6 Tips To Shoot Video Like a Pro

The whole exercise of producing a video is going to be fruitless if your subjects are not properly visible to your audience due to poor light. Lighting is a major factor to keep in mind while shooting. Make sure you make the subject bright so that it is clear in your footage. Not too bright though or it will seem washed out. If you are shooting outside then make sure you have the sun shining on your shot from the back of your camera. This way it will make your object appear clear in the video. Most videographers prefer the golden hours - the hours after sunrise and hours before sunset. If you are shooting indoors then make use of the available light source or you can get inexpensive lighting equipment. The cost or quality of the equipment does not matter but the angle at which the light is positioned does.

One of the common mistakes made by newbie videographers is they forget to check if the mic on the camera is able to record sounds at audible levels. This doesn’t just depend on the mic but also ambient noises that can interfere with main sounds such as speech. While some videos do not require crisp audio, others such as interviews do need it. In such cases, it is advised to invest in a good microphone such as a shotgun microphone, stereo or handheld microphones. An interview without proper audio can be frustrating for the viewer. If you do not have added audio help, make sure your camera’s mic is close to the subject so that you can capture maximum audio. Due to the surroundings and environment, you may capture some noise or disturbance in the audio, in such cases, you may be able to edit out some distracting sounds during post-production.

Watching footage from the same angle for a long time can bore your audience. For example, if you are shooting an event, make it interesting by shooting from different angles. Some shots can be overhead, some close-ups of people's expressions and some in the action. You may need to use props to get desired angles, such as standing on a stool or going to a terrace to get an aerial view. It's very important to capture moments from many perspectives to add a sense of depth to your film.

This is one of the best tips that most of the videographers don't know about. If you are shooting for something, make sure you shoot a little extra than what is needed. If you only shoot the required amount, you don’t have much room to edit your footage and add value. Remember, more footage is always helpful - you can always edit out shots that are not needed during post-production. Sometimes, those extra shots that you take might be useful to your video.

While you are shooting, always look at the screen and not the subject. Many videographers tend to look at the subject but not the screen and make mistakes with their frame. This is an oversight that is usually made by beginners who forget to keep an eye on their frame to check angles and composition. First set up your subject properly before shooting and while you start shooting focus on the screen. What is being captured is more important than how it looks to the naked eye.

You might know many amazing techniques but do not use one film to showcase all your knowledge or you may end up with messy, confusing footage. Add effects such as tilting and zooming shots only when needed. It's important to understand the topic and what you really want from your shoot. Decide on what should go into the video and then follow that plan.