think about the budget that you have to work with, and while this is an important part of planning ahead, this step goes much deeper. You also have to outline the goal of your video so that you can make sure that every shot you take brings you one step closer to meeting your goal. If you are filming and the shots aren’t in line with your goal, then you are simply wasting time and money.
You also have to consider who your audience is so that you can make sure that your finished video will appeal to them. Who you want to reach will play a huge role in your script, how you shoot and edit it, and whether you include any effects in the video.
This is also a good time to consider where you want to film and to have a backup in mind in case the first location doesn’t work out for some reason. The purpose of your film and your audience will play a huge role in what location you chose. Real backgrounds that are natural will make your video look more comfortable and approachable. Consider backgrounds in and around the church or other business, but skip any blank walls and busy offices. These won’t add to the value of your video and can actually detract from it.
Use the Right Equipment
Once you have your video planned out and know that you completely understand not only the purpose of the video but also where you are going to film and who you want to reach, then you can start looking at the equipment that you’re going to use. Video production equipment can vary widely, from a smartphone to professional camcorders and editing software.
You not only need to make sure that you have something that can be used to record your video but also equipment that will manage your set light and help you capture audio. Many beginners by default will resort to using their cell phone for recording video, which is fine, but it won’t meet the lighting and audio requirements that you will have.
While natural lighting is clearly the best option for any video, sometimes this lighting isn’t available. Shooting indoors won’t result in a video that looks as natural and well-lit, but you can add a variety of lighting sources to improve the appearance of your video.
Make sure to add a variety of sources so that overhead lighting isn’t the primary or only source of light. This type of light does a great job of lighting up a room, but it can be very harsh. Adding lamps and other ambient light sources is a good idea.
It’s also important to use an external microphone to ensure the best audio capture. No cell phone or camcorder will do as good of a job of picking up sounds and voices as an external microphone will. Using one will automatically improve the quality of the video.
Keep It Simple by Filming Small Segments
It’s much better to film in small segments than it is in larger segments. Not only will this make it easier and faster to reshoot something if the scene didn’t work correctly, but it also makes the post-production process more flexible.
Being able to quickly reshoot a small take and then to easily cut or edit the work later ensures that the video looks cohesive and not choppy. Many beginners want to film long segments because they think that it will make them look more professional, but the opposite is actually true.
By embracing small segments, you will have a lot of control over what gets used in the final video, and you will find that it is much easier to piece together the shots and information that you want to share.
Conclusion
Even though video production can be daunting at first, these three steps of this video production guide will help to make the process a lot easier for any beginner. While it can be very tempting to jump right into filming, having the forethought to plan ahead and to make sure that you understand the purpose of the video and how you are going to accomplish your task is important.
With the right equipment, lighting, and location, any video will automatically look higher quality. With his video production guide even beginners can create amazing videos that really stand out when they spend a little extra time focusing on how they are going to improve a shot.
Finally, working in small segments is every beginner’s secret weapon and will prevent them from wasting a lot of time and energy on trying to perfect longer shots. By using the tips in this guide, even a true beginner will be able to create professional videos and help their church or business stand out, represent who they are and what they believe in, and reach more people.
This article originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
