Creating videos specifically for YouTube can be a daunting task for both the experienced and novice videographer. Especially when you’re doing it alone and filming yourself. This is mostly due to the emphasis placed on meeting specific video length and audience retention criteria supported by the YouTube algorithm. As creators we quickly become aware that if we seek to be successful on the platform, we must adhere to these criteria.
So, regardless of if you are creating a talking head, interview style video or a narrative story format, there are some practical, production rules to remember that will help you produce your best YouTube ready content possible with whatever equipment you have on hand.
The first rule is to decide and map out what your video is going to be about. Think of a great Title and consider what your thumbnail could look like during this step. This can be in the form of a formal script or simple notes for you to follow depending on the video format you choose. In either case, work out how your videos story will be the most engaging over the allotted time.
Next, the two technical areas that need to be addressed are audio and image capture. For this, you may be using your phone, or other professional filming equipment. If you are using your phone for both audio and Image it’s best to be as close to the audio source as possible to capture the clearest, consistent quality sound available.
Ideally, you want a nice mid-level audio signal that can be edited up or down in post, to match any other associated audio. Being to close and loud runs the risk of distorting the audio, also know as “clipping” Which is virtually un-fixable in post. Being to far away causes the audio to have distance, which produces a week signal, echo and allows background or room noise to overpower the main subject audio. If using professional audio recording equipment, these same rules apply. Get your mic as close to the sound source as possible without audio clipping so that you have more control over the sound while editing.
Great image capture requires the understanding of one thing. And that thing is light. Yes, there are a ton of camera settings and lenses for professional cameras and there are a gazillion different lighting rigs to choose from, but they all have the same main purpose. And that is to simple produce and control light. Understanding this, there are a few helpful tips to consider:
Use lighting to help tell the right story. Lighting is a key visual element that can make or break your video in terms of storytelling. This is because lighting is what largely controls the mood and emotional tone of a video or film. And depending on the camera, light or the lack thereof will directly determine the quality it is able to capture.
For example, many YouTubers have adopted the use of ring lights for head shots because they provide a soft, bright, and even, front directional light source. This light source has a temperature that works with most consumer to profession cameras. Further, as it pertains to storytelling, this type of lighting is associated with honesty as it reduces the appearance of dark shadows on the face. In filmmaking, the position of shadows on a face determines the temperament and mood of the subject in a scene. Such as shining a strong key light upon one side of a subject can create a sense of drama and intrigue.
Always be aware of how light is affecting your videos. Even if you don’t own professional lighting you can still position your subject using whatever light is available to help tell the story you wish to tell.
Speaking of positioning your subject. One of the best pieces of gear to own is a good tripod. It’s invaluable when filming yourself because it enables you to quickly capture shots that require stealth and speed. If you don’t own a tripod you can still use whatever you have available to stabilize your shots and capture the footage needed.
There are three core shots used to tell most stories. These are; The wide or establishing shot. The mid shot. And the close-up.
The wide shot is typically used to establish time place and season of a story and is often the first shot you see. It is also used throughout a story to mark the passing of time or as transitions from scene to scene.
The mid shot is the most commonly used shot in film and video as it is used for both major dialogue and supporting action.
Close-up shots are mostly used to show emotion but can also be effective as establishing shots depending on the mood you are trying to convey.
Now that we have outlined a few of the core mechanics behind creating your best possible YouTube video; Lets step through how to use them in a real-life situation.
For the purpose of this demonstration, let’s say our video or film is a narrative about a man who is on the run from a secret organization and he has 30 seconds to tell his story via video message before he is captured again.
Following our previously discussed steps, lets first think of a great tittle for YouTube. Let’s call it, “Man on the run”. While where at it, lets go ahead and brainstorm about what a good thumbnail would look like. Maybe a man running? Or a closeup, looking afraid? There; that’s it! A close up, looking afraid.
Now, since this in a “man on the run” let’s shoot this outside in natural light. Shooting in natural light during the right time of day will allow you to exclude the use of additional lighting in most cases.
Starting with our wide establishing shot; let’s choose an area that fits our story-line. Such as an urban landscape with lots of intricate buildings and structures. To film it, I would suggest getting up as high as possible to get a nice areal establishing shot. If you can’t get up high, not to worry, just shoot from a wide enough perspective to capture where the story is taking place.
Next, lets capture our mid shot. In this scenario we are going to use this shot to immediately grab the attention of the viewer by showing action in progress. This also allows us to establish our main subject or character.
Finally, with our close-up shot, let’s tell the story. Since our story is about a man leaving a video message, we are going to shoot some of the close on and actual phone. Doing this brings the viewer closer into the story and world we have created. And, gives us our main dialogue audio without the use of additional audio equipment.
We will be covering editing videos for YouTube at another time. But you should now have a grasp of effective ways to approach filming yourself alone.