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These 8 tips will take your videos to the next level
Anyone can make videos. After all, if you don’t have your camera to hand, a phone will do the job. But not every video is equal, which is why we’ve gathered eight tips to help you take your videos to the next level.
Tip 1: Plan your story
When you set out to film, preparation is crucial. At least 80% of the work is in the preparation. The other 20% is in the filming and the post-production. Before you start, you first need to answer a few questions. The five Ws can help: who, what, where, when and why? If you can answer these questions, you’re already well on your way. The next step is to write out your idea. You can do this in a script, in which you set out how you want to get your message across to the viewer.
Tip 2: Prepare thoroughly
Before you head out and start filming, work out what you need. Think about the location and checking the weather conditions. These can affect the shots you want to capture and the mood you want to create. It’s also a good idea to make a shot list. In it, you decide the order of your shots and note down the equipment you need for each one. Just as important: make sure you have empty memory cards and charged batteries. Nothing is more frustrating than a flat battery or a full memory card.
Tip 3: Don’t forget the sound
Without sound, a video has little atmosphere. That’s why it pays to invest in good audio equipment before you start filming, if your camera’s built-in microphone isn’t up to the job. An external microphone is a real must. It lets you record clear, high-quality sound while filming that you can still fine-tune in post-production.
Just starting out with video? Then go for a shotgun microphone. As the name suggests, this is a directional microphone that records sound from a specific direction. A handy accessory to buy with it is a windshield, also known as a deadcat. It reduces wind noise while the rest of the sound is recorded as normal. No windshield? Then you can always stand with your back to the wind.
Tip 4: Use the right settings
When shooting video, it’s important to keep the exposure triangle in mind: shutter speed, aperture and ISO.
The number of frames per second, or frame rate, has a big impact on your shutter speed. The rule of thumb is that your shutter speed should be twice your frame rate. So if you shoot at 24 fps, your shutter speed becomes 1/50. Shutter speed determines how long light falls on the sensor. Aperture and shutter speed work closely together. The aperture determines how much light reaches the sensor. Use a small aperture when working with a slow shutter speed to reduce the risk of overexposure. Finally, every situation calls for a different ISO setting. In dark rooms or at night you need a higher ISO, because there’s less ambient light. The downside is a greater chance of noise in your footage. One way to avoid this is to work with lights.
Tip 5: Avoid shaky footage
When you’re making videos, you don’t want shaky footage. Fortunately there are plenty of accessories nowadays that (largely) prevent it, from tripods and gimbals to video rigs and dollies. Which one you use depends on the kind of shot you want. A tripod gives you nice sharp footage and makes pans look much smoother. For shots that need more freedom of movement, there are stabilisation systems, video rigs and dollies. These let you really draw the viewer into your story.
Tip 6: Bring a variable ND filter
Using a slow shutter speed on a sunny day can lead to overexposure. Sometimes you can switch to a smaller aperture (such as f/16), but then you risk losing your shallow depth of field.
An ND filter, or ‘Neutral Density’ filter, is a grey filter that darkens the entire image by a number of stops. That way you can still enjoy a beautiful shallow depth of field.
Tip 7: Think about composition
Now that you’ve prepared and checked everything, it’s time to start filming. Composition is a key point here, because you have to decide what the shot should look like.
For example, you can choose to shoot a wide shot, which shows everything. This is ideal when you want to clearly show the location or space. The rule of thirds is important when you place a person in the frame. If you divide the frame into nine sections, the eyes should sit at two-thirds of the height. The direction the person is looking matters too: leave a little more space on the side they’re looking towards. Placing a person off-centre, following the golden ratio, already makes your shot more interesting. You can also try filming your subject from above or below, in other words from a bird’s-eye or worm’s-eye view. Each perspective gives your footage a different effect. Have fun experimenting!
Tip 8: Get started with post-production
Once you’ve recorded everything, it’s time to edit your footage. Review the clips and make a selection. For this cutting and pasting you should be able to fall back on the script you wrote before filming. A guideline for a snappy video is that shots often last no longer than three seconds. Of course this is only a guideline, so you don’t have to follow it strictly.
Besides watching the footage, you also need to listen to the sound. Good headphones or decent speakers are useful for this. You can also add atmosphere to your video with music, which can steer the viewer’s emotions in a particular direction. So take plenty of time for this.
Which software you choose depends on your needs and budget. A widely used program is Adobe Premiere Pro. This comprehensive software works together with other Adobe programs such as After Effects and Photoshop. On a smaller budget, take a look at Adobe Premiere Elements, for example.
