Videos allow you to tell a story, connect with your audience on a deeper level, and generate more interest in your brand.
Millions of businesses are now using video as part of their marketing strategy, and you can, too. To see great results, though, you need to make sure you’re creating high-quality, eye-catching videos.
Not sure what goes into creating an impressive video?
It doesn’t matter if you’re filming a product explainer video, a testimonial video, or a corporate event video. The same basic process is required. Read on to learn about the 3 main video production stages.
Table of Contents
Pre-Production
Every video begins with pre-production. This stage is all about planning.
During this stage, you don’t just plan the scenes you’ll film or the words you’ll say. You also think about your goals and what you want to accomplish with the video. You identify your target audience, clarify your budget, and home in on your message as well.
Pre-production is crucial to a successful video. When you take the time to properly plan, you’ll experience a smoother filming process and better final results.
Keep in mind, too, that thorough planning can also help you save money. If you plan well, you’ll make fewer mistakes during filming. This will result in less of a need for reshoots or extensive editing after filming has been completed.
If you’ve never made a video before, you might be a bit daunted by the preproduction process. If this is the case for you, here are some specific steps you’ll want to take before you (or your videographers) pick up a camera and start recording:
Identify Materials Needed
What kind of cameras will you need to capture your shots? What kinds of microphones do you need to pick up your subjects’ words? Will your subjects sit on a stool or in a chair?
Do you need a green screen or a blue screen for your backdrop? Do you need to invest in makeup or wardrobe for the people who will star in the video?
Sit down and brainstorm everything you’ll need to create a quality video. This saves you from having to run out and buy things at the last minute.
Create A Shot List
Identify the shots you want to include in your video, and write them down on a shot list so you don’t forget. This might include shots of the outside of your building, shots of your staff working, or shots of your product.
Write A Script
Next, start writing a script for your video. Figure out what everyone is going to say in advance so you can clarify your message and speed up the filming process.
If you’re creating motion graphics, this will also be the time when you create the images you’ll include in the video.
Figure Out Lighting
Next, make plans for the lighting in your video. In addition to deciding whether or not you need to purchase lightboxes for the filming space, consider what time you want to film, too. This will help you ensure you get sufficient natural light.
Filming
After doing the hard work associated with planning a video, you’ll be ready to start the filming process.
Filming can be stressful and frustrating — especially if you’ve never made a video before. If you did enough planning ahead of time, though, things will go much more smoothly and you’ll have an easier time capturing the shots you want and need.
Filming Tips
On filming day, be sure to leave plenty of time for setting up and taking down equipment. Make room in the schedule for multiple takes, too. It might take longer than you expect for everyone to master their lines and perfect their delivery.
While filming, be sure to check the quality of the video as you go.
Don’t assume everything is being recorded correctly. Check the video out along the way so you can catch potential issues (related to lighting, sound, wording, etc.) right away.
Remember, it’s much easier to take a few seconds here and there to review your work than it is to wait until filming has wrapped and then have to go back and reshoot something that didn’t turn out quite right.
Presenting Tips
If you’re going to be on camera, here are some tips to keep in mind to ensure you’re putting your best foot forward.
- Practice reading your lines out loud — even if you’ll have a teleprompter, you should still have a general idea of what you’re supposed to say
- Sit or stand up straight
- Make eye contact — speak to the camera
- Smile and show your enthusiasm
- Speak clearly and enunciate your words
You can also share these tips with everyone else who is going to be filmed so everyone goes in with confidence and an understanding of how to properly present themselves.
Editing
The last stage of video production involves editing a video.
Once filming has wrapped, you’ll need to download all of the raw footage from the shoot. Then, you’ll start piecing it together to create a high-quality finished product that achieves your business goals and helps you deliver your message to your target audience.
During the editing process, you’ll adjust lighting and colour throughout the video. You may also add music, graphics, special effects, or titles to clarify certain points in the video and make it more engaging.
Get Help With All Video Production Stages Today
To create a high-quality video, you need careful planning, filming with quality equipment and experienced professionals, and rigorous editing from someone with an eye for detail.
After reading through the stages of video production, are you feeling a bit daunted by the idea of creating a great video for your business? If so, consider hiring a professional videography company like 1 Minute Media to help you out.
When you work with our team at 1 Minute Media, you get to enjoy the power of experience. Our videographers have spent years creating impressive content, from corporate event videos to employee training videos.
Contact us today for more information, or to get a quick quote for your next video project.