15 Video Production Tips to Enhance Quality and Gain Views

One important advantage that people have when marketing is the use of video content. And what’s crazy is that by the end of the year, video content will make up almost 3 quarters of everything on the internet.

The challenge is getting people to stay and watch those videos. It becomes increasingly harder the longer your video is. Videos nowadays don’t just excel with the information being provided. People are judging other aspects as well, including style, colour, sound, etc. In a nutshell, your content needs to be memorable.

Below we’ve come up with 15 tips to boost your production quality, and keep people watching for longer!

1. Pre-production Advice

Being prepared for your shoots is crucial. Oftentimes, people show up to a shoot unorganized and this may result in your final product looking unprofessional. However, if you’re prepared and focused, your attention can be focused on more important things rather than minor things that could have been sorted out beforehand.

Don’t waste time figuring out angles. Come to your shoot with the final product in mind, it will make things flow much easier.

2. Originality

Your video idea should be different than anything out there already. Don’t be a copycat. Something easy that you can do is type in keyword searches and find out what’s popular. Then, before moving ahead with your idea, make sure there isn’t another video that already did what you have in mind. Ideas can be similar, but ultimately the videos should be completely different.

3. Planning

Before you start filming, start storyboarding! A storyboard is an awesome tool that allows you to plan out each shot so that you go to your shoot with a solid plan in mind. Always make sure you have extra footage so that when you start the editing process, if some shots look shaky or blurry, you have others to fall back on.

4. Selection is Key

Having high standards is a good thing. Don’t just let anyone off the street be in your video. Hold auditions or do something where you can see if your actors have what it takes to make your video shine. You don’t want to choose anyone who looks uncomfortable in front of the camera, or someone who can’t memorize their lines. Having good actors will make the process 10x easier in the long run.

5. Considering the Set

Despite what you may think, your audience is paying close attention to your set. Don’t try to make one place look like another. For example, don’t try to make your kitchen look like an office. Plan ahead so that you can have an actual office to shoot in. The more realistic, the better your footage will come out.

6. Quality of Sound

Bad sound quality can make or break your production. Make sure to use proper microphones depending on your situation. If you’re outside and it’s windy, consider a boom mic with the sock cover on top to cut out the wind noise. If your actors are talking, consider using lavalier mics. Bad sound quality is unprofessional, and an easy thing to fix.

7. Lighting Setup

Under or overexposed footage looks trashy. Depending on your situation, you may need a different lighting setup so consider this when you’re planning it out. If you have someone on screen talking, you might want to use a 3-point lighting setup to remove any unwanted shadows. Proper lighting can greatly enhance your final product.

8. Tripod Use

Shaky footage is extremely unprofessional. Consider a tripod or gimbal to stabilize your camera when shooting. ‘Nuff said.

9. Focus

Having a really sharp focus on your camera is important. You don’t want to finish your shoot, and then while editing you notice everything is out of focus. Consider locking your exposure as well, and making sure to keep a nice white balance so all of your footage looks even and you don’t have to spend lots of time in post-production editing the colour.

10. Rule of Thirds

If you don’t know what the Rule of Thirds is, basically your shot is split up by 3 horizontal and 3 vertical lines. When you frame your actors or subjects, consider putting them off to the side to create the illusion of movement. It makes your shots much more interesting to look at.

11. Emotional Response

The overall structure and pacing of your video dictates the emotional response you will get from your viewers. If the purpose of your video is to create a feeling of guilt in your viewers for example, then you don’t want something too fast paced. You want something a little more slow, with proper music to back it up.

12. B-roll

Having b-roll that compliments your overall video theme is important. In case you ran out of time and didn’t film it yourself, you can easily find stock footage on websites like Shutterstock. Instead of having lots of cuts in your video, you can replace it with b-roll and it will look a lot better.

13. Music

Having light background music can elevate any project. It provides emotion, and can cover up any sounds you might have accidentally picked up. You can find royalty free music on sites like Artlist, but consider paying for your music because royalty free music sometimes doesn’t have the quality you’re looking for.

14. Video Text

When choosing a font, try to pick something simple, classy, and sharp. Also try using animations to keep your viewers engaged. Your text should be easy to read and should enhance the overall quality of your work.

15. Platform Optimization

Depending on what platform you’re using to publish your video, you will want to be mindful when editing. For example, if your video is for TikTok, you’re only allotted 60 seconds so you want the most eye-catching and thought-provoking content at the beginning to keep your viewers engaged. Know what platform requires what, and you’re already on your way to smart editing!

- By Jessika Molnar

If you need further help creating your own marketing videos, we offer video production services that will help you elevate your brand!

We look forward to being a part of your success. Contact us here to get started.

How To Make A Music Video

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.

The 7 Best Video Production Companies in Kitchener Waterloo

Whether you are a small local startup or part of the marketing department of a national organization, video production is probably something you have thought about. There’s almost no better way to capture (and keep) the attention of an audience to get your message across and while this form of advertising is as old as marketing itself it was only adapted to a digital format in 1994 by AT&T. As access to digital production software like the Adobe Creative Suite or Final cut is made increasingly accessible, sometimes it is very enticing to just learn the skills yourself! While it can’t hurt to have some basic understanding of video production and editing, in reality, the time and resources that would go into developing these skills often outweigh outsource costs. 

As a brand, specialization will allow you and your company to focus on your competitive advantages, and as an individual it’ll allow you to spend more time on the things you love. 

For all your video production needs, here is a list of some of the best video production companies around Kitchener-Waterloo, Ontario.

Jony Studios

Jony Studios is a content marketing agency with various integrated video production services. They provide customized content solutions to amplify your brand's voice, increase reach, and drive business growth.

If you are a B2B company or a growing established business that needs a more strategic video approach that can work cohesively with your marketing department as a partner, then they should be your top choice.

They have worked with top organizations such as Amazon, Penguin Random House, University of Waterloo, and Bakertilly.

Astrodog Media

Astrodog Media are experts at creating story-driven videos. They have a lot of experience not only with the technical but strategic side of video production therefore they are a great choice for anyone who knows what they want to say but aren’t quite sure yet how to say it. 

They’ve got a great website where you can view some of their work or if you prefer you can also check them out on instagram. 

Meta Media Productions

Despite being slightly smaller than some of the other names on this list, Meta Media has to be included because of their unique focus on world issues, the environment and education. With an equally as incredible portfolio of international photography and video, it is so lucky they choose to call Waterloo home.

Arc Media

Arc Media’s amazing track list of clients like Shopify, Manulife, The University of Waterloo and Vidyard speaks for itself. This company can do everything from corporate videos to artistic animation, but it’s their blend of creative skills and technical production expertise which really sets them apart. Arc Media is a one stop shop for every step of the video creation process. 

Token Weddings

Token Weddings is by far the best in class wedding video company in the waterloo region. Cinematic level videos and photos will bring those amazing memories to life for countless years to come. By focusing on their core competency, this company has been able to refine every part of wedding media and provide professional level service on your big day. Although Token Weddings is much more specific than the others on this list, they command a mention due to their incredible quality.

Digital North Media

Marketing, creativity and technology is the name of the game for Digital North Media, and they really take it in stride with their unrivaled digital marketing capabilities. While they do video production, this company is designed to take your whole brand into account, video is the cherry on top of an integrated mix of web development and marketing. For this reason, Digital North Media is much more well suited to work with large or established brands compared to start-ups and individuals. 

Memory Tree Productions

This is the last but far from the least mention on this list. While other companies like Token Weddings or Meta Media have chosen their niche and stuck to it, Memory Tree Productions  has gone the complete opposite route. The scale of their operations has allowed them to invest in skills and hardware inaccessible to other studios like extensive animation, drone footage, 360 VR and even virtual tours! This is the largest and most general studio, so if you are unable to get your project done anywhere else by a specialist, you can guarantee that Memory Tree will have it covered. 

Conclusion

Video can be the best media to promote any up and coming brand,  or preserve personal memories for a lifetime. But with so many moving pieces it can also be a cause of a lot of stress. 

Hopefully this list has given you a good overview of the many specialists and general media companies in the area so you can find the one that is right. Outsourcing your video projects to an organization that knows this through and through will not only save you time and stress, but likely money down the road. 

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For any inquiries about our video production services or to book a quote, just fill out this quick contact form and if you’re interested in the other media services we provide at Jony Studios, check out our services page here.