How To Hook Your Viewers In The First 10 Seconds
How To Hook Your Viewers In The First 10 Seconds
If you’re experienced in digital marketing, then you’ll know that the first 10 seconds of a video is the most important part of a video. In fact, the first 3 seconds are even more vital, since your audience is presented with 3 seconds worth of your video, before the “Skip Ads” button pops up. So, you need to know what to do, to make your advert the most interesting thing your audience will see, before they watch their videos. But it can be difficult to think of something that interesting. So, here are a few tips to help you hook your viewers in the first 10 seconds.
Do Your Research First
Before you try to come up with eye-catching adverts, do your research first. Like with everything else, there are trends in digital marketing, and especially in the way brands advertise their products and services. So, before you start brainstorming ideas, for what you want in your adverts, do your research. Find out what’s trending in your industry and make a note of what has worked well for other companies. This research will help you to understand your audience better, and you won’t feel like you’ve been thrown into the deep end.
If you’re creating a documentary, or a feature film itself, you’ll need to think about what storytelling techniques are trending as well. An audience changes their enjoyment of a film, just as they enjoy new and emerging fashion trends. So, make sure you know which movies are doing well, and what makes them “good” in the eyes of their viewers.
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Choose The Right Story
Every video has a story to tell, regardless of whether it’s a feature film, an advert, or a simple vlog. That means, your video needs a story. It can’t just be a showcase for your product or service, nor can it be a collection of images and footage. These types of videos are boring and will most likely be used as backdrops for an event, or as a screensaver. If you want to hook your audience, you need to have a good story, one that tells them who you are, what you do and why they need you.
That’s why it’s important to spend time figuring out what sort of story you want your videos to tell. And once you choose the right story, you’ll be able to brainstorm good ideas on how to tell it. Sometimes, all you need are two words to tell a story, and it is in those two words that your audience will be hooked.
Use Bold Visuals
By using footage and editing techniques that seem out of the ordinary, you’ll be able to hook your audiences. For example, a stunt coordinating company could use phone recorded footage of one of their stuntmen doing a seemingly impossible stunt as the opening to their video advert or even a documentary. Or a wedding planning company could use home video-style footage to showcase a wedding they planned. Or even a travel agent could use a POV styled shot of someone walking through the airport and boarding a plane.
These visuals are not only relevant to the industry they’re in, but they’re also eye-catching. After all, a phone recording of a stunt would make it seem like an amateur was impressed by it. The home video footage of the wedding could make the audience feel a sense of nostalgia, and even the POV shot of the airport can stimulate the desire to travel the world. So, make sure that you know what industry you’re in, and how you can visually stimulate the needs and wants of your audience.
Make Your Videos Unique With Editing
Editing is one of the biggest parts of the video-making process. It’s what connects your footage and creates the story. Other than the director or producers, the editor has the power to make your videos look amazing, and get your viewers hooked in the first 10 seconds. So, make sure you have a good editor, who knows how to make your story come alive.
It’s very well-known in filmmaking that the editors are the ones who can make the worst footage look like the best storytelling vehicles in the world. They’re the ones that can add colour, animation, and visual effects to a seemingly boring piece of video.
For example, if you’ve seen actors working with green screens, it looks like they’re play-acting, imagining a foe that isn’t there, but when you watch the final version of that same scene, the editors have not only created the backgrounds, they’ve also created that imaginary foe, and even added in extra effects onto the actor, to make it look like they’re fighting for their lives. So, don’t underestimate your editors. Let them know what you want, and they’ll ensure your footage becomes the best face for your company.
Rely On Us
As a video editing company ourselves, we can handle that last part for you. Our outsourced video editors will create the best videos for your company. We can ensure that no matter what industry you’re in, or what kind of video you’re making, your audience will be hooked to your videos within the first 10 seconds. So, if you need an advert, they’ll watch it all the way through, without realising they’re watching an advert. If you’re creating a feature-length film, we can use the best footage for your film’s opening sequence, and even if you need a wedding highlights editor, we can make sure that the first 10 seconds of that video will stir up those nostalgic feelings for those watching it.
Trust us. We can guarantee our editors will match the style of your company. All you need to do is tell us what you want, and we’ll make the video for you. So, if you’re interested, why not check out the service packages we have on our website? We can create nearly anything from adverts to feature-length films, and our prices are reasonable. So, you don’t have to negotiate contracts or selling fees. It’s all within the price packages that you’ve chosen. So go ahead and check it out now.
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Are Facebook Video Ads Effective?
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Are Facebook Ads Effective?
Are Facebook Video Ads Effective?
In general, we skip Facebook video ads, because, well they’re ads, but if you’re targeting the right kind of audience, no matter how many people skip your ads, there will always be that select few who will be interested. Creating Facebook video ads are effective if you use them correctly, and with the right production and editing team, you can be sure that your video ads will generate the leads you need. So, before writing off the idea of creating Facebook video ads, or any form of social media ads, here are a few reasons why it is still a good idea to create them.
People Do Watch Them
Despite the general opinion that social media adverts are nuisances, the contrary is quite true. Even if most people press the “Skip Ad” button they still have to watch at least 5 seconds of the video before they can click away. This is the most important part of any video. The first 5 seconds determine whether your advert is attractive or not, and if it is, you can be sure that your advert will be watched in its entirety, regardless of whether you generate leads or not.
So, even if most of the time, people will click away, after 5 seconds, you will most definitely hook the important leads you need that will eventually generate more customers for your company.
We Can Help Boost Your Sales with Professional Video Editing.
Unlimited Revisions – Whatever changes are needed, send them through and we will Fix them.
Fast Turnaround Time – We are always available to meet the tightest of deadlines when necessary.
Risk-Free Trial – Send your first video editing project to us and if you are not 100% happy with the results we produce, you don’t pay!
Your Brand Name Will Be Remembered
If your advert is a constant on a person’s Facebook feed, or if your video’s algorithm ensures that it pops up on a person’s feed, then you can be sure that your brand will be remembered. You might not immediately get the lead you’re looking for, but if your video is a constant presence on a person’s feed, you’ll find that they’ll remember the advert, and consequently your brand’s name.
Not to mention, if your video advert doesn’t seem like an advert, and more like a video they want to watch, you can be sure that they’ll watch your advert through because they’re interested. So, be clever with your Facebook advert. Make a video that doesn’t make it seem like an advert, and more like an actual video.
It’s An Opportunity To Network
Even if you may not think so, creating video adverts for Facebook gives your company the opportunity to network with some of the biggest names in social media. If someone, important in the social media sphere, engages with your advert, you’ll find that they’ll generate the leads your company needs. In fact, you can safely say that their engagement is a free endorsement if they engage with you positively.
And soon, you’ll find yourself entering into contracts and sponsorship deals, if your engagements are successful. So, even if you may think they’re unnecessary, or useless, creating original Facebook video adverts can help your company’s profile in the long run, especially if you’re active on social media.
Inbound Marketing Means Niche Audiences
One of the reasons why creating Facebook video adverts are so important is that they are part of your inbound marketing schemes. That means your videos aren’t broadcasted to just anyone online. There’s a set algorithm for your videos. So, whatever metadata you add to your video, including keywords, categories, descriptions and so on, will help broadcast your advert to the right people.
Digital marketing isn’t just about sending out a message, it’s about sending out a message to the right people, and you can be sure that if you set up your video advert correctly, your advert and consequently, your company will be seen by the people you’re targeting. So, instead of getting only a few likes, comments, or views, your video adverts may get hundreds at a time.
Video Adverts Are One Of The Most Engaging Content Forms On Social Media
If you’re on social media, which part of your feed do you look at most? Guaranteed, it’s your video feed. Why? It’s because you can spend hours on end watching stories unfold in front of you. Even if it’s an advert, you’re watching a story. That’s why it’s important to create and use video adverts. It’ll draw people in, and even if it doesn’t, it at least catches their attention for a few seconds.
Video content, no matter whether it’s an advert, or an actual piece of content for your company, is becoming the world’s number one form of media content that Internet users are consuming. So, take advantage of the rising numbers. Get your video adverts out there for potential customers to see. It’s not about sticking a piece of footage on your profile; it’s showing the world what your brand is about. So, be creative and bold.
Start Creating Your Video Adverts With Professional Help
You might think it’ll be difficult to create video adverts on your own, and yes, while it is difficult, that doesn’t mean there isn’t help out there. If you want to grab your customers’ attention, then you need help from masters of filmmaking art. So, contact professional filmmakers or filmmaking houses. Hire those directors, videographers, and editors. They’ll know what to do, and they’ll understand your vision.
Here at Cut Pro Media, we’ll do half that work for you anyway! After all, we outsource our video editors, so you don’t have to worry about the quality of their work. We can guarantee they are experts at what they do. They’ve had experience in the field of video editing, no matter what style it is, and they’ll be able to create that unique brand image that you want to promote on social media.
We’re not freelancers, and we won’t negotiate prices, because our prices are already set. All you need to do is choose which package suits your needs, send in your raw footage, and we’ll do the rest. You can be sure that we will create the best video adverts for your company, no matter what style, aesthetic, or story you want to tell. So, check out our products and services, we’re sure we’ll have the perfect one for you.
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3 Genius Ways to Make Engaging YouTube Pre-roll Ads
3 Genius Ways to Make Engaging YouTube Pre-roll Ads
It can be difficult to create ads that customers want to see, especially if you’re on social media. Of course, everyone presses the “skip ad” button because they want to see the video they’ve searched for, not an advert for a company that has nothing to do with them. So, how do you make sure they stay and watch your ads? Engage them. Sometimes creating a visually stunning advert doesn’t get you the visitors or leads that you need. So, your adverts need to be captivating, and interesting enough for your audience. Here are 3 genius ways to make engaging YouTube pre-roll ads.
1. Start With A Bang
Of course, we don’t mean it in the literal sense, instead create videos that capture your audience’s attention in the first 3 seconds of your advert. Most of the time, people click away from any advert within 3 – 5 seconds from the moment it starts. So, you need to grab their attention. Sometimes you can create that “WOW” experience with a message that’s related to your company’s industry. Other times, you’ll need to create something unexpected.
Think about all those adverts that seem blasé about viewers hitting the “skip this ad” button, or adverts that speak directly to the viewer. These adverts are attention-grabbing because they might not be paying attention, and when they hear someone speak to them as if they were on a video call, they may pay attention. This “breaking the fourth wall” stunt is effective, but sometimes, you may need to go above and beyond that, so that your potential audiences pay attention.
You’ll need to be a little more creative than having an actor saying “Go ahead, click that skip button” or “Wait! Don’t skip this ad yet!”. These techniques are generic, so you may want to think about something that they might relate to. Essentially, you need to think outside the box for your video’s opening, because you’ll hook your audiences straight away with that “bang”.
We Can Help Boost Your Sales with Professional Video Editing.
Unlimited Revisions – Whatever changes are needed, send them through and we will Fix them.
Fast Turnaround Time – We are always available to meet the tightest of deadlines when necessary.
Risk-Free Trial – Send your first video editing project to us and if you are not 100% happy with the results we produce, you don’t pay!
2. Make Your Videos Memorable
A good advert is a memorable one. When you think of the big brands, you think about Coca-Cola Christmas, you think about the McDonalds whistle, you think about all those memorable slogans, those picturesque scenes as cars drive down a long and winding road, you think about those moving stories that seem more like short films than adverts. When it comes to creating the adverts themselves, you need to think about what your audiences will remember you for.
It’s not enough to create an advert that creates a catchy tune, or a tear-jerking story. You need to make that advert your own. Successful adverts create stories, or narratives, that always refer back to the company in subtle ways, and that’s exactly what you want to do. Of course, the opposite can also be true. If your company is big and bold, then your adverts need to be big and bold too. So, be bold with colour, create a catchy tune, or create animations and cartoons that capture your audience’s attention.
Whatever way you go, make sure your adverts are memorable. Don’t “make something up and put it out there”. Have a look at your advert yourselves, have a test run of it, and see how people react. If they’re hooked, you’ll know you’ve made an engaging advert. If not, you may need to start again. It’s not a “one size fits all” process, each advert is unique and will need unique processes. So, take your time and be meticulous about it because you don’t want your advert to be remembered for the wrong thing, like a political stance that might offend people or a racial slur that might stir the masses. Be sure that your adverts are memorable, and for the right reasons.
3. Make Them Interactive
While it might not yet be popular amongst companies, try it out! It’s an emerging technology that has already been used on mobile platforms, so why not include it in your YouTube adverts. Creating interactive adverts can help businesses get those leads from their audiences because it automatically hooks in their audiences. After all, while waiting for that “Skip The Ad” button, viewers might want something to do than stare at a screen for 5 or 15 seconds. So, by creating interactive adverts you’ll hook them in by giving them something to do.
Think about all those games you play. When those pesky adverts come up, do you prefer the ones where you watch the advert play out, or where you can interact, play a game, or fill out a quiz? Chances are, you’ll want the latter, and while they might not be popular on YouTube yet, they are starting to grow, so keep your eyes peeled, you’ll find more interactive adverts popping up on your screen before your videos start to play.
Of course, the applications and services for these interactive adverts are few and far between right now, but if you know how to do your research, you might find one or two that are reliable. Granted the fees might not be ideal, but once your leads start flying through your doors, they won’t matter anymore, or you might find one that’s cheaper or more compatible with your company’s policies.
It’s About Trial And Error
While we’ve recommended these tips to you, remember that it’s all about trial and error. It takes a lot of creative minds and a lot of creative effort to create the perfect advert, and it doesn’t always happen. Sometimes, what you once thought of as memorable might become another “rock in the pond”. It could get lost amongst all the many adverts out there competing with you for the same audiences.
So, don’t always expect the first advert you make to be something that brings in those leads straight away. Some of the reasons why are that of the trends in the market and how your adverts are received. So, don’t be disheartened. Keep trying, and eventually, you’ll create those amazing and memorable adverts that people will even search up, on YouTube, as a video itself.
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The Ultimate Guide To Real Estate Marketing
The Ultimate Guide To Real Estate Marketing
With online video content on the rise, there is no better time to advertise and market your real estate business. However, taking just any old video isn’t going to reel in those new and recurring homebuyers. You’ll need to wow them with amazing content. That means, showing off your properties in the best possible way that you can. So, that includes extra information, virtual tours, images, and footage of the property, and even information about the neighbourhood around the property. To really sell your property, you need to understand what your customers are looking for, and why. It’s not just about buying a new house, it’s about finding a new home, and building a new life. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how to create videos for real estate marketing.
Build The Right Profile
Before you even start filming, make sure the profile for your property is correct. You don’t want to create one that doesn’t appeal to the right audiences or buyers. So, make sure you know exactly how you want to market your properties. Regardless of whether they’re aimed at first-time buyers or those who’ve been on the market before, you need to make sure that your content is aimed at the right people. The wider your reach, the more difficult it will be to ensure your properties are fit for each buyer you’re trying to appeal to. So, make sure that you know who your audiences are and fit your properties’ profiles to each one.
We Can Help Boost Your Sales with Professional Video Editing.
Unlimited Revisions – Whatever changes are needed, send them through and we will Fix them.
Fast Turnaround Time – We are always available to meet the tightest of deadlines when necessary.
Risk-Free Trial – Send your first video editing project to us and if you are not 100% happy with the results we produce, you don’t pay!
Gather The Materials
When it comes to creating videos for your properties, you’ll need to gather the right materials for it. That means everything from the specifications, like dimensions, price, and living conditions, to images and footage of the property itself and the neighbourhood that surrounds it. You also need to make sure that you’re capturing the best views of the property and the area, so your potential buyers won’t be put off buying it.
For example, you don’t want to include garbage bags, or inappropriate behaviour in your images, it’ll devalue the property, and your audience will think that your property is in a bad area. So, make sure the media you capture gives your properties a boost. Dress up the property’s rooms, so potential buyers might have an idea of what they could do with space. Retouch the colours of your images and footage, so that the area the property is in, is as inviting and friendly as it can be. And make sure you’re showing the best angles of the property when shooting its outside space.
Be Consistent
It might be tempting to create individual videos for each property in your company’s profile, but as with everything else, consistency is key. Marketing properties to specific audiences are ideal but don’t forget that the property is under your company’s name. You don’t want to create a video that could look similar to another company’s, otherwise, potential buyers will mistake it for one of theirs, and you’ll lose customers. So, be consistent.
Make sure your company’s name is somewhere in your videos, otherwise, use colour schemes to help your audiences to remember your brand. More often than not, audiences associate certain colour palettes with certain brands, regardless of what products they make. Be sure your audiences know what your brand’s colour palette is and use that in all your videos so that the properties that you advertise will be recognised.
Don’t Overload Your Videos
Although gathering enough materials to showcase your properties can be a good thing, you need to remember not to overload your video with information and images. Remember, creating video content is about advertising your properties and the company itself. It’s like an overview of what you’re selling, and not the selling profile itself. So, while including information about the property and the neighbourhood is a good idea, including everything about it will overwhelm your audience.
You simply need to show them the basics of the property and neighbourhood, and if you’d like, add a “call to action” at the end. Tell them where they can find more information, and lead them to your company’s website, or get them into your offices. You don’t need to use the video to sell a property. In fact, it should only be the first step in making your audiences aware that it’s available, and if they’re interested, they’ll consider your company and its portfolio of properties to buy one.
Don’t Forget The Extras
Remember that video is a multi-sensory media format. It engages not only sight but sounds as well. So, don’t forget to add sound to your videos. Whether it’s a voiceover, music, or even sound effects, adding audio to your videos will help in attracting and engaging your audiences. It’ll help reinforce the information you’re displaying in the video, and adding a catchy tune to the video will give audiences something to listen to, while they pursue your property’s profile.
After all, a silent video is no better than a slideshow presentation. So, make sure you add sound and that it matches your company’s style and the video’s themes. You don’t want to use an epic soundtrack for your properties unless you’re trying to sell high tech or highly stylised properties. Most of the time, a simple jazz tune or an upbeat soundtrack will be fine and will work with the video content. So, be sure you know what your company’s style is, before adding audio to your videos.
You’re Not Alone
When it comes to creating video content for your properties, or your company, remember that you’re not alone. There are many video production and video editing companies, who can help you create the best video content for yourself. We, at Cut Pro Media, can offer high quality and timely video edits for you. All you need to do is give us the footage and the concept of your video content, and we’ll do the rest. We can match your video edit with the style of your company, and make sure that it’s up to the standards you’re looking for. So, check out our editing packages today.
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How To Outsource Your Video Editing
When it comes to video editing, there are three options you can choose from:
- Edit the video yourself
- Hire a freelance video editor
- Outsource your video editing
While editing the video yourself saves you the hassle of paying for someone else, and you get to learn video editing techniques, you can’t always be sure that your final edit will be good enough for your clients. In fact, you’ll most likely end up getting frustrated because you’re faced with the same or similar clips every day, and you’ll end up getting bored that you try to finish the edit as quickly as possible.
Similarly, if you hire a freelance video editor, you’re going to be endlessly negotiating with them. You’ll need to compromise because they might have their own ideas for your video, and their fees might increase the longer they spend on your video. Eventually, you might be left with a video that doesn’t resemble your original idea at all.
Outsourcing your video editing makes the editing process much easier. Those who are outsourced follow the criteria given to them to the letter, and you won’t have to worry about them forcing their opinions into the edit. They will edit your videos exactly as you want them to be. Of course, it can be difficult to find a good outsourced video editor, so here are a few tips to help you find the right one for your videos.
We Can Help Boost Your Sales with Professional Video Editing.
Unlimited Revisions – Whatever changes are needed, send them through and we will Fix them.
Fast Turnaround Time – We are always available to meet the tightest of deadlines when necessary.
Risk-Free Trial – Send your first video editing project to us and if you are not 100% happy with the results we produce, you don’t pay!
1. Define Your Video.
First, before you start searching for an outsourced video editor, define what kind of videos you want to create. Sometimes, if you don’t know what type of video you’re making, your video editors won’t either. After all, they weren’t there when you started planning the video, so they don’t understand what your vision is. So, before you send off your footage to any video editor, whether outsourced or freelance, make sure they know what to expect. Define what type of video you’re expecting, so that your editor knows exactly what they need to make.
2. Do Your Research
Before you dive head-first into finding a video editor, make sure you know where to actually look. Many websites will offer outsourced or freelance editors, and it can be very tricky to find the right company that do outsource video editors. After all, some websites will offer “outsourced” video editors, when in actual fact, they’re freelancers.
Remember freelance can mean anywhere from companies offering their video editing services, to individuals collaborating with you on your project. These freelancers can change their minds about the services they offer, and they may increase the prices of their services, according to the changes you might make, or changes they think are necessary. That’s why you need to know the difference between freelance and outsource.
Outsourced video editors are nothing like freelance editors. They won’t have an opinion on your videos and will edit them according to your style and needs. For example, if you’re a wedding video production company, outsourced video editors will make sure that the style of their edit complies with the theme of the wedding itself or the theme that you’ve specified.
Essentially, outsourced video editors will match your style, and edit your video according to your criteria. All you have to do is provide the footage and the concept you’re after. They’ll do the rest of the work, including fixing your footage if need be.
3. Communicate With Your Editor
Once you’ve decided which company or which editor you’re going to work with, don’t forget to communicate with them. Some outsourced editors will have expertise and skills in one form of video editing or another. Make sure you choose the right editor with the right editing techniques for your video. For example, you might need an editor for a feature film and an editor for a company promotional video. So, be sure you know what editing techniques your editor has, so you can create the right style of video.
You should also communicate with your video editor if there are any changes you need to make. For example, you might find some footage that you forgot to send to them, and you want to add that footage into your edit. Tell your video editor about it, and they’ll do the best they can to work that footage in.
4. Don’t Forget To Pay
While outsourced video editors rely on third-party companies, don’t forget to pay the amount you’ve agreed on. Just because the company sets a price doesn’t always mean it’s a one-time pay-out. Sometimes it is a full-on investment project. So, you’ll need to determine how you’re going to pay and in what way, whether you pay them daily, weekly, or monthly, or if you’re going to pay them by the hour.
Be aware of what your financial options are, and make sure you understand how their payment schemes work. That way you won’t be hit by any hidden surprises or expenses. Of course, your research should already alert you to the financial systems that are in place, but if you’re not sure, always ask. Companies who outsource their video editors will try to be as transparent as they can be, so you’ll always find a straightforward answer if your initial research is missing that detail.
Trust Our Editors
Here at Cut Pro Media, we outsource our editors, and we ensure that our services are always high quality. You won’t be disappointed. Our editors can guarantee that your video edits will be delivered in a timely manner and will always fit within the scope of your video’s concepts. We can match your style and ensure that they will edit the best quality videos for you and your clients. Our prices are on our website and include the services that we will provide for each price. We can create videos from simple social media promotional material to full-on feature films, and even wedding highlights videos. If you’re interested, check out the packages we provide on our website, and if you have any further questions, we will be happy to answer them.
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Church Video Production & Editing Tips
Church Video Production & Editing Tips
There are many reasons people will shoot a video in a church, not least of all because it’s a special occasion, but there are other reasons too, like streaming live services to the church’s congregation, or the church itself is a setting for your film. Regardless of what you’re shooting in a church for, there are many things that you need to be aware of, when setting up your shots, filming your subjects and when editing the footage. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of church video production and editing tips to help you if and when you use a church as part of your film.
We Can Help Boost Your Sales with Professional Video Editing.
Unlimited Revisions – Whatever changes are needed, send them through and we will Fix them.
Fast Turnaround Time – We are always available to meet the tightest of deadlines when necessary.
Risk-Free Trial – Send your first video editing project to us and if you are not 100% happy with the results we produce, you don’t pay!
Be Mindful Of The Icons
First and foremost, remember that you’re in a church. There will be icons, statues, figurines, and many decorative vases, flowers, and delicate artworks around the building. Be mindful of them, because if you’re not careful, you will knock over a priceless piece of art, even if they’re just a bunch of flowers. Often, volunteers, congregation members and even the church’s staff will have set up those decorations, mostly for worship purposes.
In any case, use a few extra runners or crew members to help you in case you’re using a moving shot. That way, you won’t knock over a piece of artwork, they can guide you around those valuable pieces, and stop you, if you’re getting too close to them. Not only that, make sure you rehearse and plan out your shots before the day of the shoot. If you’re filming a special occasion, like a wedding, attend the rehearsals, when the bride and groom are being walked through the ceremony, so you know where to set up your equipment. That way, you can avoid knocking over the decorations, and still get the shot you need.
Cooperate with Church Officials
As with any public gathering spaces, there are rules you need to follow. Not only that, but churches are considered sacred spaces, so you need to make sure you don’t do anything that can be considered sacrilegious. Sometimes those who run the church might appoint officials, to help guide your film shoot, so you don’t overstep your boundaries. If that is the case, consider their advice, and listen to them. They know what to do, and how you can avoid disrespecting any congregation members, if there are any present, during your shoot.
Plan Ahead
For most on-location shoots, you’ll need to plan ahead, and shooting in a church is no different. If you need the church to be empty, while you’re shooting, then you need to contact its staff members, so they know, negotiate the use of their church with them, and whether it is feasible to shoot, for an entire day, week, or month. Be sure you don’t disrupt their schedules, as some churches might not be flexible, such as with Catholic churches. There are certain masses and days of obligation that they cannot and will not miss out on. So, be prepared to negotiate and rearrange the days and times of your shoot.
Noise Travels
If you’re shooting for a special occasion, like a wedding, remember that in every church, noise travels easily. The acoustics of a church make it so that a priest can still be heard, even if they’re not wearing a microphone. So, if you’re shuffling around or if you’re taking photos, you might disturb those who are attending the ceremony. Make sure that when you’re moving about or taking photos, you do so, as discreetly as possible. Try not to draw attention to yourself, and be as quiet as possible, if not for the sake of the ceremony, then because you’re in a sacred space. Remember, churches are places of worship and require a good deal of respect, so be as quiet as you possibly can.
Use Microphones
As mentioned before, churches are built so that the priest’s voice can be amplified, for those congregation members at the back of the church. Use recording microphones when filming, so that the echo, and the murmuring effect that your camera’s footage captures won’t affect your video’s final edit. If you don’t, then it will be very difficult to hear what the priest is saying, or what your actors are saying, when you put it through postproduction. You’ll need specialised equipment to separate the audio from the echo, and even then, it still won’t be very clear. So, make sure that whomever you’re filming, they have microphones on them. It’ll save you time and effort when you’re editing your videos.
Use The Right Software
Finally, when you’re editing your video, remember to use the right video editing software. Depending on what type of video you’re making, you’ll need specialist equipment, especially if you’re using special animations, text, and visual effects. Not every video editing software can accommodate these effects, and while it might seem useful to use online editing software, they are not always well equipped for a specialised video.
For example, if you’re editing a themed wedding video, you don’t want to use any available visual template, you’ll need to create and imitate the theme of the wedding. Thus, you’ll need software technology like Adobe After Effects, or Adobe Animate. So, make sure you have the right applications and software to edit your videos.
Be Smart, Use Professionals
If in doubt, always trust professional advice. Whether it’s from the church officials themselves, or if you’re hiring a video production crew, trust their opinions and observations, because they’ve all had some experience when it comes to filming in churches, even if it’s for a wedding highlights video. Listen to what they have to say so that when your footage hits the editor’s desk, it’ll be easier to edit. There won’t be any need to fix anything, especially the audio, because you’ve come well prepared.
Here at Cut Pro Media, we can ensure that your footage and audio recordings will definitely be put to good use and that you walk away with the best video edit your footage and recordings can offer. And even if you don’t have audio recordings, we will do our very best to edit your footage, so that you can walk out with a high-quality video edit.
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How Much Does Editing A Video Cost?
How Much Does Editing A Video Cost?
If you’re looking to hire a video editor for your work, chances are you’ll get a whole range of prices from very cheap, even free, to ridiculously expensive, and there are several reasons why, not least of all some are looking for the experience, while others are so experienced, most of the cost lies in the time they’re giving to edit your videos. What you need to do is strike a balance between the extremes. After all, you don’t want to hire a video editor who only started in the field, and you don’t want to hire someone who’s already made a name for themselves.
So, how do you choose which video editor to go for, and how much does editing a video cost? Let’s take a look at all the different aspects of video editing that could cost you a pretty penny.
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Time Is Everything
First, you’re paying for a video editor’s time, for the most part, because it takes a while to edit a video. Even a 5-minute short film can take a day or two if your footage requires a lot of cleaning up. Even adding special effects, like animation or green screen replacements can take a while to make, especially if your editor needs to make them from scratch. That’s why freelance video editors will charge a lot, the fees are for the time it takes to edit a good and comprehensive video.
Furthermore, the length of the video will also determine part of the cost. The reason why is that the longer the video, the more time your video editor needs to work on it. Not only that, if you’re working on a feature film, you’ll need to bring on a team of editors, which can add to the cost of the edit. And even though one editor may be brought on to fix one clip, they’ll still need some form of payment, especially if it’s for a major project. A credit in the film won’t be enough, and you’ll have to fork out a hefty sum just to appease them. So, keep in mind that the longer your video is, the more you’ll have to pay.
It’s All About The Workload
Many times, filmmakers, even big names, think that everything will be “ok in Post”. What that means is, when they make mistakes in the shoot of a film, the editor will fix it, no matter how bad the mistake is. While there are many mistakes a video editor can fix, there are some that can’t be fixed (think about the Game of Thrones blunder a few years ago). That’s why it’s important to know how much work you’re going to give your editor.
If they’re going to fix small spots, like changing the position of a prop, or doctoring a clip to fit within a scene, most of the time it wouldn’t take much effort. But, if your footage has a lot of these errors, you’re increasing their workload, thus increasing their fees. After all, if you signed on a video editor to simply put the video together, then fixing your footage isn’t in their contract. Soon hidden fees will start popping up and you’ll hurt your budget. So, when shooting your video, plan for any mistakes you might make, and try to eliminate them before you send your footage to your editor.
Account For Experience
If you’re working with freelancers, you never know how much their experience fees will be. They can be anything from free to thousands of dollars. If you’re looking for experienced editors, who know what they’re doing, they might end up being at the top end of the scale. So, unless you have a budget of millions of dollars, you won’t be able to afford them. Despite that, there are still some good editors who can be affordable. You only need to know where to look, of course, unless you already know a good editor, it can be difficult to find them, on your own. That’s why it’s important to get to know how good they are. Ask them to show you their previous works, interview them and see whether they’ve received any formal training or they’re self-taught. By getting to know how well they work, you’ll know the quality of videos you’ll get, and it’ll justify the prices they’re offering.
In-House Or Remote
Where your video editor works is also important and you should consider this when you’re hiring them. Sometimes having in-house editors, or editors who work with you, face-to-face, can be more expensive. You’ll need to figure out the cost of travel, even food and drink, and equipment and software if you’re providing them. Working remotely, or online is a much easier option since everything can be shared over the Internet, via cloud systems, or through file transfer websites. The only problem with that is the fact that you can’t supervise them, as they work. So, you’ll have to content yourself with whatever they’ve made.
Outsource Or Freelance
The last thing you need to think about is whether you can outsource your video editors, or if they’re freelance. Usually, freelancers can add on extra charges, even if they’re for minor fixes which you could do yourselves. However, outsourced video editors won’t do that since their charges are fixed. So, before deciding to scour the Internet for experienced freelance video editors, try searching for outsourced video editors first. Guaranteed their prices are fixed and will be experienced, if not with previous formal training, then the company who’s hired them will train them, themselves. By choosing outsourced video editors, you won’t need to negotiate prices or editing styles, they’ll match their editing styles to suit your needs.
Here at Cut Pro Media, we outsource video editors for less than $100 and depending on what videos you need, there won’t be any extra hidden costs that could break your budget. All our video editors are experienced and will be able to fix your footage, even if there are minor mistakes. Not only that, they’ve all had formal training, so you can rest assured that they already know what they’re doing.
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How To Shoot Video Like A Professional Videographer
How To Shoot Video Like A Professional Videographer
When it comes to professional videography, it’s not just about pointing a camera at something or someone. There are many different things you need to consider before picking up the camera. One of the many things you need, before you can shoot a video, is to have a plan that includes storyboards, shot lists and shooting schedules. Not only that, but you also need to think about the logistics of the shoot, where it’s going to take place, how you’re going to shoot the event or the actors. There is a long process that comes with shooting a professional video, so here are a few tips to help you plan for a shoot and learn how to shoot a video like a professional videographer.
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Consolidate With Your Crew And Client
Before you start shooting, you need to make sure everyone, both your clients and those on your crew, know exactly what you’re shooting. It is no good turning up on the day of a shoot, without knowing what you’ll be shooting, and eventually, the day will be wasted in negotiating where, when, and how you’re shooting your video.
It’s important that you know where to set up your cameras, to get the perfect angle for a shot, especially if you’re filming live events, such as weddings or ceremonies. The officiators won’t and can’t wait as a ceremony takes place, for you to reset your angles, because you messed up, and it’s even more vital that they continue, when they have a large crowd watching, like at a concert or a gig.
That’s why you need to plan with your client and crew before the shoot. It’ll not only give your crew the chance to suggest where to place your cameras, but it’ll remind your clients exactly where to stand and what to do when the time comes.
Plan For The Edit
Another thing you should consider before you start shooting is the edit itself. That means, you should already have the video already made up in your mind, which your client and crew should know about as well. One of the best ways to show them what you want to film is through visual aids, like storyboards. Storyboards are not just useful for fictional films, but it’s also a great aid for documenting live events.
When you provide a storyboard to your client and crew, it shows them that you already know what to do on the day of the shoot. It not only helps you plan where to place your cameras, but it will also help give your clients an idea of what their videos will look like.
By planning for the edit, your clients and crew will have a better understanding of what you will be doing on the day of the shoot. So, even if you’re zipping about, all over the place, they won’t be too worried about it, because they know you’re only checking up on either your crew or your equipment.
Make A Shot List
Shot lists are essential when you’re filming. It reminds you where you want to position your camera, and what shots you’ve planned for a scene or a segment of the video. If you’re shooting a fictional film, and you’re trying to get every angle you can possibly get, of the scene, you will definitely need a shot list so your crew can set up the shot, so it matches the takes you’ve taken before.
Similarly, when you’re shooting a live event, a shot list will provide you with a clue for your camera setups, and where your crew are meant to be standing, where they’re meant to point their cameras at, and what it is they’re shooting. For example, if you’re shooting a wedding, and you have a crew of three videographers, including yourself, you don’t want everyone standing at the altar, shooting the bride and groom. You’ll want someone shooting the congregation or shooting the bride and groom from a different angle.
That’s why it’s important to have a shot list on hand, a professional videographer knows where to set up his equipment and make sure it’s not in the way of a scene or event.
Keep An Eye On Time
When shooting a film, make sure you keep an eye on the schedule of the shoot. If you’re shooting a fiction film, your cast and crew will get tired, especially if the shoot is longer than 12 hours. Always let your cast and crew have a break, especially around lunchtime. You don’t want to have an irritated actor spewing off lines when they’re cranky. Make sure you give them a full hour before you need to start filming again, and even factor in a few 5-minute breaks in between takes, so they can get some air. It’s not always easy for an actor to embody a character and it can be draining.
Of course, if you’re filming events like weddings and ceremonies, remember to work with their schedule too. Just because you think you didn’t get a certain shot, it doesn’t matter, you can always replace it with something else. Remember, you’re working on someone else’s schedule, not yours. So, if you miss that “perfect shot” you will have to content yourself with it and hope that someone else on your crew or one of your camera setups caught it.
Even if you want that “perfect video” remember that not all videos and films are perfect. Even Hollywood directors have had to delete their favourite scenes, in favour of their schedule.
Never Stop Learning
Even if you think your shooting style is professional enough, never stop learning and asking for advice. Chances are when you ask, you’ll find new styles, new techniques, and inventive ways of shooting a film. Not to mention, you’ll meet other professional videographers along the way, and they’ll definitely have a few experiences that might give you inspiration for your next shoot. Or, if nothing else will work, sign up for a filmmaking course, whether it’s a short course to help boost your confidence or an actual degree, you will always find ways to improve your filming styles, no matter how far you are in your career as a professional videographer.
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5 Common Mistakes All Amateur Video Editors Make
5 Common Mistakes All Amateur Video Editors Make
When it comes to video editing, the professionals already know what to do. After all, they’ve had years of experience, they’ve made countless mistakes, and they’ve learned from it. But amateurs, looking for work, and unsure about what to do to make a video that’s worth watching will make those mistakes, again and again, until either someone tells them what they’re doing wrong, or they find out by themselves. Of course, these mistakes are common, and if you’re dealing with an amateur video editor, you’ll be able to pick out these mistakes. That’s why we’ve compiled a small list of 5 common mistakes all amateur video editors make.
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Cutting Too Much
One of the biggest mistakes you’ll find, amongst all amateur video editors’ works, is the number of cuts they’ve made in your video. If you’ve given them a lot of footage, from different angles, they’ll try to fit all those angles into the video, so that includes every angle that you’ve provided. After all, they were given the footage, they don’t want to waste it.
So, keep an eye out for your video editor’s style. If you think there are too many different angles included in your video, and you think you could remove some of them, then you’re working with an amateur. Tell them they don’t need to include every piece of footage you’ve given them, and that there are areas where they didn’t need to make a cut.
Cutting Too Little
Alternatively, you might find a video that doesn’t have the cuts in the right place, or the video editor didn’t cut a clip, at all. Sometimes, amateur video editors don’t create cuts in a video because they think it encompasses everything in a scene. So, for example, if they’re editing a wedding video, they won’t cut the bride and groom’s first dance, because they might think that watching the whole thing uninterrupted would be something their clients want. That’s a mistake.
Sometimes, a cutaway to someone else’s reaction can enhance the mood of the dance. It can reflect the poignance of the moment. Holding a clip for too long can take away from the moment. So, when dealing with an edit that seems like it’s too long, just be sure you tell your editor that it would be better to have a few cuts throughout the clip, to make it a little more interesting.
Cutting For Dialogue
This mistake is usually for those video editors working on interviews, films, and fictional shows, where characters have dialogue, or someone is having a conversational interview. They’ll cut immediately from one person to another, as they’re speaking, completely missing the reaction of the other. While cutting dialogue is mostly used in films and TV, it doesn’t mean it’s always effective. Sometimes capturing someone’s reaction is more poignant than watching someone speak.
So, when you’re dealing with someone, who’s working on your film, or if your wedding video includes conversational interviews, remember to watch out for reactions, if there aren’t any, put some in, or tell your video editor to add them in. It can be a great way to show how riveting or emotional the conversation is.
Transitions And Filters
Unless you’re looking for a highly stylised video, you’ll find that many amateurs will use and overuse transitions and filters. When it comes to transitions, you’ll find that most professionals will use a simple hard cut or a dip to black before fading in a new clip. Any other form of transition is unnecessary unless you’re looking to make a video that requires those transitions. Amateur video editors will choose those stylised transitions to make their videos “more interesting” when they are completely useless. The same thing can be said for filters. Unless you explicitly request them to use it, there is no need to use filters. Otherwise, they’re imposing their “artistic decisions” on your videos.
So, be careful when dealing with amateur video editors. Tell them not to add those filters or transitions, and make sure you have a record of you telling them. Otherwise, if you tried to dispute it, it could backfire.
Every Scene Starts Wide
In any film school, you’ll find that video editors are told to start with the Master shot, or the establishing shot, which encompasses everything, and then other shots are added in between. This isn’t always true. Sometimes, it’s a good idea to start with a close-up, or a montage of close-ups to establish a scene. So, if you’re working with an amateur, every scene or every element in your video will be monotonous. By starting scenes with a variety of shots, your video or film won’t be as predictable, in terms of editing style, it’ll maintain its audience’s attention and remain interesting, even if a Master shot is used to start a scene, every now and then.
When it comes to telling your video editor what you want, you might want to provide a storyboard, or a list of shots you want for your scene, instead of relying on their gut instinct on how your video should be edited.
That’s Why You Need To Trust A Professional
Above are the top 5 common mistakes all amateur video editors make. Of course, working with amateurs can be a headache, and granted they may be cheaper to work with since they’re mostly doing it for the experience, but if you really want high-quality videos and films, trust an expert. They’ve lived through these mistakes, and they’ve learned from them. They know exactly how and when to cut and transition from one footage to another, and they understand that they don’t need to use every piece of footage you give them.
Their decisions won’t influence your video, because they’ll know exactly what you’re looking for, even if you forget to tell them a few details. They’ll anticipate what style you’re after and ensure you get the best from your money. Here at Cut Pro Media, we can provide those experts and professionals. All our video editors have had experience in one field of film and video or another and are reliable enough, so you don’t need to always keep an eye on them. So, trust a professional, they’ve learned from their mistakes.
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Apple Final Cut Pro vs Adobe Premiere Pro: Pros & Cons
Apple Final Cut Pro vs Adobe Premiere Pro: Pros & Cons
PHOTO CREDITS – https://www.adobe.com/products/premiere.html
Every video editor has their preference, and the debate between Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro has never been hotter. With both applications in circulation in professional filmmaking and the film industry, it’s difficult to choose between the two. Even professional reviewers can’t really decide which one is better. So, with two different interfaces and similar functions, it’s easier to say that you’ll work with both. But, if you do that, you need to be able to know which projects will be compatible with each program. For example, some projects will be ideal for Adobe Premiere Pro, as you might need to integrate them with other applications, like Photoshop, After Effects and other Adobe products.
So, it’s best to pick your favourite editing suite, and understand why, and to help you do that, we’ve compiled a list of pros and cons of both Apple Final Cut Pro and Adobe Premiere Pro. That way, you’ll be able to choose the right editing suite that suits your editing style.
We Can Help Boost Your Sales with Professional Video Editing.
Unlimited Revisions – Whatever changes are needed, send them through and we will Fix them.
Fast Turnaround Time – We are always available to meet the tightest of deadlines when necessary.
Risk-Free Trial – Send your first video editing project to us and if you are not 100% happy with the results we produce, you don’t pay!
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Apple Final Cut Pro – The Pros
Let’s start with Final Cut Pro. First off, the interface is very user-friendly, even amateurs will be able to navigate the software. It’s very similar to iMovie, the free application you can get with your Mac, iPad, iPhone or online. It provides seamless video editing with its magnetic timeline, so it makes video editing more efficient, by letting users colour code their videos, tag them, and if necessary, edit each clip without affecting the rest of the video.
It also comes with a VR function, so you can create VR videos, with its 360-degree viewer. It makes a great tool for those who want to create immersive videos, and it makes it easy for editors to add graphics, text, and blurs, at every angle of the video.
Moreover, the software tags assets, so it’ll be easier for editors to grab the video, graphic or title they need, without digging around in their files. So, they’ll have more time to focus on the edit itself.
Final Cut Pro also comes with a multitude of extra features, like motion graphics templates, video filters, video transitions, video effects and 2D and 3D animated titles. Not only that, third-party tools and templates can expand the library of these tools, to create more personalised videos and films.
Another benefit to using Final Cut Pro is that the sound editing is built into the program as well. So, editors won’t need to switch to a separate application, to work on the details of their audio. They can easily fix any part of the audio, within the software. So, they can remove background noises and optimise sound levels without using a different program to do so.
Finally, one of the best things about Final Cut Pro is the rendering of the final video edit. While many other software and programs will take hours, sometimes days to render a video, Final Cut Pro utilises the processing power of the multi-core, and multi-thread machine power of a Mac to render the video at a much faster rate. So, what could take days will only take a few hours.
Apple Final Cut Pro – The Cons
While we can sing Final Cut Pro’s praises all day long, there are a few issues with it that may change your mind about how efficient and well-rounded it is. For example, despite its capabilities of rendering a video, its formats aren’t very compatible with other applications and software. With so many extra tools and resources that go into film and video making, it’s essential that a video edit can integrate with them.
However, Final Cut Pro videos don’t do well in that department, and many times editors will need to rely on file converters to help make the video easier to use and deal with, and because of that, the video may lose quality.
Furthermore, Final Cut Pro uses a lot of storage. Compared with other video editing software, Final Cut Pro uses double the storage that they’d use. So, you may as well delete every other software, application, document and file on your computer and portable hard drive, because the project that Final Cut Pro creates will take up space.
Adobe Premiere Pro – The Pros
Like Apple Final Cut Pro, you can pretty much do anything in Premiere Pro, in video editing. It supports VR editing, you can organise your files and folders, so they’re easy to reach, and they have multitudes of different video effects, transitions, titles, filters, and motion graphic animations. However, there are a few additional features Premiere Pro has that Final Cut Pro doesn’t.
Rather than integrating your video into other third-party programs and software, where you can enhance your video edit, if they are subscribed to Adobe’s Creative Cloud Suites, the editing process itself can be integrated into their other applications. What this means is, while the video editor is working on the video edit itself, an animator can add animation to already edited clips, on another app, like After Effects.
Not only that, but the software also allows you to edit several projects at once, so you can easily dip in and out of all the projects you’re working on at the same time. It also means that you can insert one project into another, without having to repeat the same edit for every video you do, if you’re creating something like a TV series, or a web series, or if you’re creating a video series for the likes of YouTube and social media.
Lastly, Premiere Pro also works with multiple formats, including the formats that Final Cut Pro produces. This way, your video’s final edit will be compatible with many other programs and products. You can even export the video more than once, and in different formats, so you don’t lose quality if you need a different format from the original work.
Adobe Premiere Pro – The Cons
Unlike Final Cut Pro, Premiere Pro is subscription-based. That means, while Final Cut Pro is a one-off payment of $299, you need to either subscribe to Adobe’s full Creative Cloud Suites or the app alone, to use it. The subscription can range anywhere from $19.99 to around $50.
Moreover, the interface can be intimidating to use, especially for novices and amateurs. It’s easy to get lost in the many functions Premiere Pro can offer and will be very difficult to navigate if you don’t have the patience or the time to learn.
As with many professional editing software, it can take a lot of CPU and GPU power to operate the software, let alone edit a feature film. So, you’ll need a very powerful computer, if you’re going to edit high-quality videos.
Final Thoughts
If you’re starting out in video editing, then working with Apple Final Cut Pro will be the ideal thing for you. It’s simple, the interface is easy to understand and all you really need to worry about is in editing your footage to fit your style or your client’s style. However, if you’re already a professional, and in need of something that caters to nearly every aspect of film and video production, you’ll need Adobe Premiere Pro. It’s not only a powerful piece of software, but with its integrated workflow, you’ll be able to access other Adobe apps and use their specific tools to enhance your video edit.
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