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— Worry-free Guide to Web Video Production —
So you want to make a video and put it on the Web, but you
don’t know how? Don’t worry!

What It Takes
➤ Some basic equipment.

➤ Your willingness to experiment with the equipment and grasp the basic concepts.

➤ A little imagination and some inspiration to see you through the project to your final video.

What You Need
➤ An appropriate place to shoot the video.

➤ A good source of light.

➤ A camera with good audio.

➤ A willing and able subject.

➤ The ability to edit and upload your video.

An Appropriate Place to Shoot the Video
➤ Find a location where you can work uninterrupted and unhampered by noise.

➤ Don’t underestimate the value of giving yourself enough room to work.

➤ It will give you the chance to experiment and try different approaches.

➤ Create a unique setting or mood.

➤ Make the process fun and enjoyable.

A Good Source of Light
Just ask any photographer or director what is more important, the light or the camera.
The answer is always: the Light.

© 2010 by Studio Arts Productions All rights reserved. Page 1
Peter Ivory, Studio Arts Productions (415) 599-6355 Video Studio at jemgraphics.com
74 Digital Drive. Studio 8, Bel Marin Keys Industrial Park, Novato, CA 94949 (415) 483-1105

Why is Lighting So Important?
➤ Your camera needs light to perform its best.

➤ The quality of light affects two areas of your video image:
ƒƒ Contrast

ƒƒ Color

➤ Without proper light, your camera never receives the information it needs.

Contrast
Lightest area to the darkest area (think of black and white movies)

➤ Remember that your camera is a poor substitute for the human eye.

➤ Your eye can perceive contrast at 1000:1 ratio or better.

➤ Your camera captures contrast at 250:1.
Only 25% of what you can actually see when you are behind the camera.

Controlling the Contrast
➤ Having enough light to light your subject and the background is key in achieve a good balance.
ƒƒ Minimize the extreme dark or bright areas. (shadow and highlights)

ƒƒ Your subject’s face should be about the brightest part of the image.

➤ If you adjust the lights for the subject, then the background should stay in the background.

Color
Color Saturation
➤ Too little light and your colors will be dim or muted.

➤ Too much light and your colors will look washed out or faded.

➤ Proper lighting will allow for the color detail in your image to be seen in a rich and vibrant way.


Balance
➤ You will want to balance the light somewhere in the middle and eliminate the extremes.

➤ This will let your camera do its best by limiting the range of light that it will need to capture.

How to Light Your Subject
Different Kinds of Light
➤ Natural lighting from the sun is the ultimate source of light. You should always position the sun
behind and a little bit to the side of the camera, if possible. Watch for shadows.

➤ Indirect natural light (or reflected light) can give you a soft and even light, which is the most
flattering.
ƒƒ Light that reflects off a building, a wall, or a ceiling is indirect or soft light.

➤ Indoor Simply using the natural light coming from a window can be a great source of light.

➤ Artificial Lighting can sometimes be your best source of light because you can control it.
ƒƒ Ordinary household lighting with some reflective material can be strategically positioned to
create a great setting and mood while lighting your subject.

ƒƒ There are also many different kinds of lighting kits available, depending on your needs and
budget.

➤ Back lighting (light that comes from behind your subject) will silhouette your subject and put them
in the shadow area of you image. You will want to avoid backlighting your subject whenever possible,
or you will require enough light to fill or properly expose you subject from the front.

Experiment with Your Lights
➤ Don’t be afraid to move the light and see what happens. Sometimes the slightest change can make
the biggest difference.

➤ Run trial shoots to see what the picture will look like before shooting the final video.
Make changes if necessary until you are satisfied with the look you are getting.

➤ Lighting can make all the difference between an amateur-looking video and something that looks
professional and communicates effectively.


A Camera with Good Audio
➤ The capabilities of your digital camera are important.
The higher the quality the picture, the better you will look when viewed on the Web.

➤ Many of the latest models have both HD and SD. Some have simple editing capabilities built in,
as well as encoding features for preparing your file for uploading to the Web.

➤ Audio quality is as important, if not more important, than the video quality.
Your message must be clearly heard if it is going to have any impact at all.

➤ A tripod or some means of keeping the camera steady when you shoot. This can be as simple as a
stack of books placed at the edge of a table to achieve the proper height for your subject.

➤ If you don’t already own a camera with these video features, you can:
ƒƒ Update your current camera to a new HD camera ($100-$400)

ƒƒ Borrow a good camera from a friend or relative.
Chances are you know someone who has a perfectly good camera.
Often the camera will come with a willing assistant or someone who can be enrolled in the
process.

A Willing and Able Subject
Respect your audience and they will respect you.

➤ Be prepared. Know what you want to communicate long before you shoot the video.

➤ Prepare your copy in advance and try it out on a friend who can offer feedback.

➤ Use a computer and word processor, or Teleprompter software, to aid in delivery.

➤ Have the subject in a comfortable position either standing or seated.

➤ Clothing should complement their skin tones and not compete for the viewer’s attention.


Ability to Edit and Upload Your Video
➤ Almost any video shoot will be helped by some editing.

➤ When it comes to editing, there are many different programs available. Just keep in mind that more
expensive software does not always mean more value for what you are doing.
ƒƒ You can do a lot with an inexpensive programs or software that came with your computer
(such as i-Movie and Windows Movie Maker) or provided by the camera maker.

•ƒ If you don’t have experience in this area, the process can seem daunting at first.

•ƒ Don’t let that stop you from getting what you want. Go online and you will find plenty of
tutorials for the specific program you have and you can ask for help in the forums.

ƒƒ If you find the process to be too challenging, seek professional help.
You will discover more about the process as you go, and it will be a worthwhile investment.

Questions and Answers


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Worry free guide to web video

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