How to Shoot Better-Looking Videos

Hello, Hollywood. Get your brand ready for its closeup with our top video tips

In 2018, 72 percent of people would rather use video to learn about a product, according to Wyzowl’s 2018 State of Video Marketing survey. If your brand has yet to produce video content sharing your company’s services with the world, start now. It’s easy, we promise: All you need to hit record is a smartphone and follow these tips for creating high-quality visual content.

Check the Mic

Pretty pictures are great, but if the audio is off in your video, your message will get lost in the shuffle. Your audience won’t understand what you’re trying to convey and will promptly click out of your video. If you plan to interview your employees or highlight industry experts in your video, invest in a mic—and make sure that it’s working properly before hitting record. This is also a great opportunity to double-check the background noise, which can ruin a shot all too easily. Chances are, if you’re in a noisy environment, your interviewee will be muffled.

Shoot Horizontal Video

Before hitting record, turn your camera horizontally, or make sure you’re shooting in landscape mode. Not only will this allow you to capture more of your surroundings, it will also improve your resolution and allow for easier editing.

Mix Up Your Shots

A mix of wide, medium and tight shots is best for creating a video that people want to watch. Be sure to shoot plenty of b-roll, or supplemental footage that you can cut to for additional interest.

Double-Check Your Lighting

When it comes to shooting great-looking video, natural light is your best friend; consider planning your shoot around it. Make sure your interviewee isn’t backlit; otherwise, you can’t see their face. (An easy way to do this: Avoid placing the individual in front of a window or any bright light source.) At the same time, make sure he or she is not washed out. The way to avoid this: Don’t position your interviewee directly in front of your light source.

No camera? Look no further than your smartphone. With these tools in your arsenal (and your phone in hand), you can produce high-quality videos that bring more eyes to your content. Our in-house video team recently produced this handy vlog on what to keep in mind when shooting your next video:

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