In the modern world, we haven’t yet discovered a means of telling a story better than with good videography. Mastering the art of conveying a story using video is perhaps one of the most important skills today.
Whether you are a novice videographer or a seasoned pro, understanding and implementing the best videography techniques can greatly enhance your craft and captivate your audience.
In this post, I will delve into common videography techniques any would-be videographer can employ to bring their videos to life. But first.
What is videography
Videography is the process of capturing images (moving or stationary) using cameras to convey or tell a story.
Videography, as a process, happens in three stages, pre-production, production and post-production.
Videography Pre-production
Pre-production in videography means the time, effort and planning that goes into making a video.
During pre-production, some of the things that happen depending on the scope of the video project include:
- Writing the script for the video or story
- Finding locations to shoot the video
- Hiring actors if needed
- Making sure all the equipment needed is available
- Finalizing the budget for the video project
- Making a schedule for the video shoot
Videography Production
Production in videography is the process of shooting a video project.
During production,
- A-roll (the main footage) is shot
- B-roll (secondary footage) is shot
- Sometimes several videos of the same scene are shot to ensure there is enough material during post-production
- A review of the video files is done.
Videography Post-production
Post-production in videography refers to the process of turning video files into ready-to-consume material.
During post-production:
- Video editing takes place
- The right background music is used to enhance the mood of the video
- Voice-over artists may be required to narrate the story in some scenes
- Colour correction, grading and matching is done in this stage.
- The final edit is watched and rewatched before being approved as ready for public consumption.
Types of videography
There are several different types of videography; each different type of videography is used to tell stories differently for different audiences.
Some common types of videography are:
- Documentary
- Promotional or product videos
- Animation
- Cinematic
- Tutorials and reviews
- Vintage
- Interviews
- Event videography
Common videography equipment
Videography, like many other jobs, requires certain gear to do right. The right videography gear can mean the difference between a good video and a bad one.
Here are some essential video gear for the discerning videographer.
A Video Camera
A video camera is the most important videography equipment, without which no videography can be done.
There are several video cameras out there, moreover, some smartphones these days take great videos.
If you are looking to get into videography and want to purchase a camera; pay attention to your budget, the type of video you want to make and where the video will be consumed.
Below are some blog posts related to video cameras for your reading pleasure.
Related: The Best Beginner And Midrange Cameras Under USD 1000
Related: Canon M50 Review, From A 3-Year Owner And Youtuber
A Tripod
A tripod is a piece of videography equipment used to hold the camera in a static position and keep it sturdy.
A tripod is essential to certain types of videography like interviews because it allows the videographer to keep the camera positioned in one place and eliminates camera shakes that would arise from holding the camera in hand.
When buying a tripod, pay attention to its durability, price, weight and most importantly height.
I recently wrote reviews of two budget tripods that I own. Read them below.
Related: Weifeng WT-3520 Portable Tripod Review
Related: Ulanzi MT-11 Multi-Function Octopus Tripod Review
External Microphone
An external microphone gives you better quality audio than a camera’s built-in microphone. And that is very important.
Most people don’t realise this, but audio provides half the viewing pleasure of a video. In fact, most people will still watch a video if the visuals are bad but the audio is good.
The vice-versa, however, does not work. Everybody hates poor audio. It is therefore very essential to invest in a good external microphone to level up your videos.
Related: Boya BY-MM1 Review; An Excellent Budget Microphone For Content Creators
Lighting Equipment
Lighting is to videography what butter is to bread. Good lighting brings a scene to life and elevates the art of videography like nothing else can.
As a videographer, you have to think about lighting each and every time you make a video. It is that important.
Think about it, if you shoot a video on a bright day, you stand the risk of over-exposing your video, if you make a video late at night, it will definitely be underexposed.
Consider investing in reliable lighting equipment to level up your videography; Examples of lighting equipment for video are;
- Softboxes
- Speedlites
- Video lights
Camera Lenses
Camera lenses are used to tell stories using different focal lengths, you can achieve different shots using just one camera;
Some lenses can be used to do close-ups, while others can be used to shoot landscapes and buildings. Do your research on the right kind of lens for the type of videography you are doing.
Related: The Best Lenses For The Canon EOS M50
Related: Canon EF 50mm F/1.8 STM Review
Video editing software
Video editing is an unavoidable part of videography, and for that, you will need video editing software.
Think of video editing as food preparation, no matter how good the raw ingredients are, if the chef messes up the result is bad food. That’s how important video editing is.
If you would like to get started on video editing, I offer video editing consultancy and coaching services.
You can take as many sessions or classes with me, the best part is you choose the time and pace you are comfortable with and I provide the skills.
Check out my portfolio page to see some of my video editing work.
Common Videography Techniques To Make Your Videos Come To Life
Videography is an art form, and the best artists have techniques that they employ to convey their art in the best possible light.
Videography is no different in that regard, here are some common videography techniques to make your videos come to life.
Composition
At the heart of good videography lies composition. Videography composition refers to the arrangement of visual elements like people or buildings within the frame.
A good videographer will not shy away from experimenting with different compositions to level up his or her storytelling.
Understand framing techniques like the rule of thirds and leading lines to achieve visually compelling shots and take your videography to the next level.
During interviews, for example, you might want to place your subject to one side of the frame, allowing for looking room where they are facing. This composition technique makes the audience feel like they are in the room with the interviewee.
Camera Movement
Camera movement can significantly impact an audience’s perception of a video scene.
Whether the camera movement is a smooth tracking shot, a dramatic crane shot, or a handheld sequence.
Each camera movement serves a purpose in storytelling, and when used correctly camera movement will have the audience on the edge of their seats, or chewing their nails in anticipation of the next scene.
As a videographer, it is important to know how to effectively use camera movement to convey emotion, to reveal information, and to build tension.
Some common camera movements in videography are.
- The Zoom
The zoom, as the name suggests is used to magnify a subject in the frame. It is used to bring to the audience’s notice a particularly important aspect of the story or the scene.
- The Pan
Panning is when the camera moves horizontally from one side to the other on a central axis, pans are used to follow a subject or to reveal a scene to the audience.
- The Tilt
The camera moves up and down. Unlike the pan which uses horizontal movements, the tilt is all about downward and upward movements.
The tilt is used to convey different emotions to an audience, for example, a tilt-up while revealing the height of something can convey immensity and magnitude. A tilt down can convey powerlessness.
Editing
The editing process in post-production is where all the elements of videography come together to form a cohesive narrative.
A good videographer must master editing techniques such as pacing, continuity of a story, sound design, and transitions to construct compelling sequences that engage and captivate.
Summary
Mastering the art of videography will require a deep understanding of these essential techniques and the creative vision to apply them effectively when needed.
By honing your composition, lighting, camera movement, lens choice and video editing skills, you can create visually stunning and engaging videos.
So, whether you’re behind the camera for the first time or you are a seasoned videographer, remember that the journey to mastery is ongoing, and every single video frame is an opportunity to tell your story in a new and compelling way.
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