Tad Hargrave is a charismatic marketing pro, conducting workshops nationwide geared towards holistic, green and social-conscious businesses. A few months ago, I saw a ‘home-made’ homepage video that he posted on his website – he told me he wants to make it better and I agreed that it needed improvement, so we decided to collaborate on revamping the homepage welcome video.
Here is the home-made video…
And here is the new video…
Below are 5 important elements I applied to improve the production value of this video:
1) Lighting - I found the before video to be very flat, so I lit the other parts of the room and background which helped add dimension and interest creating a much more professional look. I chose lighting that was flattering to the subject, since every face is different it is important to customize the lighting specifically to that person. Overall lighting design was tailored to adhere to the mandate that this video should feel casual and welcoming.
2) Foreground / Background – I avoided any visual distraction in the foreground by keeping it simple, clean and uncluttered. I also used a shallow depth of field to put the background in soft focus (also known as ‘bokeh’ technique) to prevent viewers’ eyes from wandering. The overall color scheme was kept warm with just touches of complimentary colors.
3) Sound – One of the pitfalls of a ‘home-made’ video is poor sound quality. I used an independent stereo quality directional microphone that allowed me to capture Tad’s voice without distracting echoes and ambient noise. Using this gadget instead of the recorder’s built-in mic, also allowed a little more room for control in post production.
4) ‘Personality Bites’ and Jokes - Tad has a varied background from stand up comedy to magic. To add a ‘personal touch’ I decided to put together a series of candid and fun clips edited in such a way that best captures what his clients are drawn to. These elements are also aimed at new audiences arousing their curiosity, drawing them deeper into his website.
5) Editing – I’m not a professional editor by trade but I know that I’m a visual storyteller. Weaving in subtle details wether it be image or sound into the big picture is really what I like about editing. It elevates a plain straight-forward video into a whole new level of creativity and possibilities.
From that same shoot, I put together a video bio for him as well… have a look. More about video bios in my next blog, stay tuned.