8 Secrets to Creating Professional-Quality YouTube Videos
Who isn’t into video content these days? Both consumption and production of videos are hitting record numbers.
Amidst the frenetic rise of video, if there’s one thing that has remained the same, it’s the popularity of YouTube. It’s the world’s largest video platform, where people watch over one billion hours of videos every day, and 30,000 hours of video content are uploaded every hour.
With such insane competition, cutting through the noise with video is getting tougher by the day. This also means you don’t stand a chance without a professional-grade video.
The question is, how do you make one?
It takes a little know-how and some insider secrets to be able to make the best YouTube videos. That’s what we are going to reveal in this blog.
Use a Good Camera but Remember it Isn’t Everything
The first and foremost step in making a professional video is video quality. A decent camera can capture good quality video and images. If you are looking for something professional and beginner friendly, try some basics from the big houses like a Canon PowerShot G7 X or a Sony A6000. If you have an iPhone camera that can take good video too, and so does certain Android phones.
Before investing a fortune in a fancy camera, you have to remember that a camera can only provide video quality. A lot of different aspects go into capturing the perfect video, and that includes proper lighting. Without an understanding of how lighting works, a video output can look bad even if you use a high-end camera. Learning how to operate your camera and set lights is a major step toward making good videos.
Invest in a Separate Mic
Most cameras come with a microphone. But a professional vlogger or YouTuber would tell you it is not wise to rely on that mic. A built-in mic has its limitations and imperfections. Investing in a separate microphone for your audio is always better, as the audio in a YouTube video is very important. Similar to video quality, viewers are very particular about audio quality.
A lavalier mic is a great place to start. You can connect it to your device and use it to record audio. Other options include a shotgun microphone, portable recorder, or USB microphone.
Focus on Getting the Lighting Right
Professional video makers will swear by this and might even consider this the foremost aspect of videography: Good lighting.
If you understand that lighting makes a camera work at its best, then you are good to go. It is usually low light that makes cameras perform poorly. With a proper light setup, your camera can create the best quality video without spending a ton on the camera.
All you have to do for good lighting is invest in a basic three-point or four-point light system. It won’t cost you a fortune and is a great investment for all your future video endeavours. A key light, fill light, and backlight serve as the three-point lighting. The additional fourth one is a background light. Whether you choose a three-point or a four-point light, you can make sure your videos are well lit, your subject is clear, and the light brings out the subject’s best features.
Shoot in Small Segments
Another secret to making great videos is shooting the video in small segments. You can stop and go as you shoot, creating smaller segments of video than an hour or two-hour-long video, which you have to watch entirely to edit.
Segmenting videos into smaller parts also allows you to create a better narrative for your video. This makes editing easier as well. Sifting through smaller videos is easier than cutting a longer video. You can also easily apply transitions with smaller segments.
Play Around With Transitions
Transitions are an important element of a video. Instead of crossfades and slide-ins, applying creative and aesthetic transitions is an art in itself. Good transitions can make a video seem appealing and seamless.
Basic transitions can be used to create stunning videos, but it takes a lot of practice and skill to pull off great transitions without seeming amateurish.
Follow the Rule of Thirds
Framing your subject well is a crucial part of video making. Getting the composition right is all about keeping in mind the subject of your video and ensuring it doesn’t overwhelm or underwhelm the viewer. It is all about striking a balance.
One such composition guideline videomakers swear by is the rule of thirds. According to the rule of thirds, a subject in the frame should be placed in the left or right third of the frame, with the other two-thirds open. This is a tried and tested way of creating compelling and well-composed shots.
Tie it All Together With a Good Editing Software
If there is an aspect of video making that videographers stress as much as anything, it is the post-production process or the editing. Good editing can make even amateur videos look great. However, it is enabled only by good editing software. A great video editing software like Final Cut Pro or Adobe Premiere Pro can help you edit videos beautifully and put together your final video easily.
Good Script Goes a Long Way
It is no secret that a proper video needs a proper script. Without a well-planned script, video production can go awry. When there is a framework to work on, there is a better perspective the video production team or individual can work on. It also helps you plan your shooting.
A script helps you with the video’s form and content. Without a proper script, you might end up rambling in your video, losing its professional feel despite all the professional tools.
Professional Video Production with Cinimage
There are plenty of ways to shoot a video for YouTube. But to make a video look truly professional requires planning, patience, and skills. All of this can take a good amount of time to master. If you’re a busy business owner, you might want to hire a team of experts to do the hard work for you. At Cinimage, we have over 14 years of experience creating professional and premium-quality videos for all platforms, including YouTube. We can create videos to entice your audience and help your brand earn more subscribers on YouTube.
To get started, get in touch with us today!
