The first step to shooting the perfect video for your video blog is to ensure that you have chosen the right venue for the video. Again, if you are using a webcam, this will be limited, but if you are using a digital video camera, you won’t be limited at all.
First, you need to really consider the background. What will the camera see behind you? Will there be movement? A Sunset? Some sort of backdrop? Think about your favorite television talk show, and focus on the background there. For instance, is there a skyline? Is there a solid colored wall, but nice furnishings and simple deco? You need your own background or backdrop.
Lighting is another issue. Shoot a few minutes of practice video in the space that you plan to use to ensure that the lighting is right. Too much light can blur the lines and cause white spots on your video. If the video is too dark, you will have nothing more than shadowed figures.
Place the camera on the tripod, or on another solid, still surface. This will prevent you from shooting ‘shaky’ video. Don’t assume that just because you have steady hands, the video won’t be shaky – it very well could be, and this could ruin the whole thing. Even professional videographers know that using a tripod is always preferable to holding the camera, in order to produce the best possible video.
While it may be difficult in some locations, you should try to eliminate noise in the background as much as possible. This will result in a video with much higher quality audio, and it will require a little less editing later. While a great deal of background noise can be filtered out in the editing, it is not true that all of it can be, and therefore, you need to minimize it before and while you shoot the video.
There are two features on your digital video camera that you should strongly consider using. The first is auto focus. The second is image stabilizing. Furthermore, when you look at your test video, you may need to change settings to adjust for lighting – but if possible, make adjustments to your setting, instead of the camera settings.
Unless you are very close to the camera, you may want to consider using an external microphone. These are not expensive, and you will find that you get better audio quality with an external microphone. When you use the internal microphone, you will be limited as to how close or how far away the camera can be.
Once you feel that your physical setting and camera settings are right, you are ready to turn the camera on and start shooting your video. Note that it is perfectly acceptable to hold a paper or note cards while you are recording your video. It’s done all of the time, in the most professional of settings. However, if you don’t want to hold a paper or note cards, use a teleprompter.
Speak clearly and remember how much time you have for each segment of your format. You should not worry too much about keeping strictly to that time limit, however, as you can edit the video for time later on. If you stumble while speaking, again, don’t worry, as this can be edited later.
It could literally take days and even weeks to shoot a video if you worry over every little imperfect detail. If the majority of your video is good, that which is not good can be taken out or changed with editing. However, if the majority of it is not good, it should be redone.
You don’t need to add music, such as intro and exit music to the video as it is being shot. This is done during the editing phase. It is a good idea, however, to leave a little space in the front and at the end of the video to make editing a little bit easier. You don’t have to leave enough blank space for your music to fit…just start recording, wait about thirty seconds, and then start your actual show. When you are finished, wait an additional thirty seconds before you stop recording.
Again, don’t shoot the entire video without first shooting a few minutes of footage and checking it. You will find that you will save a great deal of time by recording for five minutes, watching, and then fixing anything that isn’t working out well, such as lighting or sound. Shoot this practice video until you have the right environment for your video!
You should also be aware that there is another option that will allow you to create a video blog, without shooting the first inch of video. You can use other people’s videos on your blog. There are, of course, pros and cons.
The cons are that this is not your video, and you will have to credit the author. You will also have no control over the quality or content of the video. The pros are that you don’t have to own a video camera or web cam to make this work for you.
The idea would be to go to one of the video sites, such as YouTube, and find video that would appeal to your audience. Then, simply post the video on your blog, and write a commentary about it.
Be prepared, however. Such a video blog won’t get nearly the attention that your own videos will. You also run the risk of losing visitors, as they surf away to find more videos by the author of the video that you are showing on your site. For best results in video blogging, shoot your own video, even if it is with a webcam.
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