11 Tips For Making Your Videos Look Professional

Video content occupies a significant niche in the world of marketing. At the moment, it has long gained popularity and every day more and more people want to try themselves in the field of videos. According to HubSpot, people watch almost twice as many online videos as they did in 2018, and 92% of marketers consider video content to be an essential part of their strategy. If you are interested in professional-looking videos, the main elements of your tech stack are a camera, a microphone, and photo / video editing tools. The following are some tips that will help you get better in the process of making videos.

1. Invest in a good camera

To create quality video content, It’s always better to invest in camera gear. That is why many people still prefer writing blogs instead. However, this doesn’t mean you need to spend all your money on something expensive: basic DSLR or low-light cameras suit well. Even more, most smartphones have good enough cameras: just don’t forget to use the back camera for better quality, shoot in landscape mode, and apply the overlay grid to keep your phone level.

2. Aim for great audio quality

The second most important thing is making your videos sound professional. Even if expensive, most cameras have poor built-in microphones, so use a separate mic to get the sound quality. It’s also possible to record audio through your phone, but you won’t always get the desired result.

3. Use proper lighting

Lighting affects how an object looks, how viewers feel what they see, what grabs their attention. This means that you need to think not only about where to place the lights, but also about the type of lighting you get and how it all modifies the quality of your videos.

Natural lighting can often work really well to create pretty visuals, but as the weather changes are often unexpected, everything can go wrong. Try to shoot in the morning, evening or on an overcast, bright day for softer light.

Shooting indoors gives you full control over the image. First, try to think over how to adjust your existing lights to a particular scene. The second option is to get a proper lighting setup to help you shoot however you want. At last, low-light cameras are at hand to accelerate your video making process.

4. Adjust your background

The key is to reduce the amount of elements that will make the scene look cluttered and take away the attention, resulting in you blending into the background. There are several options:

• Clean background

It can be a white wall, wallpaper, backdrop paper, curtains, or something similar.

• Decorative background

Include simple, decorative items in the background that fit the topic of your videos. Shooting in an environment you actually work or spend time is also a good idea.

• Green screen

A green screen is very helpful for creating a whatever background you like, but you need to consider many factors.

5. Choose the right video editing software

Most people do not have time, skill, or money for a too complex equipment and software. They prefer something that can help quickly and intuitively turn raw footage into a whole stunning video. These are key features that every video editor has:

• Add text to video;
• Trim and crop videos;
• Tools to make transitions;
• Add filters and overlays;
• Own video and sound library.

Such tools like iMovie, QuickTime, or Vimeo are great choices to make your editing process much easier. However, if you want something more advanced, you can try a movie maker for free and then pick up the one that suits you best.

6. Play with effects, but don’t overuse them

Applying different techniques while editing a video makes it look interesting, but don’t go too far. Excessive use of effects will not only distract the viewer, but also drastically reduce the quality of your videos. A simple and clean style usually looks the most professional. Here is the list of some things you should do while editing:

• Use noise reduction to eliminate any background noises
• Eliminate awkward pauses and silence;
• Adjust the lighting slightly if necessary;
• Add background music;
• Make transitions.

To improve your skills, check out some video editing tips.

7. Plan your videos beforehand

Planning leaves a good viewable impression on your final product. By taking the right time to carefully plan your video before production, you can ensure the excellent quality of both your content and your footage.

First, ask yourself what kind of content you want to provide: TikTok videos, Instagram stories, travel videos, or something completely different. Determine the purpose of your video, identify your target audience, write a script. Don’t hesitate to rewrite, and delete sections that are no-go. Try to keep your videos tight, so your audience don’t get bored.

8. Choose the right composition

Composition is crucial for shooting a good video. Emphasize important elements and leave others in the background.

• Remember the “Rule of Thirds”: mentally divide the shot into a 3×3 grid, then place the most visually significant elements at any of the four intersections;
• Use leading lines to create a visual pathway to your subject;
• Mind the head of your subject. Don’t leave too much space above, but don’t cut off the top either;
• Use the depth of field to maintain your subject in focus.

9. Use a tripod or stabilizer

Steady footage is also a very essential part of the shooting process. Use a tripod to make sure your camera stays still, otherwise it can be very distracting and shift the main focus from you or your subject to something completely unnecessary. If your intense is to do stable shots while moving around with your camera, another great option is to use a camera stabilizer. It will make your videos look more professional and save a lot of time when editing.

10. Shoot in small segments

This is a great way to constantly keep everything under control and not miss the necessary information. It is much easier to watch and edit short frames afterwards, than definitely feel uncomfortable working with one hours-long piece. This can also be applied to the recording of screencasts, product guides, etc. A screen recorder will help to deal with this issue. In addition, it’s very useful to take multiple shots, so you can select the right one. So even if you took a great first shot, don’t be too lazy to take another one just in case.

11. Work on your camera presence

The way you carry yourself in front of the camera says a lot about the content you provide. For a professional video content creator, it’s essential to be confident, persistent, and creative. Don’t be afraid to add a few words outside your script, speak to the audience, not the camera, talk slow and concisely, mind your body language. Check out more tips for improving your camera presence.

As you can see, it takes a lot to make your videos look professional. By following the tips listed in the article, you can drastically increase the quality of your content, and that’s what the audience need. Practice, practice and more practice is the key to perfection.