A music video is a great tool that can be used to elevate your brand through audio and visual techniques. And the best part about it? It can be cost efficient! All you need is a good budget, and a reliable team.
Many production companies require a huge investment for professional video content. That’s why we’re here to offer tips on how you can do it yourself! And worst comes to worst, there are always entry-level videographers who would love the opportunity to work with you, impress you, and make their mark in the industry.
However, good music videos take planning. So it’s important to make notes before you begin. Here are steps that you can take to begin the music video production process!
1. Choose The Right Song
Consider an older song. It takes a long time to make a music video. Use this opportunity to play around with an older song, so it’s not the same as the new single you want to release. Variety is key.
Don’t just think “single”. Singles are everywhere, it gets boring. Choosing a song from an album that did really well is always a great option. It changes things up, and keeps people listening.
Shorter might be better. Minutes add up. And the longer your song is, the longer your team will have to write, shoot, and edit your project. This could become tiresome and expensive. You might give up before it’s finished.
Your song should speak to you. Music videos are used to really show off who the solo artists or bands really are. It doesn’t have to be your best song, but viewers should feel a connection when watching you. And you should feel a connection to the song you’re performing.
Make sure the song is yours. You want to avoid copyright claims at all costs. If you’re unsure whether a song is 100% yours, it’s important to get the paperwork in place for any legal action that might need to be taken.
2. Pre-production (Crew and Equipment)
Having a great team is essential in creating the best possible video content for your music video. That being said, everyone should know their roles and responsibilities when it comes to moving forward with the production. You will need:
- Camera Operators
- Lighting Operators
- Actors/dancers
- Director/Producer
- Artist/band members
- Editors
You also need to be conscious of the times the shoots are taking place. Consider providing meals for your team if shoots run during lunch or dinner hours. Encourage teammates to take breaks and drink water because no one enjoys working when they’re grumpy, hungry, or tired.
Although renting equipment is doable, it would be better to sort out a team who may already have their own equipment - to cut down on total production costs. There are also many other ways to get hands on equipment, such as reaching out to film students who are trying to get experience. This way you could help each other out by giving them experience while you use their tools.
3. Planning The Shoot
It’s very important to have your shoot mapped out before renting out any equipment or hiring any other person for a position. Time is money, and it adds up when not used correctly. Figure out exactly how you want the shoot to go and try to follow the plan as closely as possible.
Vision/storyboarding can go a long way in terms of planning. With the visual aspect there, the whole team can be on the same page with what the video should look like. Once the storyboard is done, figure out what cast and equipment is needed and work out a schedule that works for everyone. If someone besides yourself is the producer of the music video, fill them in with what is expected and they can take care of the rest.
4. Shooting The Music video
Editing can be tough when shots are mixed up and out of order. When filming, keep the pre-production planning notes handy and try to follow them as closely as possible. Take
note of what shots have already been taken and what shots still need to be taken. But don’t waste so much time on creating the perfect shoot that you lose focus on the quality of work you’re producing.
There is no such thing as too much footage. Especially when ahead of schedule, ask the camera operators if they can shoot the same scene but from a different angle. You never know! You might have liked a certain shot when you originally planned it out, but now that you see it in a different way, you might end up liking it more.
5. Live Footage
Live footage can greatly enhance any music video because it shows the artist or band in their natural habitat! It shows their raw energy on stage, and gives a good contrast to an otherwise professionally planned out and shot music video. Don’t just use live footage though, it’s important to mix it up!
There are also hurdles to overcome when filming live, including:
- Only having one opportunity to get footage since songs usually only play once
- Live performances are often different than recorded versions so audio-syncing
can be difficult
- Bands can often be unpredictable and you won’t always record a good reaction
from the audience
- The ambience might look and feel great in person, but might not show up the
way you want it to on camera
- You might end up distracting the band if they are unaware of you filming. Make
sure they know ahead of schedule
And worst comes to worst, you can always set up a “staged” live performance where you can control the audience’s reaction, the ambience, and the artists or bands playing.
6. Using Stock Footage
Stock footage is another great tool to use in your music video. But they often come with strict copyright laws. Make sure the artist is accredited, and knows about the project beforehand to avoid any legal action that could be taken against you.
Some other footage may be legally used as well, including anything royalty-free.
Stock footage is fun and perfectly safe to use, as long as you don’t claim the work to be your own and you do your proper research before publishing your music video. We recommend using storyblocks, as you can use any of the videos there without a problem once you are on a plan.
7. Editing Software
There are many affordable editing softwares that you can use to edit your footage into an awesome music video. This includes applications like iMovie. However, a clear difference in quality can be noticed in cheap vs. good quality software. If you want that professional look, consider applications like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro.
Editing takes up a lot of space on your computer. It’s always a smart idea to keep an external hard drive with all of your footage, and to also keep a backup external hard drive should anything happen to the original. Losing footage in the final stages of post-production could make or break your project. No one likes the feeling of losing a piece of footage that took forever to get right!
Be sure to know beforehand what output formats would be best suited for your type of video. For example, MP4 is the most common for online streaming platforms but other places might require something like DVD.
8. Get Interesting
Music videos have been around for a long time, and it’s easy for them to get repetitive. Think about the deeper meaning behind your song, and really try to encompass it through your footage. People are tired of seeing the typical audience jumping up and down at a concert. Try playing with different lighting scenarios, or locations that aren’t as well-known to give viewers a fresh feeling. And usually, less is more. Keep it clean, keep it simple, but make sure it grabs your attention. Most importantly, have fun with it!
9. The Big Three
Zoom is not your friend. Using too much zoom can look cheesy, and make your footage look very unprofessional. It’s hard to pull off a steady hand. When using zoom, try to use it for dramatic purpose here and there. Don’t overdo it.
Don’t just fix it in post-production. Using too many special effects or altering the footage in too many ways during editing can really make your footage stand out - and not in a good way. Effects should enhance it, not over-power it.
SFX goes a long way. A lot of people don’t realize how much sound effects can really elevate your footage. 50% of your viewing pleasure when watching film comes from sound. For example, if someone is walking down the street then you should add some ambient street noise to make it feel more believable. Your footage should always try to give the most realistic feel, unless you have other creative direction for your work.
- By Jessika Molnar
If you need further help creating your own music video, we offer video production services that will help you elevate your brand and bring your song to life!
We look forward to being a part of your success. Contact us here to get started.
