Pro Tips for Creating Your Own Training Videos
With many gyms and yoga studios temporarily closed due to Covid19, you may be shifting your classes and personal training sessions online. If this is the first time you’ve created training videos, there are several tricks to make them look instantly more professional. Great-looking video is also an excellent way to boost your social media following.
Write and use a script
It might feel tempting to make it up as you go along, but unless you’re an improv star, it’s probably best to stick to a rough outline or script. Otherwise, your video can feel unstructured and a bit rambling.
Write a list of all the exercises you plan to do and work out the camera angles that work best for each activity. Then you can group exercises together, based on the framing.
Use two cameras for different angles. (Or film it twice)
You’ll ideally want to film one master shot of the entire class or session. This is a wide shot that shows your whole body. You don’t need lights or a studio to create a great-looking video, but it helps if you have natural light. Natural light creates a more flattering look. Face a window or have it light you from the side and position the camera opposite you. Never stand in front of a window, or you’ll be in silhouette.
Position a second camera (or second phone) in a different angle to create a mid-shot. A mid-shot shows an actor approximately from the waist up. This second angle could be lower down, closer to the floor, if you’re doing a lot of floor work. Depending on the exercises you are doing, you may need to film from several additional angles to capture them properly.
Use an external microphone
Bad audio can ruin your film. If possible, invest in an external mic to record your sound. There are good quality and inexpensive mics for YouTubers, which you can buy on Amazon. For pro sound, consider renting a ZOOM H6 recorder for the day and record all your training videos in one go. These can be rented for around $20 a day from a film equipment rental house.
Pro tip: If you rent on a Friday and return on a Monday, you only have to pay for one day’s rental. Choose a quiet space. Mics amplify background noise, and this can be distracting. Move loud ticking clocks to an alternative area and turn off air conditioning units.
Apply basic editing
Now you’ve shot your film; it’s time to edit it. For editing software, iMovie is great for beginners. It’s simple to use and has an extensive collection of animated titles and credits, plus ten video filters to choose from if you are looking to add a cinematic touch.
If you’re looking to invest a bit more, then consider subscribing to Adobe Premiere. It has significantly more features than iMovie and is an excellent choice if you’re looking to go pro. Adobe also has a series of comprehensive training videos, so you can get up to speed quickly.
The easiest way to begin editing is to lay your master shot onto the timeline and start to cut in closer angles. There is plenty of royalty-free music tracks on the web, which you can use to give your videos more energy. Just make sure you’re considering the beat of the music when you make your edits. You want edits to be in time with the music.
Add text & graphics
Add the finishing touches to your video: some nicely designed graphics. Ensure that any fonts and colors you use are consistent with the overall branding of your company. Make sure the text stays on screen long enough for people to read.
Congratulations. Your video is looking great and ready to share.
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