Video content is a big deal for businesses these days. Estimates suggest that 2022 will be the year that streaming video accounts for more than 80 percent of all global internet traffic. Of course, there are other reasons why you want videos for products or services. Video helps boost conversions and sales. They encourage sharing on social media. You may also see improvement in page ranking from search engines when you have videos on your site. Of course, making videos isn’t exactly paint-by-numbers. So, keep reading for some tools that will help you create video content for your business.
Cameras
Video production companies invest thousands of dollars in their cameras because they need to do that. They never know who will hire them, which means their cameras must shoot at a quality level that meets the standards of television broadcasting. For the business owner, the odds are good that you’re shooting for the Internet. So, sure, you can shoot in 4K, but you don’t need to do that. In fact, you can get high-def video shooting on most modern smartphones, DSLRs, and inexpensive video cameras.
Camera Accessories
Once you have a camera you can use, there are a few accessories that will make your life a lot easier. Tripod is an important accessory for good video quality as it keeps the camera steady. If you’re planning on shooting anywhere but at a desk, you’ll want a full-size tripod. Most DSLRs and video cameras have a spot on the bottom that lets you screw the camera right onto the tripod. If you’re working with a smartphone, you’ll need a smartphone adapter which you can get for less than $20.
Microphones
Something that most people forget about when they first start shooting video is the microphones. Yes, most cameras come with built-in microphones, but they’re rarely great. Think of the microphones you see in laptops. They function, but the quality is so-so. At a minimum, you’ll want a couple of lavalier microphones. If you plan on shooting a lot of videos, you may eventually want to invest in a shotgun microphone, a mic boom, and a portable digital audio recorder.
Lighting
Lighting is tricky. Natural light can help you a lot, but that means waiting for the right conditions. If you live somewhere where it rains all the time, that can mean a lot of waiting. Your other option is a video lighting setup. You can find basic photography/video lighting kits online that include two or three stand-mounted lights. Most of them will include filters to adjust the light color and quality. The lights will typically allow for dimming as well.
Green Screen
You hear a lot about green screens in big-budget, Hollywood action films, but they’re also very common in lower-budget online video production. A green screen is simply green muslin fabric attached to a stand to keep it flat. You shoot the video so that the subject is entirely surrounded by the green screen in the frame. That lets you add the background you want and even add effects.
Editing Software
You’ll need some kind of editing software. Adobe Premiere Pro is the top-of-the-line choice for video editing, but it also requires a monthly subscription to Adobe Creative Cloud. There is also a learning curve involved. If you’re going to shoot a lot of videos and maybe take a course, Adobe Premiere can make sense. Otherwise, you’ll probably want something a little easier to use and a little less costly. Other options include PowerDirector 365, HitFilm Express, or even the onboard Windows or Apple video editing software. If you want to add some audio excitement, look for some royalty-free action music to include.
Video Content Production and You
You can invest money in video production tools, but you don’t need to do that in order to get started. All you really need to get up and running are a camera, a microphone, a tripod, and some kind of editing software. Don’t forget that you’re probably carrying around a high-quality camera in your pocket already. After you get everything up and running, you can add more tools to your video production kit to boost the sophistication of your productions.
