Have you ever snapped a selfie or taken a video and been disappointed with the results? Well, you are not alone, as being able to create an effective visual image is a real skill that takes both time and practice to master. However, the good news is that there are some things you can do to effectively improve either your photographs, videos, and in some cases both. Just keep reading to find out what they are.
Find the perfect location
While many people focus on the people in their videos and pictures, the location where they are set matters too. Indeed, a good location can make or break both a photo and a video so you need to think about your choices carefully.
For the perfect photo, you will need to look for elements such as texture, backlighting, leading lines, and layers. Outside settings, especially those with trees can work particularly well.
However, for videos, there are some other considerations that you need to be aware of such as accessibility for your camera, what the sound levels are like, and whether you have permission to film there.
Use a range of shots
To make your work as interesting as possible it's a very good idea to vary your use of shots. For both photography and videography, this means using a variety of wide, medium, and close-up shots. Then there are variations on this theme such as extreme close-up shots, aerial hosts, and low-angle shots.
In videography, you also have the option of panning shots which can be both very effective and visually appealing. However, to achieve these you will need specialist equipment like a camera head which stabilizes your camera as it moves. Thereby producing a smooth and clear shot.
Think about composition
Remember good composition is just as vital for videography as it is for photography. But what is good visual composition? Well, it's all about how you position the objects of your study within the frame of your lens.
The good news is that you don't have to reinvent the wheel here. Instead, you can work with the tried and tested composition elements such as balance, symmetry negative space, leading lines, and the rule of thirds.
Don’t be afraid to stretch some of the rules of the composition either. After all, your creative vision may offer something unique and interesting to the viewer.
Think about light
Last, of all, remember that how you light your photo or video will also play a big part in the result. Indeed, lighting is not only a matter of darkness or lightness. It also has a major part to play in setting mood, atmosphere, and tone.
With that in mind, you can choose to work with natural light, something that is much easier to do with photography and the golden hours for example. Alternatively, providing your lighting sources can not only improve the clarity of your shot or video but also ensure that it triggers the right feelings in the observer as well.
