Videography is the new photography. Be it advertisements, vlogs, or newer features like reels, videography is taking over quickly as a form of public engagement. It offers a more significant response because of its dynamic nature, and it’s easier to tell a story in a few seconds than a single picture.
Videography can seem to be an easy task nowadays. Come to think of it, almost everyone has a smartphone with a camera, and video editing apps are a dime a dozen in the market. All you need is an idea and people to execute it.
That’s precisely what you need if you want run-of-the-mill, mediocre videos. Good video making is an art that’s mastered through trial and error. But that doesn’t mean all of your videos as a beginner are going to be sub-par.
Like every other art, video making also abides by specific unspoken but crucial rules. Now, it isn’t necessary to be a stickler for these rules always (after all, the most incredible art is always out-of-the-box thinking). But then to break them, you’ve got to know them first.
So here is a list of things novice video makers can keep in mind to have the edge over others:
Don’t Shoot Static
Videography is a dynamic means of expression. An image speaks a thousand words, only if the viewer can find the words in a static image. In videography, one doesn’t have to find them; they can be shown.
The point of video making is to engage the audience in a rich audio-visual experience. Being too static dampens this experience. Don’t be too static; use a variety of shots and angles. 
Even if the character is sitting and talking, use different shots like the wide-angle, the close-up, etc., emphasizing different points at various points of time. Align the type of shot with the tone of what is being said or done.
Don’t Say Everything
It is here that lies the art in video making. There needs to be a balance between what’s being spoken and what the viewer can make out from the video.
Use elements of sound, background, and most important of all, lighting to convey the protagonist’s emotional state rather than straight out spelling it out for the audience.
Intelligent video making lies in leading the viewer, not telling them everything from the get-go! This would enhance the quality of your video and keep the viewer engaged with it for a long time.
Don’t Mess Up the Beginning
As in any other creative art, the first impression is the last one. Most of the films you see open with a great shot. Vlogs and videos need to manage to capture the attention of the audience in the first few seconds.
Give a lot of thought to how you want to introduce yourself to the public. Is it going to be a comedic manner? Or would it have a sinister, suspenseful tone? Video intros are crucial in creating an audience, so pay close attention to them.
Try to make alternative beginnings with different elements. Online editing platforms, like VideoCreek, have an extensive range of options to spice up your video intros, and that’s why VideoCreek is the BEST intro video maker.
Don’t Rush to Buy a New Camera Straightaway
Unless you have a lot of money to spare for a new camera, don’t rush to the nearest gadget store. Many who do get carried away and buy expensive cameras for shooting videos never make one.
Start small and use your phone camera to test the activity out. Professional and semi-professional cameras are expensive and complicated.
You need to get your hand at video making right to know what you want, and the camera that’ll suit your needs as different kinds of cameras are loaded with an array of differing features.
Don’t Use Pretentious Transitions
An oft-repeated but rigid rule to remember in video making is: Simple is elegant. Strive for simplicity in your video production rather than chasing the latest fad and choking your screen space with superfluous elements.
Mostly, video editing is done on professional softwares, but beginners in the field most make use of online video editing platforms because they’re cheap and easy to use. These platforms have a ton of animations and transitions, and it is straightforward for an inexperienced videographer to be tempted by them.
Keep wary of corny visuals. Stick to the idea you’re trying to convey rather than embellishing it with gimmicks.
Don’t Overlook Out of Sync Audio
It doesn’t matter if you’re making a video for the first time or the last; some errors, however inadvertently made, just seem too enormous to ignore because they affect the final product profoundly.
One such cardinal sin to ignore is out of sync audio. Technical issues can sometimes lead to misalignment of audio and visuals. If left unchecked, this has the potential to go funnily awry or awfully funny.
The best practice is to edit your videos carefully. Spot the frame where it seems that the audio is out of synchronization with the video and immediately fix it by splitting the audio and adjusting it to the right frames.
Don’t Use the Camera’s Mic Unless Direly Needed
This one can only be broken if you’re very shorthanded in budget and cannot afford one. Better yet, try to beg, borrow, steal, but stay clear of using the camera’s internally built mic.
Cameras – be it smartphone cameras or professional ones – are inadequately equipped in the audio department. If you’re filming a shot from a little distance, and it requires the characters to say their lines slowly, with the emotion, then it’s likely that your camera mic will fail to register it.
The best practice in this regard is to invest in a good quality external mic.
Don’t Hesitate From Experimenting
Straitjacketing your style is akin to smothering your creative flair. Do not be afraid to experiment. It’s a cliche but still deserves to be repeated here.
Many artists try to stick to one aesthetic after “finding their style or voice.” Don’t be like them. Explore stuff.
Be it new sounds, visuals, or angles, don’t be afraid to break any of the rules you’ve learned, but break them creatively.
Conclusion
Videography is not as easy as it seems, but that shouldn’t dither you from taking it up, if only once. It’s a dynamic means of expression, one that allows you to invite the viewer into the realm of your mind by giving them a vivid audio-visual experience.
A vivid experience is hard to create, but with the right tools and intentions, nothing can stop you from making whatever your heart desires with some guiding principles.
