Most YouTube users have seen various types of videos, namely amateur videos with poor audio and video quality, mid-range videos that are comfortable to watch (usually, these videos were shot with a good camera and have gone through an adequate editing process), and professional videos. Professional videos are shot with excellent cameras, using special equipment, edited with special software, and shot with good videography principles. This article will guide you to create a professional video.
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Step 1. Buy a camera with high image quality
A good camera is the key to making your videos look professional. The better your camera, the better the video. Buy an HD camera to get a professional touch to your videos -- HD cameras are getting more affordable.
Choose a camera that can record at 1080p resolution. While YouTube videos already look good in 720p, your videos will look even better in 1080p. In addition, the high resolution also allows the camera to record higher quality video
Step 2. Improve the sound quality of the video
The better the video quality, the better the audio quality. When viewers watch professional-quality videos, they will expect professional-quality audio as well. Almost any microphone is better than your camera's built-in microphone. External microphones can record sound better, and their use is more flexible.
Step 3. Stabilize the camera while recording
The swaying footage that makes the audience dizzy is very amateurish. In the professional world, wobble recordings are only used occasionally, and that too with a specific purpose. Any steps you take to reduce camera shake while recording and stabilize the footage will dramatically improve video quality, as well as enhance the professional feel.
- To start stabilizing the camera while recording, use a tripod. You can buy it easily, and use it immediately. While you can buy a cheap tripod, the adage "there's a price, there's a way" applies when choosing a tripod. Invest in an expensive tripod because while it may sound like an exaggeration, a tripod is a good investment.
- Use a steadycam or other stabilizing device. Steadycam lets you walk and move with your camera, and removes video shake, so your videos look more professional. With steadycam, your videos will also look more interesting than videos taken with a static perspective and a tripod.
Step 4. Learn better shooting techniques
Learning the basic principles of videography will improve video quality. Well-captured, natural-looking, well-lit footage will make your videos look better.
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Use the "rule of three." Divide a frame into three parts, namely left, middle, and right, as well as top, middle and bottom. Try not to focus the subject of the video in the center. Focusing on the center will make viewers feel uncomfortable, and can have a bad effect on the entire recording.
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Learn framing. Basically, framing is the use of elements in the recording environment to enrich the recording, or to make the recording more interesting. Positioning the subject to the right of the frame against the background of another subject will make the footage more interesting, instead of focusing the camera directly on the subject.
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Step 5. Upgrade your video editing software, and use the various features of the software you are using
Quality video editing software lets you control various aspects of your videos. Also, with quality software, you can also add special effects to your videos if needed.
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Add intros and outros to videos, logos to entice viewers to subscribe to your YouTube channel, and royalty-free music in the background or intros/outros to grab viewers' interest.
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Properly executed title animations and special effects, such as muzzle flares and explosion effects, will improve video quality. With quality video editing software, you can also control more aspects of the sound in your videos.
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Step 6. Practice
Diligence is the mother of good luck. The more you make videos, the more trained you will be in making professional-quality videos. Try making practice videos to test your skills or force you to learn something new. With practice, you will become a better video maker, and the quality of your videos will improve.
Tips
- Stabilize your camera. Tripod and steadycam can help you improve recording quality. A stable camera will improve the quality of the video in the eyes of the viewer.
- Don't ignore the sound aspect of the video. While buying an expensive microphone sounds like a waste, good audio quality will enhance the viewing experience of the viewers. Any external microphone is better than the camera's built-in microphone.
- If you have multiple videos on your YouTube channel, consider creating a unique introductory video.
- Make sure your camera has an external microphone input port. If your camera does not have a microphone port, you will have to record sound with an external recorder, which can be a hassle.
- You don't have to buy an expensive camera. High quality HD cameras can be purchased for under IDR 10,000,000, -
- While video editing software for Mac and Windows can be expensive, you can get video editing software on Linux for free. You do need to relearn the controls on the software, but of course you should consider using video editing software on Linux.
