Tips for a Successful Video Shoot

Whether you are creating videos yourself or partnering with professionals, here’s some tips for a successful video shoot. Even before you start with the planning for your shoot, consult with others who’ve done video marketing.

 

Planning and Preparation Tips

• Start planning for the video shoot at least two months ahead of when you want have the shoot. Get the date on your calendar and on the calendar of the videographer.
• Meet with the videographer to scope out what kinds of videos will be created. I’m very grateful to be collaborating with my long-time videographer Erica Jaffe of Staccato Productions.
• Select the location of the video shoot. Determine what preparation needs to be done at that location. It must be free of distracting items with an uncluttered background.
• Select a video style – such as a Q&A or a monologue.
• Arrange to have a teleprompter for you to read from, so you don’t have to memorize the scripts.
• Determine if you have the writing skills and time to create the video scripts. You can save a lot of money by creating them yourself. But it might be better to engage the services of a script writing professional.
• Narrow the scope of each video – most people won’t watch a video longer than a couple of minutes, at the most.
• Practice the script several times. Recording my practice sessions through Zoom has worked well for me. After reviewing the recordings, I sometimes make adjustments in the flow of the script and its overall content.

 

Shooting the Videos

• Schedule plenty of time for the video shoot. You want to feel relaxed during the process.
• Dress appropriately for the type of videos you’re making. If you are creating a number of videos in one shoot, bring a few outfits.
• Come into the video shoot with a positive attitude. Bring your natural style and energy to the video creation process. Remember to smile.
• Keep your gestures within the range of the camera.
• Remember to pause on a regular basis. This makes it easier for the “ums” and other filler sounds to be edited out later.
• Drink plenty of water during the shoot, and take breaks periodically.

 

After the Video Shoot

• Collaborate with your videographer, if you are using one, in the post-production process. Provide your feedback on the music and any background imagery that were added.
• Be patient as you wait for the videographer to complete the editing and formatting process.
• Create a YouTube channel for your company if you don’t already have one and post your videos to your channel.
• Along with your YouTube channel, determine where else the created videos will appear. Likely, you will add them to your website and social media sites. Consider other ways to use these videos as part of your video marketing. You could send them with emails, newsletters, blog posts, and other kinds of publications.
• Make notes of what went well during the entire process of planning for the video shoot and creating the videos. Also note where there were any issues or glitches. Keep this information to guide you in future video marketing projects.

 

About Joyce

Joyce Feustel helps people, especially those age 55 and up, to become more effective using social media, especially LinkedIn and Facebook. She works with business owners, business development professionals, business consultants, nonprofit leaders, job seekers, and more – ranging from entrepreneurs to people in large corporations. Find her at www.boomerssocialmediatutor.com