Beginner’s Guide to Filming Nonprofit Videos In-House
Technology has made it way easier for nonprofits to inject video into their marketing. While there are plenty of situations that need a professional hand at the helm, there are also plenty of videos that you can handle yourself.
Even if you’re on a limited budget, you can still churn out casual social media updates or put a personal touch on your event invitations.
Of course, you want these DIY videos to look good. That way, your team comes across as not only fun and accessible, but trustworthy and competent.
So, here are some quick tips to give you a solid foundation.
GET A CELL PHONE
For simple videos, there’s no need to splurge on a professional camera. Today’s cell phones are so good that the entire consumer video camera market has ceased to exist.
At most, you might want to compare among your staff and see whose footage comes out looking the best, or buy a dedicated phone just for filming to make sure you always have it available.
SOUND
To bolster sound quality, use a lavalier (a.k.a. lav) mic, that is, a small microphone that can be clipped onto the shirt of the speaker. Don’t worry about getting fancy with the settings; auto is fine. Recordings from a lav mic can be saved directly to your phone.
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STABILITY
For long, static recordings, a tripod can hold your phone steady. If you need to move around, stabilizers can reduce shakiness, but you can also just find a good angle and hold still for 6-10 seconds before moving to the next shot.
Avoid walking while filming unless you want your footage to be unfocused and dizzying.
LIGHTING
For beginners, a simple rule is best: Keep your brightest light source either behind the camera or to the side.
GENERAL TECH TIPS
If you’re planning to film for a long stretch, make sure you have enough storage available on the phone. You don’t want to run out halfway through and miss all the best moments.
Use an external battery for extra battery life. Can’t have your phone dying on you in the middle of a shoot!
Make sure you know where the camera lens and microphone are, and be careful not to block them with your fingers.
Don’t share the footage using social messaging apps, as these tend to reduce the video quality. Instead, find a direct-to-computer solution or edit on the phone.
With these basics down, you’ll be able to produce videos with clear visuals, clean sound, and all your favorite moments intact.
Have you tried creating videos for your nonprofit? Any other practical tips that you want to share? Feel free to drop them in the comments!