A Beginners Guide to Video Production – part two: Post-Production

Filming- When it comes to shooting, there are a variety of different elements to consider.

Setting

Finding the right setting is obviously an important factor for your video. You need to be prepared for

any mishaps that may occur whilst shooting. For example if you’re shooting in public, be aware of

people and cars driving past and ruining the shot.

This is the same for shooting indoors, elements can cause sound interruptions which will distract

from your film and will result in a longer filming process. You also need to ensure the setting you use

is suitable for the video, there’s no point in shooting in your office if the video is about a brand new

car.

Lighting & Sound

If using natural lighting, the sun setting and going behind clouds is something you need to be

prepared for. This will mess up continuity and also make the editing process a lot more difficult than

it has to be. Similarly, the camera you use may not pick up lighting in the same way the eye does,

and although the light used may be bright, it will look dull on the camera.

You also need to be careful of shadows from those both in front and behind the camera. They can be

distracting for the audience and make the video look amateurish. When shooting it is useful to use

an external microphone and not just rely on the one built into your camera. This is because the

sound on the camera can become distorted and may not work, this way you have a backup.

Camera

Your camera is one of the most important factors to consider. Filming on your iPhone may not

create the picture you’re wanting to achieve. If you have access to a professional camera this would

improve your film quality and is more likely to attract people to watching your video. If you don’t

have access to a camera, you can find a company that hires out equipment that you can use.

Editing

Piecing the final product together can be liberating but also stressful. Using an editing programme

you are comfortable with is vital for getting the best possible result. To do this, play around with the

programme you are using before beginning the editing process. Another useful tip is to watch

tutorials online, this will help to increase your insight into film making and also teach you editing

techniques.

Even though, there are many editing websites available that are free to use, by downloading an

editing programme, you are more likely to have access to a wider range of editing tools. Once you’ve

edited your film, present it to your marketing team/ colleagues before releasing it to the general

public. Your team may have some useful feedback and spot any mistakes you may have missed.

Publish and Promote

Once your video is complete, it’s time to share with the world. Featuring the video on your YouTube

or Vimeo page is a great way for people to view your video. This is because you can include tags on

the video descriptions and it will also easily reach the audience you already have on the sites. Having

an SEO friendly title is useful for people searching for a relevant video. Uploading the video to your

social media channels and embedding it in a blog post is another useful way to draw traffic to the

content you created. If you created the video as a feature for your website, it is useful to send the

link out in a post.