Best Practices for Creating Video Content

Planning

Brevity is best. Try to keep your video short, no longer than 15 minutes. If your subject matter requires more time, then consider your presentation in “chapters.” Each chapter can be a separate video (or edited to be separate). Think of longer presentations as a series of videos (no longer than 15 minutes each). Consider your topic(s) for each video or chapter.

Dress for the camera

Avoid wearing too much white, black or red
White glows and becomes the most noticeable thing
Black is too harsh and can suck up all the light
Reds “bleed” on camera and are distracting
Pastel shirts work well on video; the safest color on camera is blue
Avoid wearing stripes, herringbone, small intricate design, or flashy jewelry. They are hard for a camera to pick up or can sometimes dance on the screen
Remove jewelry/watches that move as they might hit your microphone and create noise

Keywords

Consider what your keyword or phrase might be for each video or chapter. Each video should be found easily by people online when searching using search engines like Google. Think of the word or phrase they might enter in the search field when looking for information on the topic of their choice. Use these keywords and phrases in your script (if you have one) and build them into the file name and title of your video. To find additional keywords or phrases for your topic you can use free tools like this – https://keywordtool.io/

Call to Viewers Action

Integrate a message in the beginning and the end to ask the viewer to subscribe, like, share, comment, and checkout more information in the Description area below.

Location

It’s important to stage the subject(s) in an area that has no visually distracting background clutter. Please avoid filming in areas in which people may be talking or walking by.

Lighting

The subject(s) should be facing the light source. Soft natural light from a window is great when you don’t have a professional setup. If you’re using daylight from an outside facing window, then try to record on a day or at a time when the outside light is not too bright. It’s preferable to have a gray overcast or cloudy day to a bright sunny day to do your recording. It’s also best to position the subject in such a way that the light source is approximately eye level. Avoid instances when the light is overhead (like in a room with overhead lighting) or from below.

Size matters

The size of the space you’re recording in is important. The acoustics will be better in a smaller space that has soft surfaces like carpeting, fabric furniture, drapes, or window coverings. Rooms with hardwood or tile floors (without area rugs) will tend to create echoes and a hollow sound.

Camera placement

If you’re using a smartphone or tablet or laptop to record, then you’ll want to use these rules of thumb. Horizontal orientations are best for viewing finished recordings so setup your device to record in landscape mode. Note that the camera placement on your device is not in the center of your device. Have the subject(s) look and speak directly to the camera lens so that eye contact with the audience is maintained. Setup the device approximately 2-3 feet away from the subject(s) or about an arm’s distance away. Place your subjects in the frame off-center. Divide the frame in thirds horizontally. Center your subject(s) either in the first third or second third of the frame (in case you want to add text or titles in the center of the other third of the frame. The device camera lens should be placed about eye level to your subject(s). Creatively position your device using anything that elevates the device to the level that positions the lens approximately at eye level. If you don’t have a tripod, you can use books or anything else that will accomplish the same thing.

Slow down your speech

Speak slowly and clearly
Enunciate and take your time
Remember, it doesn’t have to sound perfect – in fact it should not sound scripted. Instead, tell the story like you would to a friend or family member

Focus on body language

Sit forward and start with your hands on your lap; sit up straight
Use hand gestures naturally
Smile, stay calm
Appear interested and be enthusiastic

Be comfortable

The subject(s) should rehearse if they need to, but above all they should feel comfortable speaking to the camera. Speak slowly and deliberately. If the subject is nervous, it will be apparent by speaking more rapidly and by perspiring. Relax and deliver.

Last updated on August 5th, 2022 at 10:39 am