Demonstrate Your Credibility

Demonstrate Your Credibility

Shine Light On What’s Important

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08 Light what's important TW rev 02The brightest light should shine on the most important thing

Lighting for video can be a very complicated subject, especially when you are dealing with large spaces and groups of people, boom microphones and moving camera shots. When shooting simple talking head videos, close ups, medium shots or most cutaways, good lighting can be boiled down to one simple concept. Shine the brightest light on the most important thing you want people to see.

The most common mistake made in video lighting

The most basic level (and probably the one that is most often done poorly) is when there is one bright source of light (like the sun coming in through a window, for example.) Since you typically cannot move the window or the sun, move the camera and/or the person who is talking so that the sunlight is shining on their face. Avoid having it directly in their eyes (somewhat off to one side is ideal) and most of the time that will be enough of a change to make a decent-looking video image.

There are other forms of light

If you only have artificial light available things can get a little bit more complicated, because enough light to see is not always enough light to make a good-looking video image. This is especially true when you have little to no control over the position and/or direction of the light source(s). Many videographers bring their own lights with them on location because video lights are designed to be bright, compact, efficient and highly controllable. Even without using video lights you can get an acceptable image by paying attention to what you are looking at and moving things and people around a bit.

What to do with the lights you find

If there is a lamp and you can move it, use that to shine a bright light on the person talking (remember not to shine the light in their eyes; from the front and off to one side a bit usually works well.)  Keep lights that are distracting and pointed at odd things turned off or reposition them so that they do not draw the viewers eyes away from what is most important to conveying the message of the video.

Natural light moves

One thing to keep in mind if you are shooting a video with more than one shot in it is to be consistent with your lighting. Remember that sunlight is constantly changing and it can look weird to have one shot kind of dark, with the sun low, followed immediately by a very bright shot with the sun up high especially if they are filmed in the same location.

Other “not as bright” lights

Any other lights you have available can be used to further refine the lighting of your shot. You might consider lighting the background separately to give some depth to the image. Also, having only one light shining on your subject can render a kind of “harsh” looking picture. Try using other lights to balance out the lighting by aiming them from the opposite side (as your main brightest light) or even behind the subject to separate them from the background. Be on the look out for shadows and be aware that they are a factor in the look of your video lighting just as much as the highlights (brightest areas) are.

Speed trumps “perfection”

Getting a perfectly lit shot is an exercise in frustration, I highly recommend that you practice getting well-lit shots quickly, everyone involved in the production will thank you for that, including yourself.

I’m here to help

Let me know if you have any problems when making your videos or if you want to have any specific questions answered, before you get into trouble with your video productions.  I’ve been shooting, editing and delivering videos since 1989 and I’ve learned a few things since then that could be helpful to you.

Who I am:

I’m Philip Quintas and I make it easier for customers to trust you before and after they buy from you by creating simple videos that help you help more people.

If you want one-to-one help with making better videos, I can answer your questions and even write, shoot, edit, upload and promote videos for you or any combination of these services.  Sign up using the Email Address* and First Name* form on this website to get direct access to me, my experience and offerings.

Reading Can Make You Look Like You Do Not Know What You Are Talking About

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16 Don't read a script TW rev 02

Either memorize what you are going to say and say it with genuine emotion or “wing it.” When talking without a fully composed speech prepared, I recommend that you have a simple, basic outline memorized to stay on topic and get all points covered. If you wander down a side path, it is easier to get back on track when you clearly know where you intended to go.

Viewers can see it in your eyes when you are reading from a teleprompter or haven’t worked out how to best deliver your scripted message. There isn’t that spark of spontaneity and that sense of possible danger of messing up. Reading when on camera can prevent you from connecting directly with your audience.

Phoniness is obvious, it can do harm to your reputation as an expert

When you talk to people off camera, you typically are not reading from a script. That would seem insincere, forced and basically like you do not know what you are talking about. The same thing is true for videos. Unless you have rehearsed your presentation well and are able to go through it smoothly and with great conviction, it may not be very effective.

There is a “work around” to use sparingly, if you can

If you have to make your presentation in short sections, be sure to get the introduction done all the way through. The opening bit will be one that you are most likely going to be seen on camera delivering. After that, through the miracle of video editing, you can insert other graphic elements, like titles, photographs or B-Roll cutaways over the cuts in the main “master shot” of you talking on camera.

Conclusion

You can always choose your own style of presenting on video. I’m telling you this because I find it to be very challenging to maintain an authoritative position when reading directly from a script on camera. When I look down to read, my focus changes from my presentation to the written words in front of me and that breaks the concentration that I feel is necessary to convey my messages convincingly.

Who I am:

I’m Philip Quintas and I make it easier for customers to trust you before and after they buy from you by creating simple videos that help you help more people.

If you want one-to-one help with making better videos, I can answer your questions and even write, shoot, edit, upload and promote videos for you or any combination of these services.  Sign up using the Email Address* and First Name* form on this website to get direct access to me, my experience and offerings.

First Introduce Yourself

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24 Introduce Yourself TW rev 02

First introduce yourself

It is wise to assume your viewers are seeing you for the first time; briefly introduce yourself early on in every video and then move confidently through the information you are making available. It only takes a moment and it can make a big difference. Especially when the person viewing your video has never heard of you before. If you impress them, you’ll probably want them to remember who you are and if they are not interested in your ideas, they’ll know whom to avoid!

Your name plus your catchphrase

Your name and benefit catchphrase is a short set of words that can quickly make your self-confidence increase and set the tone for an engaging delivery of whatever you are speaking about. Starting off by introducing yourself on camera also helps to get the flow of words going.   There is a really good chance that you will say your own tagline right and, once you start talking, you are well on your way to getting the whole message out.

Giving your name and a clue as to what you are all about at the beginning of each video is a welcoming invitation to viewers to get to know you better. Like business cards and nametags, saying who you are in a short, memorable phrase is effective. This habit helps establish a face-to-name connection and makes it easier for people to remember the conversations you have with them.

Just like you, it is a work in progress

Your introduction may change over time, as you get more experienced making videos. Start now with the best you have and keep improving on it until you lock in an excellent way of quickly saying who you are.

Who I am:

I’m Philip Quintas and I make it easier for customers to trust you before and after they buy from you by creating simple videos that help you help more people.

If you want one-to-one help with making better videos, I can answer your questions and even write, shoot, edit, upload and promote videos for you or any combination of these services.  Sign up using the Email Address* and First Name* form on this website to get direct access to me, my experience and offerings.