12 tips for making professional video you don’t want to miss

4/13/2023

Indeed, you want to create professional videos that are engaging and attractive enough, right?

Back in the past, making a professional video was a pretty big obstacle, especially for amateurs who weren’t well trained in video editing techniques.

Now, thanks to professional and smart video editing applications, having an eye-catching, impressive, and professional video is no longer a big challenge.

However, it doesn’t mean you can create beautiful videos in a wink without noticing any factors.

To create beautiful videos right from the start, don’t miss 12 tips we briefly share below.

1. Adjust light properly

The quality of a completed professional video always has a huge difference in lighting. Therefore, you should make it one of your highest priorities during filming.

If you don’t use sufficient light, your video will most likely look amateurish, even if it has excellent content.

The sun is one of the best video lights. Try to get your footage in the morning or evening, when the light is softer if you are filming in natural light.

Midday light can throw hard shadows on your subjects from straight overhead, whereas morning and evening light are more flattering.

If you have to film in the middle of the day, try to pick a cloudy day, or find a shady place for softer light.

If you’re getting footage indoors, you should pay attention to the types of lights you use, and the area you place them.

Remember to avoid overhead lighting – it can cast unflattering shadows on the faces of your subjects.

Another good natural source of light is windows. You can use a big lamp or two for casting the kind of light you want.

12 tips for making professional video you don’t want to miss

Consider the effect you want to create in your finished video before you set up your light sources. Determine whether you want to fully lit up the face of your subject (“soft” or “flat” light), or some shadows (“hard” light).

Many shadows will make your video look dramatic. They distract your video, especially when drama is not the main effect.

Using little or no shadow creates a more transparent and open vibe, which is better for business or marketing videos.

If you want to use flat light in your video, you need to balance two lights on both sides of the camera.

You can either put them behind or in front of the camera. Here is an example of how to have this setup:

You can try to achieve this with the “lighting triangle” if you want your subject to have more shadow and depth.

2. Set up a neat background

Consider the background you use to shoot. Your video will look unprofessional and terrible if it has a confusing or distracting background.

A strong-colored background is an easy way to get a professional look for your video.

You can either choose a wall, bedding, or a large backdrop paper. But, make sure that your subject stays several feet away from the background to prevent shadows from casting on it.

Shooting your video in a “professional” background is another good idea.

You can choose the place where you work or spend time. This person, for example, makes her videos in her home.

Check it out as a great example of video’s setting in home:

In the background of your shot, you shouldn’t film with a window or another reflective surface because it could reflect the camera.

Furthermore, your subject can look dark and shadowy if you use a light source like a window behind your subject.

3. Choose a good editing video program

Of course, good software for video editing can make your raw film look great. Some simple tools such as Motionbear, or iMovie are good choices.

Besides, you can use Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro; they are more professional options.

Using a professional video editor, you can have these benefits:

You can easily add text to video;
You can cut and customize videos;
You can transit scenes;
You can change aspect ratio;
You can add filters and overlays;
There are a bunch of video and sound stocks you can use.

4. Don’t over-edit your video

Testing different effects could be fun, but don’t go too insane for editing video. An effortless, clean style is the most professional look.

When you edit your video, don’t forget:
To clean up any background noise;
To adjust light if necessary;
To remove odd pauses and silences;
To add background music and transitions;

Note: If you cut one scene to another scene, you should make the jump where movement takes place in both segments. This makes your video smoother and more natural.

5. Use clear audio

In fact, your audio quality matters more than your video quality.

Most people are prepared to view a non-HD video, or even a little grainy video as long as other good factors are guaranteed.

However, fudging, indistinct audio only needs a few seconds to make everyone hit the “Back” button.

As audio is so important, the first piece of equipment you should invest in is a good microphone.

Get the best you could afford. Between $100 and $200, you can obtain a good and durable microphone. If you have a tight budget, there are also some reasonable options under $100. A lav mic is an example.

Capture clear audio by bringing your microphone as close as possible to the subject.

You might want a pop filter to remove blips and crackles from the completed record. Be aware that your microphone may also pick up any background noise.

Such things as traffic, birds flying noise, and even the wind sound are easy to set up, but all these sounds in your recording are very obvious.

6. Never leave shaky footage in your video

Shaky footage will make any professional video look amateurish, and it can make your viewers feel seasick as well.

It’s difficult to keep a camera fully stable, so try not to hold your camera by your hand at all. You should use a tripod, or set your camera on a sturdy surface to stabilize all footage.

Try not to move your camera when it’s set up unless you have to. It’s better to cut from shot to shot instead of panning the camera if you have to change perspective.

If your film is shaky, video stability software can help to fix it later. Some cameras also have built-in stabilization to lessen shaking by slowing down your footage.

7. Apply the rule of thirds

The rule of thirds is one of film composition’s most basic principles.

Imagine the field you’re filming has a grid set 3-by-3. You should put your subject along with one of the grid lines instead of placing it right in the middle of the shot.

The points where the lines intersect are strong areas to focus on.

Even though you don’t always have to comply with the rule of thirds, you should follow if you are still learning. With experience gained, you will be better placed to adhere to the rule and break it.

8. Take good advantage of your phone

You don’t have a DSLR camera? It’s not a big deal. You can use your smartphone to capture professional videos. For most purposes, the video quality filming by phone is excellent.

But if you use your phone for video creation, there are several things you should keep in mind.

Use your phone’s back camera because the front camera on most smartphones is not as good as a back camera.

Record in horizontal instead of vertical mode. This gives good footage on larger devices rather than only phone screens.

If your phone has an overlay feature on your screen, use it. This helps you prevent tilted images.

9. Be professional if you are on camera

If you appear in your video, the way you act on a camera has an enormous impact on how professional your video looks.

You might distract viewers from your message if you look nervous, or uncomfortable.

Fortunately, you can improve this with practice. If you’re not familiar with being on camera, here are some of the main things you need to focus on when filming:

Use calm and open body language.
Stand up straight – the poor posture is obvious on the camera, making your video look bad.
Keep the shoulders back and muscles relaxed. Take deep breaths to comfort yourself.
Don’t cross your arms because that makes you look unconfident.
Always smile, especially when you start your video. How friendly you seem strongly impacts audience’ impression.
When you talk, slow down your speed and speak as clearly as possible. Talk from your diaphragm instead of your throat.
Try to keep your hands busy if you feel jittery. For example, holding a pen is a way to focus on something besides the camera.
Practice frequently. Check yourself on camera and determine which areas you can improve, then try to work on these things consciously to make them better.

Don’t miss >> The 18 best tips to be more comfortable when you are on camera

10. Shoot from many angles, not only one

Cutting your professional videos from one angle to another is a good and straightforward way to add visual interest.

This is especially helpful if you make a how-to video, a product demo, or a different kind of video that shows you do something instead of talking.

Shoot lots of B-roll footage for each video so that you can use them later if you like.

Tip: Shift by at least 45 degrees when you change perspectives. Minor changes in perspective don’t create the desired effect; they only annoyed viewers.

11. Have a clear plan for your video

Poor technology is not the only thing that can un-professionalize a video. Failure to plan may also make your viewers less interested in your finished video.

You should take the time to thoroughly plan your video before you begin to film to make sure your video content is as good as the footage quality.

To have a good plan, you should begin with defining the video’s purpose. Ask yourself what you want or communicate with your audience through the video.

Then, you should also define your target audience and how you will make your video speak to these viewers.

After defining the goals, writing the script, and building a storyboard, you should review them until it’s as good as you want.

Don’t hesitate to rewrite, rearrange, or delete anything doesn’t work. Rambling videos are so dull, so keep it as brief and concise as possible.

12. Promote your creation

Finish your video; you only go half of the journey; the other half is to get people to watch them.

Promote your video and grow your following if you want to present yourself as a professional creator.

Usually, you don’t have many views or audience interaction at first.

Everyone must start somewhere, and certain channels have a greater appeal than others, giving them a benefit in picking up new viewers.

Don’t be rushed, your audience should grow over time.

However, if you create and release more videos without many views, your channel will look quite amateur to convince people to follow it.

So, to effectively promote your videos as a beginner, here are a few initial strategies.

Place your videos in suitable social media formats. You can easily upload your video on any social media platform if you use Motionbear.

Upload your videos to the channels your audience is using. Do not waste too much energy on platforms that are not popular with your target audience.

Learn the video SEO technique. Good descriptions can help you get more views by writing keywords and marking your videos properly.

Regularly release new videos. Fresh content shows viewers how active and creative your channel is. Thanks to this, your audience will be more likely to come back.

Interact as frequently as possible with your audience. Answering comments, questions, and thanking your audience for spending time watching your videos are other good ways to impress and make them come back to your channel.

The more professional your video is, the more trustworthy your brand to your customers.

While it can be challenging to create professional videos in one or two days of practicing, it won’t take you a few years to create professional videos.

However, by applying the 12 tips and techniques in this article and hard work and regular practice, you can surely improve your subsequent video quality.

So, what are you waiting for but training yourself on making professional videos from today?