Up Your Video Making Game Using These Low Budget Yet Effective Hacks

Up Your Video Making Game

Many people think that making a video is a massive pain. They associate video making with costly equipment like lighting, high-end cameras, and compelling computers for editing. Nothing could be farther from the truth.

You do not require a budget of thousands or millions of dollars to make a share-worthy film or video that makes a profound impact on your viewers. Wondering how? Here are seven amazing low budget hacks to up your video making game!

Captivate Your Viewers with A Stunning Intro 

The biggest asset for you, as a content creator, to exploit is your audience’s attention. Once you get their attention, the most challenging part of your job is pretty much done. Intros can help you do that.

An intro that is well made can leave your audience longing for more. It would be best if you showed, through your intro, that what is coming next is:

    • Worth their time.
    • Worth their money.
    • Of high quality.
    • Well made.
    • Well curated.

Furthermore, an intro makes your video look more professional and reminds the audience of your brand or business. Try out any of the cool intro maker no watermark available online for free. It will make the process a lot easier.

Make Use of Good Lighting and Action Figures

It is a secret that many beginners are now aware of. You cannot always find the ideal lighting, location, and climate close to your living space. So, what you can do is bring all of that indoor and make a small model set where you can film your whole concept up close.

For proper lighting, you can use inexpensive LED lamps or flashlights from other phones. Foam board or a thermocol sheet will act as good reflectors for the extra highlights.

This is a technique that even many professional artists use. Post editing, it becomes virtually indistinguishable from the real deal for the eyes of a layman. You can create a beach, a forest, a racetrack, and so much more right inside your living room.

In some cases, the concept may be challenging to implement for a video and easy for a picture. So, what is the solution? A stop-motion picture!

The Best Camera Is Probably Already with You 

Your phone camera is more powerful than you probably think. Phones usually have a default setting for their camera. If you are able you gain complete manual control of your camera settings like ISO and shutter speed, then your video making skills instantly jump levels!

If your phone’s manual control interface is too overwhelming for you or your phone is not giving access to unleash the entire power, then download an app that lets you do this.

There are many apps like Filmic Pro, ProCam, ProMovie Recorder, and MAVIS that are specially made for this purpose. They give intuitive control over the essential features.

Use A Good Video Editor Software

Contrary to popular belief, a good video editor need not necessarily be too expensive or too complicated to use. They also need not be on your computer for you to use them. You can find a lot of great video editor software to use for free on the internet. All it takes is just a little bit of patience and time for browsing.

Find an excellent online video editor and edit on the web for quick results. There are many benefits to this like:

    • Easy to use.
    • Intuitive UI.
    • Your computer can take a break because processing is usually done on the cloud.
    • You don’t have to brainstorm for the perfect transitions.

Elements 

By adding small elements in your video like subtle transitions, texts, and subtitles, the audience will involuntarily realize that there was some effort put into the making of this video and it is not the product of some newbie trying his or her luck with a good camera.

But do not just add transitions and filters in random places. Every element should be used with a sense of purpose. Transitions are best to use when there is a scene change.

Also, do not forget about color correction. This is a prevalent mistake among amateurs. Ensure that your subject and the background blend well. Use filters and presets if you find it too difficult to use any of the advanced tools.

Slow It Down and Speed It Up 

Add slow-motion and time-lapse clips in your video. They give your content an extra flair because that is not something your viewers see in their everyday lives with their naked eyes.

But it is also essential to know which scenes look good in slow motion and which look good when fast-forwarded.

For slow-motion clips, your audience needs to relate to something. If you show a car going at 100 miles per hour on a highway slowed down to 10 miles per hour, the audience will have no idea and think that the vehicle is going at 10 miles per hour. But if you shoot a water splash in slow, that is something they will notice outright!

When it comes to time-lapse, make sure that your camera is as steady as possible. Disturbances to camera position while shooting time-lapse ruins the footage. With camera technology improved so much, this should not cost you even a penny.

Exit with Grace 

Do not abruptly end a video. A viewer will not be able to completely comprehend the bigger picture you wish to deliver if you end your video suddenly. Be sure to give your audience a fluid closure.

Create a clean and straightforward outro that gives closure to your audience. Just like the intro, a good outro also adds to the professionalism.

Furthermore, an outro reminds your audience of your brand. This way, their minds involuntarily associate “good content” with your brand as long as the content was excellent. Try using a InVideo.io’s video outro maker that is available online if you want to save some time and effort in the process.

Conclusion 

These seven easy low budget hacks are sure to up your video making game. Once you have mastered these, try coming up with some of your hacks and share them with the world to see!

Mark Funk
Mark Funk is an experienced information security specialist who works with enterprises to mature and improve their enterprise security programs. Previously, he worked as a security news reporter.