These tips should help you produce excellent quality video content.
Composition
Balanced composition and framing will give your video a natural look and feel. There are some basic principles of composition that we follow.
Rule of thirds framing
The rule of thirds technique uses an imaginary grid to help you to frame your subject in a scene.
The grid divides your frame equally into horizontal and vertical sections. Each intersecting line represents an area where you can place your subject. Studies have shown that viewers are more likely to look at the top left and right areas of a video first.
Most cameras and smartphones have a setting to enable a rule of thirds grid overlay which can help you frame correctly.
In this example below we’ve placed our subject on the intersecting lines. This creates a balanced and even look.
When we move the subject away from the intersecting lines, the frame starts to look noticeable more unnatural.
Centre-framing
We also use centre framing for our videos, specifically videos where the subject is speaking directly to the camera.
You can continue to use the rule of thirds grid to place your subjects in the centre and on the top intersecting line. This helps issues where there’s too much room above your subjects head.
You can see here that our subject is placed in the centre of the grid with her face and eye level toward the top section of the frame.
If we move our subject off centre and place her face in the centre, this gives too much room above her head.
Backgrounds
To help complement our brand, we should also make sure that our video backgrounds have:
- Negative space and are not too closely cropped in
- Space for graphics such as logos and on-screen text
- Neutral backgrounds such as an office space.
Resolution
Resolution refers to the number of pixels that make up a video, and a higher resolution provides an increase in quality.
Most displays have a resolution of 1920x1080 (1080p). Using a low resolution reduces the legibility of graphics and text and reduces quality.
Where possible we should:
- Record videos at 1920x1080 (1080p) to ensure a consistent viewing experience across most devices.
- Use dedicated camera hardware to produce the highest possible resolution
- Export videos in 1080p using your editing software
Aspect ratio
The aspect ratio refers to the ratio of the width to height of a video. Common aspect ratios are:
- 16:9 - most TVs desktop and laptop displays
- 1:1 - square videos seen across social media
- 19:9 - 2:1 - iPhones and mobile device screens
For most of our videos we use a 16:9 aspect ratio to ensure compatibility across devices.
In addition, we also produce square and vertical videos for social media, paid advertising and smartphone-specific videos.
Webcam recordings
When recording videos using a webcam you should:
- Raise your laptop camera to eye level, by placing books/items under your laptop
- Keep the top of your head close to the top of the frame
- Try to be lit from the front and not behind as this is more flattering
- Avoid windows or very bright backgrounds
Please note that webcam recordings must not be used on any external channels.
Screen recordings
If you’re producing a screen recording you should follow the same guidance on resolution and aspect ratio.
You should also:
- Capture your mouse cursor
- Use a dedicated screen recording software
- Script your videos ahead of recording to keep them concise
You should also consider any interface elements that may need to be explained during your video and make sure these are clearly explained in your voiceover.
For example saying “click the OK button, at the bottom right-hand corner of your screen” instead of “click OK”
Audio
Clear audio is critically important. A visually great video will be let down by poor audio. Poor quality audio is distracting and your audience may struggle to understand what is being said.
When recording dialogue or a voiceover you should:
- Record in a quiet location
- Use the best microphone you have available, a headset microphone will be better than a built-in laptop microphone
- Remain close to your microphone
- Speak clearly, slowly, and deliberately
Music
Some videos might benefit from a music track, and this is usually a feature of our professional videos.
You must not add copyright music to any video unless you have the correct licenses. This applies to both internal and external videos
If you think your video would benefit from a music track, please contact our Video Producer. The charity uses a royalty-free music subscription service.