Recently, we wrote about how to plan a successful video shoot from behind the camera post. There, we dig into the different steps you must take throughout the pre-production process to set your video up for success once in front of the camera.

While planning the technical requirements for your video shoot is half the battle, a successful video doesn’t end there. The next step is to ensure you’re prepared to be in front of the camera.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the on-camera planning process to ensure you get the best take every time.

Choose Your Video Style

When it comes to choosing your video style, there is certainly a wide variety to choose from. And while many of them might sound intriguing, you must consider your goals and whether it’s evergreen content or part of a campaign to determine best fit.

When choosing your video style, start by asking these questions:

• Should you choose live action or animation? (Tip: Before deciding animation is right for your video, consider your tone and goals. Animation is often associated with cartoons, and if not done well, can look off the rack and fail to portray your company in a unique and distinguished way).
• Do you need motion graphics?
• What are the visuals that are going to grab your audiences’ attention?
• Do you need to show a product/solution or a diagram of your product/solution?
• Should you have an on-screen presenter or opt for voiceover?
• Should your presenters address the camera directly reading a teleprompter, or would interview style appeal more to your audience? (Tip: Interviews usually add sincerity or authenticity to a video, as opposed to a scripted direct address to the camera).

A successful video strategy incorporates different video styles for different video projects, depending on the objectives, the intended audience, your goals, and more.

Avoid The On-Camera Talent Scheduling Puzzle

While it might seem simple, scheduling on-camera talent often presents a complexity in the pre-production process.

There are a couple key factors to keep in mind when choosing presenters:

1. Who will have the biggest impact on the overall outcome of the video? All too often, the fear of exclusion or politics comes into play when choosing on-camera talent and wanting too many people in a video can lead to problems. For example, if you want 2 people in the video vs 7-9 people is a big difference and leaves you struggling to master a scheduling puzzle.
2. What’s the relationship with the presenters and getting them in front of the camera? Are they staff members fulfilling their job duties or customers being incentivized to take part? The dynamic of the on-camera talent can impact the willingness and overall quality of the content.

Don’t wait until the last minute to carefully choose your presenters and make sure everyone is on the same page. Coordinate in advance to find a few target dates that fit everyone’s schedules. (Tip: we like using a free app called When2Meet to easily find the best times for a group to meet.)

Lights, Camera, Action

After considering the above steps and taking time to plan the behind the camera post process of the video shoot, you will have a much higher likelihood of success on your next video.

At Video Parachute, we help make sure you’ve got the basics covered, know the purpose of your video, and have the equipment and expertise you’ll need to create a piece that will exceed your goals, whatever they may be.

If you’re ready to start planning your next marketing video, give us a call today.

As a marketing professional, you know how important video content is. By the end of this year, online videos will make up more than 82% of all consumer internet traffic.

But the truth behind video production is that it’s not always particularly easy – planning is tiresome, shoots are complicated, and things always take longer than people originally think. But the big secret nobody ever realizes is that the real magic happens long before you hit the record button – in pre-production.

In this post, we’ll walk you through the technical process for planning a video shoot, (with our favorite tips and best practices), so you are prepared with the most practical and actionable knowledge to make video content a regular part of your overall marketing strategy.

 Define Video Objectives

First things first. Everything begins with defining the goal for your video content. Just like any other type of content, you can’t reach your aim without first deciding on what it is.

In the beginning stage of video planning, it’s easy to get carried away with numerous ideas. But if you try to focus on too many different goals in one video, you can’t give the individual goals the attention they deserve, hurting your chances of creating a successful video in the long run.

So, start by asking yourself:

• What is the most important goal of the video?
• What business objective will it accomplish?
• Who will be viewing the video?
• What do you want the viewer to do, or how do you want the audience to feel after they watch it?

When making decisions throughout the planning process, be sure to bring everything back to the goal you’re trying to accomplish. Veering away from your defined objectives will just waste time, energy, and money creating videos that will fail to drive your desired outcomes.

Location Matters

The location of your video sets the tone for the content. It’s important to understand that filming outside is much more difficult than filming indoors. Exterior settings are larger and present many more elements that are beyond your control. If you must film outside, be prepared to spend more time and most likely, more money.

If you want consistency take after take, consider an inside location. Here are some factors to help you understand what makes a good location:

• Visual character – The background of the video helps to tell the overall story and add perspective and emotions, so make sure it is visually interesting and reflects the image you wish to project.
• Large space – Ensure the space is big enough to accommodate all equipment and on-camera talent. (Tip: Schedule a tech scout to measure the space of the location and get familiar with lighting conditions, sounds, internet and IT capabilities, and load in requirements to avoid running into unexpected challenges).
• High ceilings – A room with high ceilings provides the option to mount things like lights or backdrops to the ceiling so that you can free up more floor space in the room.
• Controllable natural light – Are there windows in the space and can the natural light be controlled by the film crew? (Tip: Avoid shooting in front of a window. The levels of light from exterior vs interior create unwanted problems).
• Quietness – Are you next to a `busy intersection, or a fire station where an alarm will be going off frequently? External sounds can ruin a shoot, even in a controlled environment.
• Accessibility – Does the location disrupt other actions? For example, if you choose to shoot in your lobby, consider the foot traffic in and out of the space. Or if you decide to film in your conference room that is needed by executives just before or after your shoot, you might be asking for trouble. Decide what steps you’ll need to take in advance (like reserving the area or shooting on a weekend) to avoid unwanted distractions.

Choosing the right location and doing your homework beforehand will allow you to avoid production delays, save time and money, and create a video that speaks to your audience.

Ready, Set, Go Plan Your Next Video

As you know, video marketing is a must have. But keep in mind, there are many things to consider before hitting the “record” button on your newest video marketing campaign.

At Video Parachute, we understand there’s a lot to do when preparing for a video shoot. That’s why we make sure you’ve got the basics covered, know the purpose of your video, and have the equipment and expertise you’ll need to create a piece that will exceed your goals, whatever they may be.

If you’re ready to start planning your next marketing video, give us a call today.