Create a Quality Video

Video can be a great way to promote your club or district in your community. A poorly executed video, however, can deter prospective members from visiting a club meeting. Toastmasters International’s staff videographer Blake Carver created a video sharing his top nine tips for creating great film footage.

Here are five techniques to get you started. Watch the video below to learn all nine tips.

1 Use a tripod.

Shaky footage makes a video hard to watch. To avoid this, mount the camera on a tripod. If you don’t have access to a tripod, try to be as still as possible while holding the camera.

2 Record in a well-lit environment.

If your camera has an auto-adjustment feature, which most cameras do, it will automatically control how dark or bright your video will be. But in order for it to work, you need ample lighting.

3 Keep the subject in frame.

Whatever goes beyond the edges of your frame will not be captured. Make sure your subject’s head is a safe distance away from the edges of the frame, so if they move while speaking, they will remain in frame.

4 Get the microphone close to the subject.

Even if your video looks amazing, bad audio makes a video unwatchable. Always try and get the mic as close to the subject as possible, without it being too loud or ruining the shot.

5 Choose a quiet environment.

Make sure there is no excessive noise—traffic sounds, wind, ringing phones, loud air conditioners, people talking, etc.—that will distract from the subject.