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:
- 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.
- 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.