Creating video content for your viewers or audience is not as easy as it seems. When shooting videos, lighting, sound, and appearance are not the only components that go into to creating good content. Having a professional appearance is key when wanting to attract more attention from the audience.

1. Your Background is everything! Having an aesthetically pleasing background is key when shooting videos. Influencers on YouTube stress the importance of having a clean background behind them. Your background should not be too busy to where it takes away from you, but is should be a solid color or a neatly organized backdrop that creates a professional environment to the video. You want to be the focal point of the video and not have a background that takes away from you.

2. Camera Presence: Practice! When speaking in your videos, the goal is to appear comfortable with who you are speaking to. If you have a nervous or stiff appearance, your audience will not understand your message as clearly. It is important to show emotion and be calm in front of the camera. The only way that you can improve your camera presence is by constantly practicing making yourself comfortable with talking to the camera.

3. Lighting: Of course, lighting is crucial when shooting a video. You do not want your room to be too dark to where the viewers can’t see you, and you do not want it to appear too bright to the point in which you are washed out. It is recommended that you shoot during the day in natural lighting for the most normal appearance. Overhead lighting is something to avoid as it could appear too yellow and unnatural. Having too many shadows can also appear unflattering on the person in the video.

4. Use a Separate Microphone: The sound is just as important as the appearance. If your videos sound professional, they are automatically going to attract a larger crowd. A microphone will create a smoother sound to your words instead of the quality of the speakers on your phone or laptop.

5. Invest in a Tripod: Tripods are important for video production because it avoids the struggle of having to hold a steady hand when recording yourself or something. You want to have a steady video because people are most likely to click out of your video if your filming quality is poor. Tripods also allow you to record from different angles that you could not have done if you were just using your hand to record.