HOW TO SHOOT A VIDEO

So, we’ve asked you to shoot a video yourself, at your home or office. There are a few ways you can do this, and we want to outline them and give you some best practices. 

If you have a tripod, or you can place your phone camera somewhere where it will remain still as it records, that’s ideal. If not, grab a family member or co-worker who can hold the phone while you record the video.

Consider where the video will be shared – on most social media platforms, horizontal video is better than vertical. Some platforms (like Snapchat, Instagram Reels, and TikTok) are built for vertical video. As a rule, if you’re not sure where the video will be shared, record it horizontally.

You want to keep in mind three other things when you’re preparing to record: the background, lighting, and sound. If possible, you want to make sure there isn’t a window or light behind you. It’s better to be facing the light and the window, with the camera in between you and the source of light.

When it comes to the sound quality of your video, there are a few things to keep in mind. If at all possible, record the video with a lavalier mic plugged into your camera. This will provide better sound quality than your phone’s normal microphone. If you don’t have a mic you can plug in, try to record in a room that isn’t prone to echoes – that typically means a room that has lower ceilings and is carpeted.

For the background, consider what’s there. Is there anything that might appear to be sticking out of your head or off your shoulders? Are there piles of paper? Is there a light switch next to your face? Tidy up the background and make sure there isn’t anything that’ll make you go viral in all the wrong ways!

In most cases, it’s best to speak contemporaneously, guided only by bullet points or an outline. If you must read from a script, try to have someone stand right next to the camera and have them hold the script right by the lens. That way, your eyes are as close to looking straight at the camera as possible. We want to avoid the impression that you’re reading something, even if you are.

If you must read a script word for word, we recommend the BigVu iPhone/iPad app. It allows you to use the front camera of your phone or iPad while putting your script right on the screen, turning your device into a makeshift teleprompter.

Once you’ve recorded your video, and before you break down all the equipment, check the video to make sure that the background, lighting, and sound are okay. Then send it to us via email or a document sharing service like Dropbox.