Which of These Video Mistakes Have You Made?
Creating an effective video can be difficult, to say the least. The last thing you want is to be tripped up by something technical or trivial. Here are 8 common video mistakes that could ruin your whole production.
SHOOTING
1. Bad Lighting
Good lighting is key for a high quality video. Taking simple steps like never shooting into a light source can greatly improve your footage. Try to keep any lights above and behind the camera. Also, do your best to keep the lighting even and balanced so your image isn’t half in darkness.
2. Wrong Settings
Professional level cameras are more accessible than ever, but that doesn’t mean they’re easy to use. It’s important to educate yourself on your equipment before taking it out for a shoot. One of the most important things is knowing the proper resolution and frame rate. It’s going to be a little different for each camera, but you’ll want to make sure you’re shooting in HD quality, widescreen, and at least 24fps.
3. Not Enough Coverage
We’re a video editing company, so trust us when we say that having too much footage is better than having not enough. You can always delete the extra, but going back for more when you realize something’s missing can be a huge inconvenience. Roll the camera early and don’t stop!
EDITING
4. Cheesy Effects
The effects and filters that come with your editing software might seem cool, but many of them will come off as corny and unprofessional. This isn’t to say you can never use them, but subtlety is key. Also take into account the genre of your video. GoPro ski adventure? Some wacky transitions might be ok. Educational video about inner city poverty? Probably not. Knowing the right time and place to use an effect can make or break a video.
5. Too Long
If you’re thinking about creating a nice and long video for YouTube or social media, think again. Attention spans are short in the internet age and anything longer than a few minutes isn’t going to be watched all the way through in most cases. Plus, seeing a long runtime can dissuade someone from hitting play at all. Tell your story in less than 4 minutes and viewers will be much more likely to engage.
6. Doing it Yourself
Ok, this is a shameless plug for DreamItReel, but that doesn’t make it any less true. Editing a video yourself can not only be time consuming and frustrating, but chances are you don’t even have the time or skillset to create something great. You’re much better off handing your footage to a professional who can craft your footage into the best video possible.
Ready for a video consultation? Email us at general@dreamitreel.com and we’ll be happy to help.
