Written by Chris Jolley
Top Tips
Video production can feel overwhelming—I know! It is a very technical process, but it also requires a lot of creativity and patience. Whether you’re creating content for YouTube, social media, or corporate projects, these top ten essential tips will help you hit the ground running and set you up for success.
1. Choose the Right Equipment
You certainly don’t need expensive gear to get started; you just need to understand the best applications and limitations of different pieces of equipment.
A high-end smartphone is usually adequate for creating quality social media content; however, better filming equipment is required to produce more professional content.
Additionally, having an external microphone for high-quality audio will greatly improve the overall quality of your content.
Top Tip: As you progress, you can upgrade your equipment as and when needed.
2. Have a Plan
It is important to have a clear plan (and a backup, just in case) before you start shooting. Whether that is in the form of a detailed storyboard or a simple written outline.
Having a plan will help guide your production, ensuring that you capture all of the necessary shots and stay on track. There’s nothing worse than forgetting to film something and remembering during post-production when it can be too late.
When developing a plan, ask yourself the following questions: what do we want to achieve? Who are the target audience? What message do we want to communicate?
3. Keep it Simple
As a beginner, it can be very easy to get caught up using every fancy effect, transition and camera trick you’ve seen; however, simplicity often leads to the most polished and professional results.
Focus on telling a clear and compelling story rather than overcomplicating your production with unnecessary gimmicks. Simple, well-executed videos often have a greater impact than overly complex ones.
4. Lighting, Lighting, Lighting
Ask any seasoned videographer, and they will all tell you the same thing—nothing can make or break your video like lighting.
As a beginner, all you need to know is this—there are two types of lighting: natural and artificial.
Natural lighting is the easiest one to start with. Shoot near windows or in outdoor spaces, where you can take advantage of soft, even light.
If you’re indoors and natural light isn’t an option, consider investing in a basic lighting kit. Even a couple of inexpensive LED lights or softboxes can dramatically improve the quality of your footage by eliminating harsh shadows and highlighting your subject properly.
5. Master Basic Framing
Composition is key to creating visually appealing videos.
Top Tip: Since you’re just getting started, using the rule of thirds can significantly improve your videos.
Imagine dividing your screen into a 3×3 grid (some cameras, including high-quality smartphones, have this feature built in) and positioning your subject along the lines or at their intersections.
This makes your videos feel more balanced and pleasing to the eye. Learning basic composition techniques like this one will instantly elevate your video quality.
6. Steady Your Shots
Much like lighting, shaky footage can ruin even the best content. Unless you’re going for a specific handheld look (something that works well for social media), always aim for stable shots.
A tripod is an easy solution, but if you’re shooting handheld, try stabilising your body by leaning on something or using both hands.
Top Tip: Many cameras and smartphones have built-in stabilisation features—use them to minimise shake and keep your footage smooth.
7. Shoot More Than You Need
It’s always better to have too much footage than too little.
When you’re editing, you want options, so don’t be afraid to capture multiple takes from different angles. It’s also worth shooting the same shot multiple times!
Include extra shots like close-ups, wide shots, and b-roll footage (support footage than enhances your main video).
Having extra material will give you flexibility during the editing process and ensure that you’re not left scrambling for usable content.
8. Editing Software
Once you’ve shot your footage, editing is what brings it to life. The only problem is that high-end editing software is expensive, but don’t worry, there are some fantastic, user-friendly, and affordable beginner editing tools like iMovie (for Mac users) or Adobe Premiere Rush.
Editing is very time-consuming and takes a lot of practice. When getting started, focus on smooth transitions and audio. By mastering these two, you can begin to create more than adequate videos.
With practice, you can then move on to more complex editing skills like colour grading and motion tracking.
9. Practice, Practice, Practice
Like anything, the only way to get better is to practice. The best videographers in the world started as beginners.
Don’t worry if your first few videos aren’t perfect—it’s all part of the process. Experiment with different techniques, learn from your mistakes and push yourself creatively.
With each video you produce, you will become more confident and skilled.
Top Tip: Get feedback from family and friends. This will help you to recognise your strengths and weaknesses.
10. Hire a Videographer
At some point, especially for larger or more complex projects, hiring a professional videographer might be the best option.
If you need high-end results but lack the time, equipment, or experience to produce a video independently, bringing in a professional can elevate your project to the next level.
A videographer will handle the technical aspects, leaving you free to focus on the content and message.
Top Tip: Even if you do hire a videographer, understanding the video production process will make collaborating much easier.
Conclusion
So, there you have it. Ten top tips to help you get started in video production. While it might feel overwhelming and rather intimidating, by following these tips, you’ll not only improve the quality of your videos but also build the confidence to take on bigger projects.
Remember, every great videographer started as a beginner—so get out there, experiment, and most importantly, have fun creating!
