Instead of sending your company's next internal announcement as a boring email, what if you sent a personalized video message instead?
What if you recorded a quick video to maintain top-of-mind awareness with your network on Linkedin?
What if you presented your next quote or proposal not as a simple document, but an engaging video?
We all know how video is a powerful tool for communicating and telling your company's story, but it can be a little daunting!
I've been teaching film for three years for Apple and different organizations around Austin, and I would love to give you my top three tips for D.I.Y. video. With the right know-how, it can be easy to create D.I.Y. videos for casual announcements, updates.
If you don't own a professional camera, we all have access to the next best thing. Smartphones give you amazing video technology right in your pocket, so don't be afraid to use it!
If you are using an iPhone, we recommend changing your settings for better results posting (and potentially editing) your D.I.Y. video. Go to
Settings > Camera > Format > Most Compatible
Step #1. Framing Your Shot
Set yourself up for success by placing your camera and subject correctly.
- Stabilize your camera on a hard surface or with an affordable tripod and phone clamp mount. Shaky video is an unacceptable amateur move — and it's easily avoided!
- Place the camera at your subject's eye level
- Frame the shot by placing your subjects head near (but not at) the top of the window. They should have some "head room" between the top of their head and the top of the frame. Too much head room makes your subject look short. Not enough head room makes them look cramped. Find that middle ground.
- Center your subject in the frame
- Have your subject look directly into the lens
Step #2. Find Good Lighting
Good lighting immediately separates the pros from the amateurs. You literally want to cast your subject in the best possible light. If you don't have a studio light, you can easily find your own natural light.
- Find a big, soft light source like a window. Find one where the sun is not shining directly through. Direct light will create really hard (harsh) unflattering shadows on the face.
- Stand directly in front of the light source for even lighting. Don't put it behind you or right beside you. You can, however, slightly angle the light to one side for a more dynamic look.
Step #3. Capture good audio
This step often goes overlooked, but it is arguably one of the most important!
- Consider using a lav (clip-on) microphone for the best quality, isolated sound. Your on-camera mic will always capture more room echo and background noise.
- Find a quite space to record. Before you begin, take a moment to listen for background noise, talking coworkers, or road noise. You may even want to turn off your AC temporarily.
So there you have it! Video isn't just for the pros. You too can create a clear, engaging casual video with our top D.I.Y. video tips.
As always, let us know if you have any questions about scripting, editing, or using professional video to up your own marketing.

About the author...
Maria Forsythe
Maria brings client stories to life through video. She studied Radio-Television-Film at the University of Texas and worked as a Creative Pro and video editor for Apple before joining the Blue Griffin team in 2020... Read more
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