Tips for Getting Better Video with Less Equipment

Video is a great way to share your message. With more video being shared daily than at any point in human history, there’s a huge opportunity to take the leap into video. But how can you stand out and create something that looks professional with minimal equipment? With the goal of catching and holding the viewer’s attention, here are some things to keep in mind if you’re shooting your own video, as well as what to expect if you’re going to be interviewed on camera for the first time.

Shooting your own video

First things first, you need a camera. I’m not going to stop you from going out to the local camera store and picking up a new piece of gear, since it’s also my favourite thing to do, but chances are your phone camera will work just fine. Many higher-end phone cameras are starting to rival consumer video cameras in image and even in functions. If you’re like me and are still fond of your five year-old phone, you can also look to your laptop/tablet/webcam.

Your trusty phone may just deliver the video quality you need.

Video:

• Webcams and the front-facing camera lenses on your phone are wide angle (can see more of the image) which is great for teleconferencing to get your whole head or team in the frame, but it also has the downside of distorting features that are closer to the lens i.e. your face
• If you want a more flattering view of yourself, consider using the rear camera on your phone, and/or add a bit of distance between you and the lens
• Where is the final video going to be hosted? Landscape orientation is the most versatile in terms of what devices it can be viewed on (and being a cinema nerd, any other orientation is sacrilegious), but some platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram use vertical (9:16) or square (1:1 ratio) video content
• Run tests to see what positioning and framing work best for the platform or platforms of your choice

Shotgun microphones in their natural habitat

Audio:

Video is half of the picture (hah!), the other half is audio. It’s often overlooked and I’d argue that audio is more important than the image

• A lot of the sound quality will depend on how close you are to the microphone. “But Cody, you said to have distance between you and the camera, and my microphone is attached to my camera!” you shout. Welcome to the rabbit hole of gear purchases. The distance from you and the mic can be more of an issue depending on the room that you’re in.
• If the room is very reflective (filled with a lot of hard surfaces — like your bathroom [P.S. don’t film videos in your bathroom]), your on-camera mic will pick up a lot of echo and ambience as those sound waves bounce around the room. Also be aware of hums from HVAC systems, fridges, computers, your neighbour who never learned what an inside-voice is
• Consider moving where you’re recording to somewhere with softer surfaces where sound waves get trapped/absorbed. Hanging and putting down moving blankets are also a cheap way to absorb some sound
• If your room has a lot of soft surfaces or you’re close enough to the mic, the on-camera mic may work just fine
• Finally, there are relatively inexpensive ($50) wired lavalier/lapel mics that can plug into your phone or camera (if it has a mic input). These will give you great sounding audio, but going this route may take a little more effort if you record to a separate device, since you’ll need to sync the video and audio when editing.

For this interview we used an LED light off to camera-right and the window that’s camera-left provided a nice soft fill light for the subject. This interview could’ve been achieved with only using light from the window by having the interviewee switch sides to the other side (right side) of the living room, however the background was better on this side so another light source was needed.

Lighting:

You want to stand out and the best way is with good lighting!

• Make sure that you can be seen properly! You can use a lamp, light from a window or overhead lighting — as long as it’s not a potlight or a harsh light as you don’t want raccoon eyes or hard shadows on your face
• If available, indirect light from a window is best because it’s naturally soft and flattering, just remember that you’ll want the window to be behind or beside the camera and not behind you, or else you may be silhouetted against it
• Flourescent lighting found in schools or offices can also work, as it’s usually fairly diffused light that doesn’t cast shadows
• Experiment with different light sources

Let your personality shine through…but try to keep it to the point.

You:

You’re the star, it’s time to share your message. Here are some tips to get the best performance:

• Take deep breaths before you start
• Practice! Being on camera isn’t natural, but the more you do it the easier it is
• Keep the energy up throughout the whole video
• Wardrobe: It’s advisable not to wear clothes with small patterns on them like herringbone. Depending on the camera this can create an effect called moire, it can be distracting as a viewer
• Speak slightly slower than you normally do, it’s better to seem calculated and thoughtful than rushed
• Respect your viewers’ time and get to the point quickly. You can inject your personality into your video, but if what you say can be done in 3 minutes instead of 5, your viewers will thank you for it

That’s it! A lot of it is practice and working the formula until you get it just right. Hopefully this provided some useful tips for you to use on your next video or how to prepare for your first one. Let me know if you have any questions in the comments!