Lights, Camera, Action: Elevate your Video Game

Today, in 3 minutes or less, you'll learn:   

1. Five simple ways to enhance the quality of your videos  
2. Improving the professionalism of your videos can have a considerable payoff  
3. The tools and equipment I love to use

As a business coach dedicated to empowering mums like you, I'm excited to share some insider tips on creating top-notch videos without breaking the bank. Video quality is so important. The more professional you look and sound, the better you can position yourself and the more significant impact you will have on videoconferencing, your website, in courses you sell, and across social media. You can also potentially charge more for your products and services. Let's dive in!  

Tip #1: Create your perfect filming space  

Set the stage for success by carving out a dedicated film space. You can transform a space in your home with simple touches. I focused on setting up a space for my work in a corner of our front room. My sister gave me a spare desk she didn't want to put my computer on. I placed a table and a standing whiteboard behind me, which I was given as a Christmas present. I made the space look professional and appealing by adding a decal of an inspirational quote to the wall behind it and a beautiful dried flower arrangement in my brand colours. They worked wonders, and I have a space that looks great on camera and feel very confident in it.  

Tip #2: Let there be light  

Good lighting is vital to a flawless video. Soft box lights have been an excellent investment for me and the videos I want to create. After researching, I purchased two soft box lights on Amazon (an upgrade from my original ring light setup). I found them inexpensive; they arrived quickly and were easily set up. I have put one behind each corner of my screen, facing inwards. They give me much better lighting on my face, and my video now looks studio-quality! I no longer have anything appearing in my glasses, and there are no shadows anywhere. I can film day or night (which is so helpful for a busy mama who often has to work at night around my kids!!), and the quality is so good. The only drawback is that they are big, but I have still been able to leave them set up in that space. I can also fold them down quickly and store them if needed.     

Tip #3: Upgrade your camera 

Enhance your video quality by purchasing a great camera, such as the Logitech Brio camera I invested in. I found this valuable as the cameras built into my desktop computer and laptops were not the quality I hoped for.  This camera is impressive as it has a built-in microphone (up to one meter from the camera), filters the image quality automatically and can film in different modes – from up close to further away. In addition, it was quick and straightforward to install and relatively inexpensive (we price-matched from Amazon at Officeworks for $250).     

Tip #4: Crisp audio, clear message  

Sound matters! Consider adding a microphone to your setup in addition to the one built into your computer. Lapel microphones, headset microphones, or standing microphones, such as a Yeti (particularly liked for podcasting), are all great options, depending on your requirements. Clear audio enhances viewer engagement and ensures your message is loud and clear. At this stage, I have been able to use the built-in microphone with my Logitech camera, but I will look to make further investments if necessary.  

Tip #5: Choose your software wisely  

Canva has a fantastic video suite that allows you to record and edit your video before publishing it. It has been all I have needed to create high-quality video files, and I have not had to pay for additional software. You can create 'Camera', 'Camera and Screen' or 'Screen' only recordings simply by clicking on 'Uploads' in the menu and then 'Record Yourself'. The editing tools allow you to add slides to your video, split sections, and add or remove video, among many other features. I have also heard that Loom is fantastic, particularly if you need to edit out mistakes (so you don't need to start over), and I plan to try it.    

Are you ready to take your videos to the next level? Remember, I'm here to cheer you on every step of the way. Let's make your online business dreams a reality – together!