How to Make YouTube Videos that People Actually Watch
Summary
TLDRThis tutorial offers a comprehensive guide for aspiring YouTubers, covering the entire filmmaking process on the platform. From selecting the right gear to crafting compelling content, the video provides tips on optimizing videos for engagement. It discusses the use of smartphones and affordable equipment for shooting, the importance of audio quality, and the role of lighting and lenses. Additionally, it offers advice on video planning, scriptwriting, and editing, emphasizing the learning curve and the importance of practice over analytics obsession. The goal is to create captivating content that grows a channel, with a focus on continuous improvement and enjoyment of the creative process.
Takeaways
- 🎥 **Start with What You Have**: You can begin creating YouTube videos with the camera on your smartphone, as modern devices offer good enough quality for starting out.
- 📱 **Leverage Your Phone's Potential**: iPhones and high-end Android phones are capable of producing quality footage, and using pro camera apps can help you learn professional settings.
- 📸 **Invest in a Tripod**: A basic tripod from Amazon is sufficient for beginners, but consider upgrading to a more durable one for long-term use.
- 🔊 **Prioritize Audio Quality**: Good audio is crucial for viewer retention; consider using shotgun mics or wireless lavalier mics for improved sound.
- 📚 **Research and Plan**: Planning is essential for creating purposeful content; understand your channel's focus and your audience's interests.
- 🔍 **Keyword Research**: Use tools like TubeBuddy for SEO and to ensure your videos are discoverable through relevant keywords.
- 📝 **Script Writing**: Develop a script with a clear story structure to ensure your videos are engaging and informative.
- 📷 **Use B-roll Wisely**: Incorporate B-roll footage to complement your talking points and maintain viewer interest.
- 💡 **Lighting is Key**: Proper lighting can significantly enhance the look of your videos; start with natural light and consider investing in studio lighting.
- 🖥️ **Editing Equipment**: A capable computer with sufficient RAM and an SSD is necessary for smooth video editing; DaVinci Resolve is a recommended editing software.
- 🎨 **Post-Production**: Utilize plugins and templates for adding effects and enhancing your videos; MotionVFX offers a wide range of plugins for this purpose.
- 🔄 **Continuous Learning**: Treat video creation as a learning process; improve by practicing, reviewing your work, and learning from each video you produce.
Q & A
What is the main purpose of the tutorial in the video script?
-The main purpose of the tutorial is to guide beginners through the entire process of creating YouTube videos, from choosing the right gear to optimizing videos for maximum engagement.
What does the script suggest for starting YouTube video creation without professional gear?
-The script suggests that beginners can start with the cameras on their smartphones, as most modern iPhones and mid to high-end Android phones have good enough quality for starting YouTube video creation.
What are some of the recommended microphones for better audio quality in YouTube videos?
-The script recommends shotgun microphones for vlogging, wireless or lavalier mics for attaching to clothing, and mentions specific models like the Rode VideoMicro series, VideoMic Go 2, and Deity V-Mic D4 for budget options.
Why is investing in a good microphone considered more important than the camera itself?
-Investing in a good microphone is considered more important because poor audio quality can quickly cause viewers to stop watching, regardless of the video quality.
What are some tips for using lenses effectively in video creation?
-The script suggests starting with a wide-angle lens for vlogging, using 16-20mm range for full-frame cameras, and longer focal lengths like 35, 50, and 70mm for B-roll shots to bring the viewer closer to the subject.
How does the script address the importance of lighting in video creation?
-The script emphasizes the importance of lighting by suggesting the use of natural light from a window, investing in proper studio lights, and using techniques like backlighting and sight lighting for a cinematic look.
What video editing software does the script recommend for beginners?
-The script recommends DaVinci Resolve for its powerful free version and mentions Final Cut Pro as another great option, although it requires a one-time payment after a 90-day free trial.
How can one enhance their video editing skills according to the script?
-The script suggests using plugins and templates from MotionVFX to add effects, titles, and looks to videos, and also recommends watching additional tutorials and courses on video editing and camera usage for videography.
What is the script's advice on planning the content of YouTube videos?
-The script advises knowing the channel's focus, researching viewer interests and problems, and using tools like TubeBuddy for keyword research to ensure the video content is valuable and discoverable.
How does the script discuss the process of filming oneself for YouTube videos?
-The script discusses filming oneself by capturing different shots like wide shots, close-ups, and cutaway shots, and emphasizes the importance of consistency in actions and settings across shots.
What are some of the final tips given in the script for improving the quality of YouTube videos?
-The script's final tips include practicing often, using AI apps for editing, setting up a home YouTube studio for efficiency, and focusing on the learning process rather than solely on analytics.
Outlines
🎥 Starting a YouTube Channel: Gear and Content Creation
The script offers guidance for beginners looking to start a YouTube channel, focusing on gear selection and content creation. It emphasizes that high-quality consumer devices like modern smartphones can be sufficient for starting, with the example of the iPhone 15 Pro and DJI Air 3 drone. The narrator shares personal preferences for professional cameras like the A7C Mark II for fun and learning purposes. Apps for professional camera settings and affordable lenses and filters to enhance phone camera capabilities are suggested. The importance of a good tripod and microphone for clear audio is stressed, with recommendations for budget-friendly options. The script also touches on the significance of planning and the types of microphones and lenses suitable for various video styles.
🔍 Video Planning and SEO Strategy
This paragraph delves into the planning process for creating YouTube videos, starting with understanding the channel's focus and the target audience. It suggests researching online, utilizing keyword suggestions from YouTube and platforms like Reddit for idea generation. The importance of refining video ideas for interest and value is highlighted, along with the use of tools like TubeBuddy for keyword research to enhance search engine optimization. The paragraph also covers the process of crafting engaging titles and thumbnails, with a focus on including relevant keywords and creating a compelling first impression. The planning workflow includes ideation, research, and scripting with a story structure, emphasizing the significance of a clear narrative for video content.
📝 Scriptwriting and Shot List Preparation
The script explains the importance of scriptwriting for video quality, highlighting how it helps in staying focused and saving time during filming. It provides insights into creating a shot list to understand the concept of A and B-roll, detailing how to mark different parts of the script for various types of footage. The paragraph outlines creating a detailed shot list with sequences, transitions, and complex shots, as well as planning for the organization of captured footage. It also mentions the use of Notion for task management and shot list organization, offering a streamlined approach to video planning and production.
🎬 Filming Techniques and Audio Quality
This section emphasizes the importance of audio quality in video production, offering tips on capturing clear audio using microphone techniques and room materials to reduce echo. It advises on checking audio levels and conducting audio tests before filming. The paragraph also covers filming techniques, including the use of proper lighting, the significance of a clutter-free environment, and the use of window light for cinematic effects. It discusses the use of video lights for consistency and control, and the importance of camera settings, such as shooting in 4K and using face tracking autofocus. Tips for talking to the camera naturally and dealing with awkwardness are also provided.
📹 Self-Filming and Visual Storytelling
The script provides advice on self-filming to enhance storytelling and emphasize video points. It introduces the concept of 'show, don't tell' in filmmaking, suggesting ways to capture different shots for a sequence, including wide shots, close-ups, and cutaway shots. The importance of maintaining consistency across shots and the use of manual focus for self-filming are highlighted. Lighting techniques, such as back and side lighting, are discussed, along with the use of natural light from large windows for a soft lighting effect. The paragraph also touches on the use of camera sliders and tripods for added camera movement and variety in self-filmed content.
✂️ Editing for Efficiency and Viewer Experience
This paragraph discusses the complexities of video editing, advising against overemphasis on retention editing driven by YouTube analytics. It encourages focusing on the viewer's experience and the informative nature of the content. The script suggests using AI apps for cutting A-roll, building a home YouTube setup for streamlined recording, and automating repetitive tasks. It also recommends capturing sound effects during shooting and curating stock music for efficient editing. The importance of not overcomplicating color grading as a beginner and using LUTs for easy color enhancement is highlighted. The paragraph concludes with the suggestion to view analytics as a tool for improvement rather than a definitive measure of success.
🚀 Continuous Learning and Improvement in Video Creation
The final paragraph emphasizes the learning process involved in creating YouTube videos, advising creators to focus on making better videos rather than obsessing over analytics. It suggests rewatching own videos after some time for a fresh perspective on improvement areas. The script shares the narrator's personal journey from being a beginner to making YouTube his full-time job, highlighting the importance of patience and enjoying the process. It encourages continuous learning through watching informative videos and subscribing to channels that provide valuable insights into videography and video editing.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡YouTube filmmaking process
💡Gear
💡Microphone
💡Tripod
💡Lens
💡Lighting
💡Editing
💡B-roll
💡Color grading
💡Teleprompter
💡AI apps
Highlights
Tutorial covers the entire YouTube filmmaking process from gear selection to content optimization for engagement.
Modern smartphones like iPhones and high-end Android devices are sufficient for starting YouTube video creation.
Dedicated cameras offer minor improvements over smartphones for budgets below $1000.
Use pro camera apps for learning professional settings before upgrading to actual cameras.
Affordable lenses and filters can enhance smartphone camera capabilities.
DJI Pocket 3 is recommended for its stabilization and microphone quality.
Tripods are essential, with recommendations for Freeware, Ulanzi, or Peak Design.
Audio quality is critical, with microphones being more important than camera quality.
Recommendations for beginner microphones include Rode VideoMicro and VideoMic Go.
Wireless mics like Saramonic Blink 500 are good budget choices for flexibility.
Importance of lenses for video quality, with recommendations for wide-angle lenses for vlogging.
Explanation of focal lengths and their effects on field of view for different camera sensors.
Natural light and window positioning tips for better video lighting.
Recommendations for studio lights and the benefits of investing in quality lighting equipment.
DaVinci Resolve is the top recommended video editing app for its power and free version.
Importance of video planning, including channel theme and target audience definition.
Ideation process for video content, including research and keyword optimization.
Scriptwriting tips, emphasizing story structure for engaging video narratives.
Shot list creation for organized filming, distinguishing between A-roll and B-roll.
Tips for filming talking head footage and creating a natural on-camera presence.
Techniques for self-filming to enhance storytelling and emphasize video points.
Editing advice focusing on viewer experience over retention metrics.
Color grading tips for beginners, including using LUTs for instant cinematic looks.
Strategies for efficient video creation, including pre-recording sound effects and streamlining setup.
Emphasis on learning from the process and improving video quality over time.
Transcripts
Have you ever daydreamed about creating
YouTube videos that people
actually watch but didn't
know where to start?
Like me a couple of years ago, you
probably worry that all
the work you put into YouTube
might be for nothing and your channel
will never take off.
But don't worry, in this tutorial I will
take you through my whole
YouTube filmmaking process
from choosing the right gear and crafting
compelling content to
setting up your shots
and optimizing the
videos for maximum engagement.
By the end, you will be ready to create
captivating videos
that grow your channel.
When you're starting to create YouTube
videos, you might
wonder about the best gear.
Fortunately, today's consumer products
are so good that you
can likely begin with what
you already have.
Hey!
What's that?
Oh, I just got a camera, I told you I
want to start this YouTube channel.
But I just got the new iPhone
because the camera is so good.
Oh, that's true, that was something.
Too late.
Most modern iPhones and mid to high end
Android phones are actually good enough.
So start with them.
Dedicated cameras may offer slight
improvements, but the quality
gains for cameras below $1000
are often minor.
The whole video until here has actually
been shot on the iPhone
15 Pro together with the
DJI Air 3 drone, I bet
you did not recognize that.
But from now on I will use proper cameras
like the A7C Mark II
here, because they are
just a bit more fun to use and I like to
have fun when I shoot my videos.
You can use pro camera apps like
Blackmagic cam, Kino,
Protake or Filmic Pro to learn all
the professional camera settings.
That will prepare you
for using actual cameras.
Just use your rear cameras as they
usually have better
quality than the selfie cam.
You can also buy affordable lenses and
filters from Freeware,
Sandmok and other companies
to make your phone's camera look more
like normal cameras.
A notable mention for an affordable
dedicated camera
though is the DJI Pocket 3.
It stabilizes videos perfectly and
includes a decent internal
microphone and an even better
wireless mic in the creator combo.
Perfect to film yourself, but not so
great for close ups and product shots.
For more camera recommendations check my
yearly camera buying guide
linked in the description.
Here you will
definitely need is a tripod.
Luckily any cheap tripod from Amazon is
good enough to get started.
Just ensure it supports the
weight of your camera setup.
From my experience these tripods will
likely break after about a
year, so if you are still
making videos by then invest
in a better tripod later on.
I recommend tripods from
Freeware, Ulanzi or Peak Design.
Later is expensive but
will likely last forever.
More important than your camera and
tripod is actually the microphone.
You can get away with lower video
quality, but if the audio is
bad people will stop watching
quickly.
The main microphones to know about are
shotgun and wireless or lavalier mics.
Shotgun microphones are great for
vlogging and can also be
mounted on a mic stand to
bring them closer to your mouth for
better audio quality.
Wireless and lavalier mics clip to your
shirt which also
improves the voice quality, but
they are less
convenient for on the go filming.
For beginners I recommend the Rode
VideoMicro 1 and 2,
VideoMic Go 2 and Deity V-Mic D4
for budget shotgun mics.
The Rode VideoMic NTG is a more versatile
but also more expensive option.
Shotgun microphones last forever though
so it does make sense
to invest a bit more.
For wireless mics the Saramonic Blink 500
is a good budget choice while the DJI Mic
2 and Rode Wireless mics are
excellent higher end options.
For a podcasting setup consider the Shure
MV7 which reduces
background noise and room
tone but will always be visible in front
of your mouth as you
have to get very close to
it.
If I were starting over I would get a
wireless or a lavalier mic
first because they are quite
flexible overall.
You can use them for example with your
normal camera but also
with your iPhone and you can
get them close to your mouth easily so
they give you good audio overall.
The exception would be trouble vlogging
because their shotgun
microphones are just a bit more
practical.
Also more important than
your camera buddy are lenses.
I recommend to start with a
wide angle lens for you too.
The 16-20mm range is great for vlogging
and 20-24mm for static
talking head videos on
full frame cameras.
For B-roll use longer focal lengths like
35, 50 and 70mm as those
bring you closer to the
subject and have a more natural feel.
On cheaper APS-C cameras these numbers
have to be a bit lower
though because the sensor
is 50% smaller what
essentially zooms the shots in by 50%.
So you have to multiply the focal lengths
by 1.5 to get the full frame equivalent.
For example a 13mm APS-C lens has the
same field of view as a
20mm full frame lens and
a 16mm APS-C lens equals
24mm on full frame cameras.
I recommend the Viltrox 13mm f1.4 and
10mm 11-20mm f2.8 for
vlogging and Sigma 16mm f1.4
for static shots on APS-C cameras.
The Viltrox 27mm f1.2 and Sigma 18-50mm
f2.8 are amazing and
affordable lenses for B-roll.
For Sony full frame cameras the 20-70mm
f4 is versatile enough
for vlogging and B-roll
though it has a bit less background blur.
You can save some money on lenses by
buying used, just make
sure the seller is legit.
And there is another piece of gear that's
also more important
than your camera, light.
To save money in the beginning start with
natural light from a
window that can already
look pretty good if you sit close to it.
The problem with window light though is
that it changes often
affecting your video's brightness.
That's why investing in proper studio
lights over time is crucial.
Cheap Amazon lights with a
softbox will work initially.
Either get a set with two lights or one
light and a reflector.
In the long run it makes sense to invest
in better lights though
because they make lighting
videos a bit better and easier like here
for my YouTube studio
setup for example I only
have to press a button and all the lights
turn on except for that there.
And the lights that I'm using are the
Xionmolis B-Series lights
and they do a very good job.
You will also need a
proper computer for editing.
Mac Minis or MacBook Airs with Apple M
chips offer great value.
8GB RAM in those machines is enough for
simple projects but 16GB
plus is better for complex
ones.
For Windows get a decent graphics card
and take the same
recommendations for RAM.
Also ensure you edit off SSD
drives for best performance.
HDD hard drives are only good for long
term storage as they are much slower.
The video editing app I recommend the
most is DaVinci Resolve
as even the free version
is already plenty powerful.
Final Cut Pro is also a great app and a
bit easier to use but
only comes as a 90 days
free trial and costs $300 after that.
No matter which editing app you choose
you will always need
plugins and templates to
add fancy effects, titles
and looks to your videos.
The plugins that I mostly use are from
MotionVFX which is also
the sponsor of today's video.
MotionVFX offers a huge library of high
quality plugins for both
DaVinci Resolve and Final
Cut Pro.
As a becoming YouTuber you definitely
want to check out their
Mtuber and M channel modern
plugins.
Those plugins bundle all sorts of titles
and effects that you
will need to lift up your
videos easily.
Their title and logo animations make your
videos look a lot more
professional and combined
with their transitions and backgrounds
your videos become
more interesting to watch.
I use their titles and animations a lot
in my own tutorials.
Looking for cinematic colors, their M.LUT
plugins give your videos cinematic looks
with the click of a button while also
giving you a good amount of control.
That's great when you're starting out as
color grading takes
some time to learn but
you want your videos to look good, right?
For Final Cut Pro they
even offer a iRoto scoping.
That makes it super
easy to mask out objects.
So you can for example put text behind a
person and create all
sorts of other effects.
But the main reason I love MotionVFX is
that their plugins
still work many years after
I put chasing them because they regularly
update their plugins
via the M installer app.
Many other plugins I bought before
stopped working after a
few software updates of my
video editor but with MotionVFX plugins I
never had any issues.
I will leave links to my favorite
MotionVFX plugins in the
description below together
with a 10% discount code so
definitely check them out.
To wrap the gear part up, I can only say
that your first few
videos are all about learning.
So, even if your gear is not perfect yet,
start with whatever you
have or you can afford
just to gain experience.
And that's the next question.
How do you get started?
The first step in making videos is
planning. Without a plan your
video will likely be pointless
or you ramble too much in front of the
camera and therefore
lose viewers. So spend time
planning your videos. Here is how I do
it. The planning process
starts with knowing what
your YouTube channel is about. If you
just make random videos
there is no point for people
to follow your channel. So start by
writing down what kind
of videos you want to make
about which topics and for what kind of
person. Think about what
problems your viewers have
that you can help them solve or at least
what topics they are
interested in if you want
to create an entertainment based channel.
That also makes it easier for you to come
up with interesting ideas which is
important because if your
video idea isn't interesting
no one will watch it. To come up with
ideas for your videos
you have multiple options.
An easy way is to simply do some research
online. You can type
keywords into YouTube
search that your viewers might look for
and see what keyword
suggestions YouTube gives
you. These keywords are great to create
videos around. You can
also research on websites
like Reddit to find questions people are
asking. So you can make
videos answering their questions
and solving their problems. Another way
is to utilize training
topics. Look at what everyone
is talking about or doing within your
niche and give it your own
spin or share your thoughts
about it. Soon ideas will also pop up
randomly in your head.
That usually happens when you
least expect it so be prepared.
Cat videos.
Okay, I added how to make cinnamon funny
cat videos for this morning at 10.58.
In addition to Siri, I also have a Notion
widget on my home
screen that allows me to
note video ideas quickly.
The problem with ideas
is that most of them suck.
That's why the first part of my video
planning workflow is ideation.
I do some research on YouTube and Google
to see if an idea might
actually interest people
and explore different ways to frame it.
For example, how to make cinematic funny
cat videos might not be popular, but tips
to improve pet photography could be.
So spend a few minutes refining each idea
to ensure it's interesting and valuable.
If not, move on to the next one to avoid
wasting time on videos no one will watch.
My next step is keyword research.
That's good for search engine
optimization and to ensure people
actually look for what
your video is about.
I also find it important to be clear
about the point of each
video and defining a main
keyword that I target helps with that.
For the keyword research, I use the
YouTube search bar to
come up with relevant keyword
suggestions and a tool called TubeBuddy
which shows me even
more relevant keywords.
I note all these keywords so that I can
include them in the text
of the video later when I
upload it.
These texts are not super important
anymore to optimize your
videos, but even if they
only help a little bit, I would rather
have them in there than not.
Choosing a main keyword also helps
crafting your title, which
is essential to plan along
with the thumbnail before shooting.
I generate 10 title ideas myself and then
I ask chatgpt for more suggestions.
By combining my own titles with the AI
ones, I usually end up
with pretty good ones.
Sometimes I switch titles after a few
days to optimize for
homepage clicks first and
later for search ranking.
Search based titles should include the
main keyword and
ideally at the beginning.
Titles for the homepage should be catchy
and need less emphasis on keywords.
Planning the titles and thumbnail early
ensures they are not
afterthoughts as they are crucial
for attracting viewers, so do
that before shooting the video.
The title works together with your
thumbnails, so plan that next.
Look for similar videos on YouTube to see
what thumbnails work,
then develop your own
ideas from there and write them down.
Aside from that, make sure that the
thumbnail makes it clear
what the video is about or
makes the viewer curious to watch it.
It should also be easy to understand as
viewers will move on otherwise.
A great tool to visualize ideas is
chatgpt version 4.0.
Just ask it to draw your
ideas and it will do so.
Its thumbnails often look good already,
but I only recommend
using them if your video
is AI related.
Especially for a camera channel like
mine, it's important to show my own work.
So use chatgpt as an assistant, but don't
let it create the final product for you.
That counts for
everything, not just thumbnails.
My next step is research.
On big videos like this one, I write down
everything I think
should be in the video,
plus more information I find on the
internet as a simple bullet list.
That ensures that I
don't leave anything out.
For small videos that don't require so
much information, I skip
this step and go straight
into writing the script or
outline, which is our next step.
When you're writing a script, it's
important to give it a
story structure, so that it has
a beginning, a middle and an end.
The beginning usually introduces a
problem, a goal or an
objective and its importance.
The middle shows how you overcome hurdles
towards the goal and the
end reveals the outcome
and lessons learned.
I write down the story structure by
answering simple
questions before scripting.
You can download these questions as a
free PDF attached to this video.
I want to thank Ali Abdolf for inspiring
this part of my workflow.
The story structure works for all types
of videos, including product reviews.
Even there you can start with one or
multiple problems the
product solves to tell a story.
When it comes to writing the script, use
a simple outline
instead of an actual script
for small videos, just to stay on point.
For longer or more complex videos, create
a detailed script
starting with an outline.
The outline acts as an index in this
case, allowing you to fill
in the parts of the script
under each point.
That makes writing the script a lot
easier compared to
starting with a blank page.
You can also add a bit of fun while
writing the script, just
like the iPhone sequence
you saw at the beginning of this video.
Just be creative when it comes to that.
Writing a script takes a bit of time, but
it improves the video's quality, makes it
straight to the point and saves a lot of
time during filming, so it's worth it.
The last point in my planning process is
writing a shot list.
That can also be either simple or more
complex depending on the video.
To get started you have to understand the
concept of A and B-roll.
It's simple.
A-roll is your talking head footage,
while B-roll shows
what you're talking about.
For a full script I define which parts
show A-roll and which
B-roll using colors to mark
them.
Green for A-roll at home, green for
A-roll outside and white for voice overs.
That are parts that show B-roll while I
talk without showing my
face, just like right now.
From there I create a detailed shot list
with sequences,
transitions and complex shots like
motion time lapses.
Each shot or sequence has a number and
location and I plan the
shot and its type whether it's
white, medium or narrow.
I also use two check marks, one for
capturing a shot and one
for copying it to the project
folder.
This ensures that all shots
are captured and organized.
This level of detail is only necessary
for complex videos though.
For simple ones just list the necessary
B-roll shots to
complement your talking points and
keep the viewers engaged.
Including at least some B-roll shots
makes your video overall
more engaging than just
a talking face, so always include that in
your YouTube videos.
At the end of my planning process I
schedule all my shoots
and editing days as tasks.
These tasks automatically appear on my
Notion dashboard so I
always know what I need to
do each day.
Talking about Notion, I've also created a
Notion template for
you with my step by step
process, essential task manager and
essentialized shot list.
This means all tasks from your video
projects, private to-dos
and other projects like web
design in my case
appear together in one place.
When you open Notion it shows you all
your tasks for today and
tomorrow on your dashboard
after scheduling them
inside the projects.
Perfect to stay organized.
The shot list is streamlined too.
If you need to film for multiple videos
in one location you
can filter by location to
see all the shots you need to get there.
No more searching
through multiple Google Docs.
The template also includes a habit
tracker, is well designed
and easily customizable.
If you want to simplify your planning
process you will find
the link in the description
of this video.
But let's finally come to
filming your actual videos.
And now the visuals are not the most
important part, it's actually your audio.
Getting good audio is crucial because
having bad audio makes
people leave even if your
visuals are great so
definitely follow the following tips.
First bring the microphone close to your
mouth using a boom stand
if you use a shotgun mic
or by attaching a wireless
or lavalier mic to your shirt.
This captures clear and crisp audio
thanks to the proximity effect.
You can improve the sound quality further
by using soft materials
like curtains, carpets,
foam panels or furniture like sofas to
dampen the room and reduce echo.
That often makes a bigger difference than
buying an expensive microphone.
Also always check that your mic is well
plugged in and that the
levels don't go into the
red areas on the level meter on your
camera to avoid distortion.
I always do a quick audio test before
filming to avoid frustration.
Every filmmaker can tell the story of
messing up audio these
ways so take that seriously
or you might have to record twice.
Additionally, you can use AI effects such
as Adobe Podcast AI or voice isolation in
the VINCE Resolve or Final Cut Pro to
enhance your voice and
reduce background noise.
You can also make adjustments in the EQ
panel of your video
editor to make your voice sound
even better.
For example, you can raise the lower
frequencies in case it sounds
too bright and the opposite.
But now let's finally
get to the filming part.
To capture good looking video, your
environment, your camera settings and
lenses are important.
Start by cleaning up your environment.
A clutter free space makes your video
look more professional and ensures
distracting objects are out of the shot.
Of course, if certain items or even
clutter enhance your story,
make sure they are included.
To make your videos look good, lighting
is the most important factor.
Let's start with window
light to keep it affordable.
Sitting straight in front of a window
makes your face rather flat looking.
That can be good to hide imperfections in
case you have a beauty channel or so,
but to make it look cinematic, better sit
at an angle to your window
because that throws shadows over your
face which gives the impression of depth
and therefore leads
to a more dynamic look.
Your background should usually be a bit
darker to separate yourself from it, but
it shouldn't be too dark.
So play around with the available lights
in your room and curtains to adjust the
lighting of the background.
When you can afford it, you should move
on to using proper video lights though as
they are more consistent
and give you more control.
To get started, use a key light as your
main light source, a fill light or a
reflector to brighten up dark shadows
and a backlight to
separate you from the background.
Only using one light can be enough as
well, especially when it's combined with
the ambient lights of your room,
but having two or three lights makes it
easier to get it to look good.
I also have a more
in-depth tutorial about lighting.
You will find it like
always in the description below.
Aside from lighting, a blurry background
also helps to focus attention on you.
To achieve this, use a lens with a low f
number, ideally f1.8 or lower on APS-C
cameras or f2.8 or
lower on full frame ones.
For B-roll shots, get closer to the
subject to achieve background blur even
with higher f numbers like f4.
Regarding lenses, narrower focal lengths
like 35mm or higher on full frame cameras
are better for capturing product and
close-up B-roll shots as they bring you
closer to the subject.
The Viltrox 27mm f1.2 is a great budget
option for that and my
overall favorite APS-C lens.
On your phone, use the 2x or 3x tele
lenses for such B-roll shots
and ensure there is a good amount of
light for best quality.
If you only have a wide lens, you can
also use your camera's
crop mode to digitally zoom in
without losing much quality.
Refer to your camera manual to find this
option. It's usually called something
with crop or clear image zoom.
For lighting your B-roll shots, sight and
backlighting techniques work great.
Backlighting means placing a light source
like a window, a video light or the sun
within the 180-degree
angle opposite your camera.
This creates an interesting look, but the
shadows can sometimes be a bit too dark.
In that case, you can brighten the
shadows with a second
light or a reflector
or you can use sight lighting to
highlight the important
areas of your subject.
Also, always ensure your camera settings
are optimized for the best video quality.
Always shoot in 4K and make sure the
autofocus is set to face tracking if you
film yourself or others.
Set the autofocus to focus area for
B-roll footage and at
times where you want the focus
to stay where it is,
switch to manual focus.
That's important as the camera otherwise
wouldn't know where you want it to focus.
If your lens doesn't have a button for
that, use the quick menu or a button on
your camera to switch to manual focus.
For detailed guidance on using your
camera, watch my free videography basics
for beginners guide here on YouTube.
Also, if you're serious about learning
how to get the best
footage out of your camera,
check out my practical videography
course, which covers all the
essentials you need to know,
plus videography drills that teach you
videography by gaining
the right experience fast.
I will leave links to both the free
tutorial and my course in
the description below as well.
The next challenging part when you record
your videos is talking to the camera.
It just feels awkward in the beginning.
So here are a few tips to make it easier.
When you're talking to the camera,
composition is important.
Ideally, you should be centered and not
too low in the frame to avoid too much
space above your head.
I also prefer placing the
camera slightly below eye level.
There are more ways to frame your shots,
but that's enough to get started without
overcomplicating it.
From there, look mainly into the lens and
not on the screen because looking into
the lens feels like if you would look
into the eyes of the viewer.
While doing so, imagine you're talking to
a friend to keep it natural.
You wouldn't constantly stare into his
eyes, but you would also not look
somewhere else most of the time.
So look into the camera around 90 percent
of the time, but also look a bit around
sometimes and use your hands just as if
you would naturally talk to someone else.
If talking into the camera still feels
hard for you, try doing something else
while talking to the camera because then
you're not so focused on it.
And it makes it feel a bit more natural
like you would actually talk to a friend.
And it's the same for you,
but also for the one watching.
Of course, maybe if you're in awkward
positions like I was right now mounting
the camera on a tripod, it's
probably not the best idea.
Keep it simple.
Another tip when you sit in front of the
camera is to lean slightly forward.
I noticed on myself and other YouTubers
that we tend to lean back a bit while
talking to a camera so that our eyes
essentially move down to look at it.
That feels weird and can easily be solved
by just focusing on
leaning a bit forward.
That also makes the viewer feel like he
gets more attention.
From there, I can only say don't worry
too much about making mistakes and repeat
what you said if necessary because you
can still cut out the bad
takes later in the edit.
I do that all the time and also now I
have to do that because this is already
my sixth take of this part of the script.
So don't worry.
Like so often, training is key.
So practice often and keep the camera
rolling all the time for outtakes.
Ideally talk to the camera every day
until you get comfortable.
You mustn't publish the videos.
Just look at each one and imagine what
you could do better.
To speed up recording the a-roll, you can
also use a teleprompter, but I wouldn't
recommend it in the beginning because it
makes you sound robotic.
So learn to talk freely to the camera
first and if you want,
add a teleprompter later.
Aside from talking into the camera, you
can also film yourself to tell your story
better or to emphasize
certain points of your videos.
There is the saying show don't tell in
the filmmaking space, which literally
means that the more you're capable of
showing without telling
at all, the better it is.
Of course, it's not always possible
without talking, but even then it's still
better to show and tell
instead of only telling.
So better learn how to film yourself.
Here's how to do it.
A good way to film yourself is to capture
three to five different shots of whatever
you do to create a sequence.
This usually includes a wide shot, a
close up of what you're doing, a close up
shot of your face and shots of your
environment, also called cutaway shots.
For even more variety, capture multiple
angles of the same action.
You can just do the same thing a few
times and change your camera position,
distance and focal
lengths or the world lens.
When doing so, make sure that you do
everything exactly the same every time.
If you use your right hand to hold
something in one shot and the left hand
in the other, it won't fit.
So you really have to think about all
those details while filming yourself.
When capturing such shots, you should
also often use manual focus.
Otherwise, your camera might focus
somewhere it shouldn't.
Lighting is also crucial, but it's
exactly the same as I told you already.
Just use back and side
lighting to keep it cinematic.
A little lighting hack for such shots is
to choose a room that has a very big
window and just shoot
everything around that window.
If this window has white curtains, that's
even better as it softens the light.
Aside from that, you either want to use a
tripod to film yourself or bring a friend
to add some camera movement.
If you don't have friends, a camera
slider can do the job as well.
And in the long run, they are often
cheaper than friends.
Just kidding.
Okay, that's a lot and it will take you
some time to implement all of that.
So my most important tip to get started
is to capture a good variety of shots
because it gives you more flexibility in
the edit and you learn more what's most
important when you're starting out.
After capturing all your
footage, it's time for the edit.
Honestly, editing is pretty complex and I
made a whole ultimate guide about video
editing for beginners not too long ago.
So just watch that to learn all the
basics about video editing.
It's also free on YouTube and like always
you find the link in the
description below as well.
But here's one tip I want to give you and
that is to forget about retention editing
as it often makes your videos worse.
Many YouTubers, including myself, started
editing in a pretty fast
paced way over recent years
because of all the short form content and
Mr. Beast style videos.
That can definitely work
for certain video formats.
It's not necessarily wrong, but from my
experience, it makes videos generally
worse because it takes away personality.
And as an editor, you're likely focused
too much on that fast paced editing
instead of actually creating informative
and meaningful videos.
So instead of only thinking about the
retention and YouTube
analytics when you edit your videos,
better think about the
experience for the viewer.
How do you want your viewers to feel
after watching your video?
How can you make it easy for
non-professionals to
consume your information?
And how can you show without telling?
These are a lot more important than
retention editing will ever be.
Another part of editing is color grading.
And here I have to say don't do much in
the beginning because it can get
difficult and there are more important
things to learn when you get started.
However, I have a little tip for you to
make your videos look better that you can
even implement as a beginner.
If you want to make your videos look a
bit better without much work,
either use a Fujifilm camera such as the
XS10 or XS20 for nice film
look straight out of camera,
use the Kyno app on your iPhone to do the
same or get some good looking LUTs from
your Sony or Panasonic cameras like the
A6700 and S5 Mark II.
I recommend the Phantom LUTs from Joel
Famularo as they make your footage look
like every cinema cameras.
Newer Sony and Panasonic cameras can bake
these LUT files into your videos which
act the same as
Instagram filters just better.
These are the easiest ways to get pretty
good looking colors
straight out of camera.
You might want to read the manual of your
camera though to learn how to set it up.
But don't leave now because I also have a
few more tips for you to
create YouTube videos even faster.
My first tip is to capture sound effects
while shooting your videos by always
having a shotgun microphone attached.
That saves a lot of time editing videos
if you want to have
sounds in the background
because otherwise you would have to spend
hours looking for sound effects.
Also listen to stock music in your free
time on platforms such as
Epidemic Sound and Artlist
and add the good tracks to your favorites
so you have to search less
when you edit your videos.
I will also link both music platforms in
the description below.
You find great music there without
getting any copyright strikes on YouTube.
That's why there's no
way without one of them.
After recording use AI apps like Gling to
cut your A-roll fast.
Such apps automatically remove pauses and
filler words and you can cut the rest
just by editing text.
That's a lot faster than editing the
A-roll in your timeline.
In the long run you should also build a
YouTube setup at home with fixed lights
and maybe even a fixed camera.
This way you don't have to set anything
up to start recording.
You generally want to streamline your
process as much as possible over time.
So automate repetitive tasks and create
templates for titles, transitions and
effects that you often
use to edit your videos.
To come to an end I want to remind you of
one important thing which is that you
should not worry too much
about YouTube analytics.
Because YouTube analytics can be a bit
confusing at times because on one side
YouTube analytics is good because you can
use that data that you get there to
improve certain parts of your video,
certain aspects at least.
But it can also be confusing at times
because maybe you have a video that
doesn't perform good that
doesn't get many clicks.
So you might think for example that the
thumbnail or the title is bad and then
you work on that all the time.
While in reality the reason why it
doesn't perform good is simply that the
idea of the video is not very
interesting for many people.
So obviously many
people don't click on that.
So you waste all that time working on the
title and thumbnail while in reality you
did everything right and you would just
have to make the next
video with a better idea.
So overall when you get started making
YouTube videos you'll see
it as a learning process.
And instead of looking at the analytics
all the time just try
to make better videos.
A good way to do that is to simply
rewatch your own videos after one or two
weeks after publishing it.
Because then you have headspace you're
not connected to the video anymore
because you're out of the edit mentally.
And then you have the capacities to judge
your video and see if you actually like
to watch it if it wouldn't be from you.
And if not then what
you could improve upon.
That's actually exactly the same way as I
started out because when I started on
YouTube I did not do it to make it my
full time job which it is today luckily.
But I just did it because I wanted to
make better videos and I
was a complete camera noob.
I wanted to make better travel videos and
I knew that one of the best ways to do so
is to simply make videos all the time and
try to improve with everyone.
And that eventually lead me to YouTube
becoming my full time job.
So definitely see it like that because if
you do that you're also more patient and
you also have more fun.
You enjoy the process a lot more.
So see it as a learning process.
Two good ways to learn more about
videography are watching those videos
here which are pretty
similar to that one.
But on other subjects video editing and
using your camera for videography.
Also consider subscribing if you learned
something today and I
see you in upcoming videos.
Bye!
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