5 simple tips for filming your first video at home

During lockdown, there’s been a 15% increase in the number of people creating and uploading videos. It’s a great idea, and a type of content that’s easy for people to digest right now, but it can be tricky to get right if you’ve never filmed from home (or anywhere!) before. Here are the problems we’ve encountered and how we’ve made it work: 

#1: Noise. Everywhere you go. 

With everyone at home due to lockdown, it’s quite difficult to find a quiet space to record in at home. You might be putting up with noise from neighbours, cats, dogs, children, builders, trains, the list goes on. One solution is to record early in the morning when there is generally less noise from people going about their day. If you know you’re going to be recording a considerable amount of content over the next few months, you might want to consider investing in a mic to ensure your audio is on point.

#2: What was I going to say?

When you sit down to make a video, you generally know what you’re about to say until you hit the record button. It’s at that point your brain might decide to throw a mental blank. Try out teleprompter apps to ensure you don’t forget to say anything, and stay on track without waffling.

#3: Lighting

You shouldn’t overlook the importance of lighting in your videos. Even if you’re just creating a video using your phone (which is absolutely fine and is what we’ve been doing!) you can still improve the end result dramatically by following a few simple lighting tips. Use natural light wherever possible, avoid harsh shadows (don’t sit side on to your light source) and if you need a boost look for a smartphone ring light. These also double as a tripod to help you keep your shot steady!

#4: What do I use to edit?

If you’re new to editing, it can be daunting knowing where to start, especially when it comes to choosing which software to use. If you’re a complete novice or even a seasoned pro who just wants to speed things up, try the Splice app. It’s an excellent video editing tool you can use on your phone, you can make quick cuts, add text overlays, transitions, and filters, and then export in whichever orientation/file size you require.

#5: Plan in upload time

You’ve filmed the video, you’ve edited it, you’re ready to go. But wait, you need to upload it. This will depend heavily on how big your file size is and the length of your video. Don’t leave it until the day you need to publish. Many people have reported slow internet speeds have added ‘hours to the working day’ so try to upload in advance, or even set your video to upload overnight. 

This should cover any major issues that crop up during your first go at filming from home. Don’t be afraid to have a go, and keep trying even if things don’t go as planned first time. I edited together some of my hilarious outtakes to show you the behind the scenes of a video I filmed for Sharing Social London. 

Enjoy 🙂