A well-executed video presentation is a great way to convey your message in a corporate setting. Not only does video engage an audience during a presentation, but if produced properly it can even be edited for marketing or education purposes on television or a corporate website. For those who choose to utilize video presentations, it is very important to understand that if the video is not produced properly, or if the video is of low quality, its viewers could consider the presentation as a failure. Avoid this trap and read on for some helpful tips that will make your video presentation a hit.
Equipment - The first outlay of money you are likely to experience is going to involve the purchase of camera equipment. Digital cameras dominate the market and will serve to keep costs down and make editing a snap. When considering a digital video camera, there are three basic levels of quality to consider. At the lower end are home video style cameras that will do the job, but may leave something to be desired. A step up to a DVD quality camera will improve the output quality, but for the best quality video, consider an HDV camera.
Lighting - Whether your video is of people of objects, they both must be properly lit in a high quality video. Poor lighting will affect the perceived fit and finish of your video. Several lights from different angles may be necessary to eliminate unwanted shadows and to make your intended subject the focus of your shot. In many cases, photography gels can be placed in front of lighting to diffuse harsh shadows, or to create an ambience.
Audio - Dedicated microphones should be used for each person participating in the video and if there are more than 2 people, a sound mixer should be used to capture and isolate each instance of audio by a sound operator. Professional grade, directional microphones will offer the best results, but radio microphones can be used also in cases where the subject may be moving around a lot. These wireless microphones may give lower quality audio however and they may also be affected by radio interference. Roaming microphone operators may be employed where there is a large group of people that may offer audio contributions such as in town hall meetings or question and answer sessions.
Capturing Video - Some planning will allow you to capture good quality content that can be edited later to make the video flow in a concise, professional manner. Aside from capturing the relevant actions and speech of your subjects, it is also important to obtain video segments that may be used to cut in later. This would include things like nodding heads of an interviewer, side shots, close ups and wide angle shots that can be used to cover edits and make the flow look natural. Obtain as much content of this type as is possible because it will make editing much easier.
Once all of the content is obtained, it will be time to edit it together with a digital system that will allow you to cut and paste footage where it is needed. The final product will then be burned on to a DVD for use in your presentation, or for distribution.
Producing your own video can be a difficult and time-consuming task, but for the right project the results will be worth it.
Equipment - The first outlay of money you are likely to experience is going to involve the purchase of camera equipment. Digital cameras dominate the market and will serve to keep costs down and make editing a snap. When considering a digital video camera, there are three basic levels of quality to consider. At the lower end are home video style cameras that will do the job, but may leave something to be desired. A step up to a DVD quality camera will improve the output quality, but for the best quality video, consider an HDV camera.
Lighting - Whether your video is of people of objects, they both must be properly lit in a high quality video. Poor lighting will affect the perceived fit and finish of your video. Several lights from different angles may be necessary to eliminate unwanted shadows and to make your intended subject the focus of your shot. In many cases, photography gels can be placed in front of lighting to diffuse harsh shadows, or to create an ambience.
Audio - Dedicated microphones should be used for each person participating in the video and if there are more than 2 people, a sound mixer should be used to capture and isolate each instance of audio by a sound operator. Professional grade, directional microphones will offer the best results, but radio microphones can be used also in cases where the subject may be moving around a lot. These wireless microphones may give lower quality audio however and they may also be affected by radio interference. Roaming microphone operators may be employed where there is a large group of people that may offer audio contributions such as in town hall meetings or question and answer sessions.
Capturing Video - Some planning will allow you to capture good quality content that can be edited later to make the video flow in a concise, professional manner. Aside from capturing the relevant actions and speech of your subjects, it is also important to obtain video segments that may be used to cut in later. This would include things like nodding heads of an interviewer, side shots, close ups and wide angle shots that can be used to cover edits and make the flow look natural. Obtain as much content of this type as is possible because it will make editing much easier.
Once all of the content is obtained, it will be time to edit it together with a digital system that will allow you to cut and paste footage where it is needed. The final product will then be burned on to a DVD for use in your presentation, or for distribution.
Producing your own video can be a difficult and time-consuming task, but for the right project the results will be worth it.
