Free Tips to Record Better Videos

views

6 min read

Posted:

June 15, 2024

Updated:

August 27, 2024

Video content has become a big part of communication and storytelling nowadays. It doesn't really matter whether you're creating videos for personal or professional use - the quality of your recordings can have a big impact on how your message is perceived. With all the video-sharing platforms and social media channels around, it's crucial to produce high-quality videos that capture your audience's attention and engage them effectively.

In this article, we’re going to look at some free tips for video recording to help you become better at what you do, whatever experience level or gear you’re working with.

Preparation Is Key

It's important to get your ducks in a row before you hit record. Here are some helpful hints to get you started:

Plan Your Content

Want to find out how to make better videos? Then first things first: decide what you want your video to accomplish and what it's going to cover.

Then, write an outline or script to make sure you stay on track and cover all the bases. With a plan in place, you'll be more likely to deliver your message effectively and avoid any unnecessary rambling.

Set Up Your Recording Space

Choose a quiet spot with little background noise and good lighting. Make sure the space is clean and free from distractions that might take your subject's attention away. You might want to use a backdrop or a solid-colored wall to create a professional and consistent look.

Gather Your Equipment

The tips for videos stating that you don't necessarily need to spend lots of money on equipment to make good videos definitely are true. However, having the right kit can make quite a difference.

If you're using a phone or a webcam, it's worth checking that the camera and microphone are of a decent standard. You might also want to think about getting a tripod or a stable surface to keep your camera nice and steady so you don't end up with shaky footage.

Here’s a basic equipment list for taking your smartphone videos to the next level:

Something to secure the phone in place (a pop socket, tripod, etc.)
An external microphone
External batteries
A portable spotlight

4 Video Recording Tips

Once you've put together your content and got your space set up, you're ready to start recording. Here are a few pieces of advice to help you capture better videos:

Lighting and Framing

The right lighting can really make your video shine. Look for soft, even lighting that makes your subject pop without creating any harsh shadows or glare. Test out different lighting setups and angles to find what works best.

When it comes to framing, the rule of thirds is a good guideline to follow. Position your subject off center and leave some negative space to create a more visually appealing composition and draw your viewers' eyes to the subject (this is one of the simplest yet most effective tips for video making).

Audio Quality

Audio is as important as video quality, so it’s worth investing in an external microphone or using a headset with a built-in mic to capture clear and crisp audio. One of the best tips for videos is about trying to minimize background noise. Simply turn off any fans, air conditioners, or other potential sources of disturbance, and your audio will already be ten times better.

Camera Technique

How to make videos better? Well, it's important to use steady camera work if you want your creations to look good. Use a tripod or find a flat surface to stabilize your camera to avoid shaky footage.

Experiment with different angles and movements for your camera to add visual interest and keep your viewers engaged.

Practice, Practice, Practice

It's totally normal to feel a bit overwhelmed when you're first starting out in video production. One of the best tips for video recording is as simple as “practice makes perfect”. So, hit that record button as often as you can until you feel comfortable in front of the camera.

Also, when you watch your recordings, look for areas you can improve, like pacing, body language, or how you deliver your message.

Post-Production Tips

No matter how much you plan and execute, your raw footage may still need some work. Here are a few post-production making a video tips to help you polish your videos:

Choose the Right Editing Software

While professional video editing software can cost a pretty penny, there are plenty of free or inexpensive options out there. Try user-friendly programs like:

These tools will allow you to cut, join, add simple effects to your videos, and ultimately help you figure out how to make better videos.

Consider Adding Titles and/or Graphics

Adding titles and graphics to your videos can make them look a bit more professional.

This can also help you to get your message across better. You can use simple text overlays to tell people who you are, give some context, or show them the most important bits.

Take Advantage of Various Enhancements

Even if you already know how to make good videos, you can make some big improvements with just a few tweaks to color correction and enhancement. Adjust the brightness, contrast, and saturation levels to make your videos look their best.

Promoting Your Videos (Everyone Needs to See Your Creation!)

After all that hard work in recording and editing, you’re ready to show the world what you can do. Learning to promote your content online is a whole science of its own, but there are a few simple making a video tips that anyone can give a try.

Optimize Your Content for Search Engines

Use relevant keywords in your video titles, descriptions and tags to get your videos seen by the right people on Google and YouTube. This will help your videos get discovered by your ideal audience.

Whatever you do, don’t leave all these sections empty!

Get the Most Out of Social Media

Social media is a great way to get the word out about your videos. And one of our tips for video making would be to share your content on the platforms your target audience is on, and engage with them by responding to comments and questions.

You might want to run targeted ads or collaborate with influencers to reach a bigger, more diverse audience.

Keep Track of How Your Video Is Performing

It's important to keep an eye on how your videos are doing. Track how many views, how much engagement, and who's watching your videos. Use this data to see what works for your viewers. This will help figure out how to make videos better and make small changes that might end up helping your video skyrocket.

Final Thoughts

If you want to record good videos, it's all about preparation, execution, and post-production. By following the video recording tips in this article, you can elevate the quality of your video content and create engaging, professional-looking videos, even on a tight budget.

Keep applying these techniques and you'll see improvement with each new video you create.

Take Your Videos to the Next Level with Screen Story

With Screen Story, you can easily record your screen, create stunning video demos, GIFs for websites, tutorials, social media stories, and more.

The Mac tool has a bunch of handy features that make it easy to learn how to make good videos. No need to be a video editor to make use of them! You've got automatic zoom-ins, smooth cursor movements, and seamless integration of voice recordings, all without having to do any extra work.

No matter if you’re an entrepreneur, designer, marketer, developer, or tutor, Screen Story has got you covered with video creation tools tailored to your needs.

‍

Create stunning videos with Screen Story

Record your screen with audio and create stunning videos without editing skills. Screen Story applies the best design patterns to the video automatically.