Professional Video Making - 11 Tips You Need to Know

The mobile phone has raised the standards of online professional videos. Why? The reason for this is the high-quality mobile phone cameras that let anyone make impressive videos. 

This means that you need to upgrade your video-making skills. Don't worry! This blog has 11 easy tips to turn you into a professional video maker! Find out more in the next section. 

11 Simple Tips to Make A Professional Video

Define Your Target Audience

The success of every business lies in knowing your target audience. Therefore, the first step in creating a social video is creating a buyer persona. This will help you understand their interest and needs better. 

Here are some useful pointers:

- Determine the location, gender, and age of the buyer

- What kind of videos do your buyers prefer? Are they interested in product demonstrations or interviews?

- The language and the device they prefer to watch videos

- Their preferred social media platform

- What problems are they facing, and how can you solve them? 

You can work on the video content when you are confident about the target audience. 

Plan Your Shoot

Follow the SMART method to set a clear goal for your video. Here are the key components of SMART:

- Specific: Who are you making this video for and why? What are your requirements and challenges?

- Measurable: How do I measure the progress of my video and analyze its performance?

- Attainable: Is your goal unrealistic or beyond your capabilities?

- Relevant: Does your goal fit in with your long-term strategic targets for your business? 

- Timely: What are the deadlines for each stage of your video? 

When you answer these questions, the goal for your video has greater clarity. 

Develop Your Storyboard

A storyboard helps you plan the sequence of your video to ensure that it has a smooth flow. You can select the shots you want in your video and get a preview of the final product. 

This process can be achieved through simple sketches or detailed drawings. When the frames are placed in the right sequence, the quality of your video improves. You can use a video editing tool to edit the final product. Once you are able to choose the right editing tool, the whole process of making professional videos will get less complicated for you.

For an effective storyboard, follow these tips:

- Drawings should be clear and simple

- Every frame should capture the essential elements of the video

- Insert the transitional scenes accurately

- Each shot should be planned and fit smoothly into the video

Choose a Camera

The type of camera you choose would depend on the video output you need. Don't invest in an expensive professional camera right away. Your smartphone camera would work for simple videos to give you 4k videos and 60 FPS. 

A pro-grade camera would be required for videos that combine audio, images, and animation.

Mobile phones do not have features like lens swapping or built-in image stabilization. Try DSLR cameras from Sony or Panasonic for in-house videos and mirrorless cameras for vlogs.  

Use a Stabilizer

Stability is the essence of any professional video. Shaky footage gets instantly detected by the viewer and is rejected outright. You could either use the built-in image stabilization of your camera or get a tripod. 

The stabilizer you need depends on the video you are shooting. A vlog, for example, involves a lot of movement, and a tripod would not be suitable. In such cases, an external stabilizer would be the best option. 

When there is a lot of activity, the built-in stabilizer of your camera might not work. Remove any shaky footage with an online video editor.

Lighting Should be Adequate 

Poor lighting can spoil the videos with the best content. Shooting indoors and outdoors require different preparation. There are two sources of light available for shooting a video:

- Natural Lighting: This economical lighting option is ideal for beginners. Your best options are during the golden hour or on cloudy days. It's pleasing to the subject who doesn't have to squint, and you get the best results. 

- Studio Lighting: Expensive lighting equipment is required for this option. This would include reflectors, softbox, triggers, rim lights, ring LED lamps, and key lights. 

Time the Transitions 

Transitions are essential for ensuring the flow of your video, so time them accurately.

You could use wipes, crossfades, fades, dissolves, or any other catchy digital effect. This helps keep out sudden transitions, incomplete phrases, or awkward cuts that make a video look unprofessional. 

Make your videos engaging with dramatic zooms, angles, and other details. Consistency in transitions is important. 

Composition Should Be Clear 

To achieve the right composition, ensure the 'object' of your video stays at the center of the frame. Rule of Thirds ensures this, and two-thirds of the frame has free space.

Your goal should be to keep the engagement level of the viewer high by helping them focus on the object.

Composition is a combination of placing the subject and proper lighting. Here are some additional ways to improve your composition:

- Use highlights and shadows through lighting

- Bright lights or direct sunlight should be avoided

- Get a polished look with a still camera shoot

Keep the Background Distraction-Free

A professional video always has a clean background and avoids distracting the viewer from the object.

An online video editor will help you remove any clutter from the background. Getting a clean background is easy, and you can go for a monotone sheet without any distinctive texture. 

Focus on Audio Quality

The best videos can fail if the audio quality is poor. Avoid using the default microphone in your camera. Get a separate receiver to get the right audio quality. 

A small mic or studio microphone that you can clip to your clothes will do. This will cut out foreign noises and provide the best audio. Video and audio can be synced later on during the post-production process.

Here are some microphone options for you to consider:

- Lapel mics

- Dynamic microphones

- Condenser microphones

The sound should be tested before filming, and ensure that you understand the application of the microphones. 

Divide Video Into Small Segments 

Filming videos in small segments and combining them in post-production ensures two things:

- Easier editing as you don't need to watch the entire 1 to 2-hour long video and edit it. Give each micro-segment a name and a small outline. You could also add timestamps that allow the viewer to focus on the segment they need

- Adding transitions between each segment is also simpler when you create shorter segments.

Conclusion

Making a professional video is not as difficult as you think. With several online video editing platforms that offer templates, animation, sound, and more, you can make a stunning video in under 5 minutes. Start filming and watch your customers grow!