#BeInspired! - Create Great Videos

6 Tips to Create Better Videos - by Nigel Vernon

(3 min read)

Video content creation has proven incredibly useful to EmployabilityUK, and never more so than during lockdown. The ongoing video series to accompany the A-Z of Super Confidence by Alan Matthews is a prime example of complementary content that enables the charity to continue to encourage and support young people who wish to aim high in their careers and further/higher education.

 I was also inspired to put these tips together, in part, by a previous entry in this series by a fellow volunteer and #BeInspired contributor Lauren Salter. As Lauren rightly points out, video will play an essential role in the future of recruitment and employability. From remote interviews, potentially all the way through to video CVs, brushing up on your videography skills isn’t a bad idea.

You don’t need to be Spielberg, and you don’t need a movie studio in your home. By keeping it simple and demonstrating that you’ve made an effort, using these tips for everything from live chats to pre-recorded content may prove just the edge you need to stand out.

1. Get the Lighting Right

No single factor has more of an impact on the quality of a video than lighting. If video content plays a significant role in your career aspirations, it’s never too early to buy dedicated lighting for the purpose.

However, most professional lighting solutions aim to recreate natural light where it’s otherwise unavailable. If video content production is a skill you’d like to have, but far from central to your ambitions, then simply make use of that natural light as and when you need it.

You will find perfectly suitable lighting by facing a window in the daytime and positioning the camera in between you and the light source. Focus on clarity, and you’ll see an immediate improvement in results.

2. Use a More Permanent Base for Your Camera

While I’ll have to generalise somewhat here, in most cases, the camera on your phone is superior to the one built into your laptop. You don’t need the latest Canon EOS for great video, but it makes perfect sense to use the best tool you have available. You have to consider your own comfort and professionalism too, so this isn’t a tip to only join Zoom calls on your phone when you have a perfectly serviceable laptop!

As for the tip itself, I’d always recommend a tripod or other firm base, especially if you decide to use your phone. The rear camera is probably far superior to the front one, and you might make your very first video by leaning the phone up against a wall. However, if you want control over angles, not to mention the ability to adjust depending on the light, a small tripod is the solution.

You could spend hundreds on a good base, with all the bells and whistles to go with it. Crucially, you don’t have to spend more than a few pounds to achieve results with noticeable improvements.

3. Give Your Lens Some TLC

You could have the best camera in the world; However, it can only see what the lens lets in. If your tools of choice span a phone and a webcam, there’s not much to consider by way of changing lenses and making improvements in that area. However, it’s worth keeping some lens wipes on hand to ensure that your equipment is clean and capable of fulfilling its potential when you record.

Even if it looks clean and you don’t notice any issues with the video output, wipe it anyway, as you’d be surprised at how much sharper an image becomes following the removal of ‘invisible’ dirt.

4. Try Dividing the Screen Into Three

If you have ever done anything in the world of filmmaking, this won’t be the first time you’ve heard of the Rule of Thirds. It’s a basic concept and a simple one at that – and definitely another easy way to improve the appeal of your videos.

The concept involves placing an imaginary ‘three by three grid’ over the shot and focusing on the points at which the grid lines intersect each other. The lines themselves are where the eyes automatically look for information first. If you can get your eyes in line with one of the imaginary horizontal bars and line your body up with one of the verticals, you stand a high chance of making any video pop.

 5. Create More than You Need

This tip applies only to recordings as it’s unworkable on live calls – but it’s still worth keeping in mind. Never forget when making videos that nobody needs to see them until you want them to, and some simple editing can ensure they never need to know whether you did it in one take or twenty. It’s a tip I adapted from photography, as most shoots result in just a small selection being used for the job at hand. The critical aspect is that these extra shots gave me options, sources for edits, and real decisions to make in choosing the best results.

The basic rule for video is to take as long as you need and record as much as you can. It may not sound obvious, but the more material you have, the tighter the result is likely to be.

6. Only Record in Landscape

As Snapchat and other online platforms become more popular, videos recorded in portrait become more popular and, with it, more acceptable. It could be argued that they have a place, but not when your goal is recorded content with a professional touch.

Vertical computer monitors are a rare sight, and equally vertical televisions and cinema screens are all but unheard of. If you want your content to be viewed as intended, landscape is a must.

This tip also ties in closely with the last one. More is always better than less when making videos. A landscape recording can be modified to fit a portrait screen if required. However, it does not work the other way, and you end up with either black bars or a mirrored extension of the image – neither of which are ideal.

Video content is more accessible than ever, and its importance will only increase. In the context of employability, a little extra effort can be all it takes to make your content stand out in the crowd – even if you never appear on camera as part of your role again following the recruitment process.

Good luck!

Nigel Vernon

Red Apple Photography

[email protected]

?nigelvernon2020