Share this:
This session was formerly billed as Creating Instructional Videos, but Sarah Mock is excited to speak to us about Take Storytelling to the Next Level with Video including instructional videos. She says she’s not a famous YouTuber, she’s “just Sarah.”
Video is rolling images. You can do different takes. (Unless you’re Periscoping and it’s streaming live.) You can edit video until you’re happy with it.
Planning the Shoot
Know your location, your equipment, what materials you need, and what is your goal for the sponsor. Have you charged your batteries? Is your neighbor mowing the lawn or building an addition onto their house to increase background noise?
- Introductions: greeting, topic, reason to stay
- Storyboarding can be helpful
Set Up the Shot
- Cameras (DSLR is higher quality, but smartphones are getting much better for the job)
- Microphones (external mic input)
- Lighting (High ISO helps you in low light situations, auto white-balance, etc.)
- B Roll
Get something that can be put on a tripod, even if it’s a makeshift tripod. Holding the camera is always shaky.
Smartphones: For the love of video, turn your phone HORIZONTAL. When Periscoping, save the video to your phone and upload it to YouTube. Now you’re a YouTuber, too!
Audio: Bad audio=bad video. All of our phones have onboard mics, but you can get a separate mic that (Sarah has a Rode mic) you can plug in and use. A lavalier mic goes under your shirt and up to clip on your lapel on one end and plug into your phone/camera on the other end. (Another attendee recommended this one from Amazon: Movo PM10 Deluxe Lavalier Lapel Clip-on Omnidirectional Condenser Microphone.)
For lighting, you ideally want three light sources: key light, fill light, and back light.
B-roll is rolling footage (Or still images) to aid your storytelling. On Food Network, it’s the closeup on the whisking, or a shot of the amazing ingredients, different camera angles, etc.
Location and Framing
Using a blank wall and setting up your camera properly can cut out all of the clutter that would otherwise appear in the shot.
Time to Shoot!
- Work the script.
- Check off points to be considered.
- Don’t be afraid of multiple takes.
- Wrap it up.
- Be careful of umms, facial expressions, enunciation, etc.
- Make notes for camera directions like zoom, pan, etc.
- Practice, practice, practice!
Slice and Dice. Blue and Tape.
- Titles
- Transition (2 seconds is a long time in a two-minute video)
- Layering
- Voiceovers
- Background Music (drop it down to 30-40%; keep your licenses and use royalty-free music)
Outro
- Subscription button (you can add this functionality in YouTube annotations)
- More videos to watch
- Links to site
That’s me: Christina Gleason. I’m a writer, editor, and disability advocate. I'm a multiply disabled autistic lady doing my best in this world built for abled people. I’m a geek for grammar, fantasy, and casual gaming. I hate vegetables. I cannot reliably speak, so I’ll happily conduct business over email or messaging instead.
There are a ton of tips in this article. There is a lot of to consider when filming to get quality video, lighting and sound.
Another tip for lighting is to use natural light (like a large window) and put the camera between the window and the subject. You can even set up a reflector behind and off to the side (out of the shot) to help fill in shadows.
Thanks again!