These three tips are about the visual aspect of video; they deal with what you are showing the viewer. What you choose to let people who watch your videos see will influence how they feel about what they hear.
I often talk about how important audio is and here I aim to emphasize that the motion pictures you display are also going to have a huge impact on the response you get from the videos you share online. These are basic hints that often get overlooked by people just starting to make videos.
Light what’s important
Wherever the light falls the eye follows. When talking to the camera having your face well lit will make it easier for the viewer to concentrate on what you are saying. The trick is to have light on the eyes, but not in the eyes, so avoid having bright light shining directly in the eyes.
Too much moving around can detract from a well-delivered message
Less movement means more attention will be paid to the words that are being said as opposed to what the speaker in doing. You may need to demonstrate something and show people, what you are talking about and you want to be relaxed instead of stiff. Just be aware that moving around can pull away from the focus of simply telling people what you want them to know.
Having a stable camera implies a solid message
Whether you are holding the camera in your hands or have it mounted to a tripod, shaky footage conveys a sense of instability. Movement can be good, especially when it is controlled and deliberate. Random or sloppy camera movement conveys a sense of carelessness that can be interpreted as the message being delivered is of questionable integrity.
Conclusion:
When you start out making videos it is wise to learn and practice habits which make it easier for viewer to quickly grasp your ideas. You may decide that your personal style is wild and irreverent and break every known rule of videography as part of your process. That’s great and I’m here to give you the traditional information from which you can choose to depart from or stick with. I know from experience that these tips work and can be done over and over again to get results that meet a standard of production quality from which most videos are measured.
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.