What is B Roll Footage in a Video?
We include b-roll footage in every video we shoot. During the last few discovery calls, our client asked, “What is b roll?” as we discussed the details of the video shoot. Let’s go over it so you know what it is and why it’s vital for your shoot.
What it Is:
B roll is the video footage that supports the main speaking parts (or A roll). Examples of this footage include an aerial drone shot of your office, a pan showing your team members collaborating, etc. It shows what’s being talked about in the video. We like to use your actual team members as much as possible for b-roll shots instead of stock footage. We cover how we will get these shots in our pre-production meeting.
Why it’s Important:
This type of footage is important because it helps with the flow of the video. Typically, talking into the camera for a minute or two is boring.
Adding b-roll footage breaks up the video and helps tell the story by showing what you’re explaining. We recently shot a lighting video for Hawkins Landscape & Outdoors. Instead of the project manager just talking about the app that controls the lights, we shot footage of him using it to show it in action.
B-roll also does a great job of making the points you’re trying to get across crystal clear, especially for those who process things visually.
How We Get It:
To build trust for your brand, we’re on a mission to eliminate stock videos and stock photography. One of the things we cover in your pre-production meeting is how we will be getting the b roll for your video.
This footage can be shot with your team members and/or customers at your office or job site.
We will also shoot aerial/drone footage and/or time-lapse footage to add different levels of creativity to ensure potential customers watch your video all the way through.
We hope this helps explain more about the video production process and we look forward to helping you with your next project.
How to Eliminate Ums When You Talk
Have you ever listened to yourself talk and realized you said a bunch of “ums” and “likes”? I know I have and it’s pretty rough. I’ve gotten better over the years, but they still show up here and there.
“Ums” can be distracting when you talk so it’s best to avoid them.
Here are 3 tips to help you eliminate ums in your speech.
Rehearse:
When we have “ums” when we talk, it’s typically because we’re trying to think of what we want to say.
You want to go over your content and rehearse a few times so you have it down on video shoot day.
This will not only help you eliminate “ums”, but you’ll come off as professional and confident.
Slow Down:
If you’ve been following our content for a while, you’ve heard this before. Slowing down your speech pattern will help you eliminate “ums”. If you need to think for a second, you have time to “catch up” without using filler words like “um”, “like”, and “ah”.
Slowing down your speech will help you come off as more trustworthy instead of sounding like a fast-talking salesperson.
Take a Pause:
If you find yourself at a loss for words, pause to gather your thoughts quickly. This is strong for a couple of reasons: 1: it eliminates an “um” and 2: people will tend to lean in because they are waiting for what you’re about to say. ex: a dramatic pause.
Please keep in mind, that we can eliminate some of your “ums” in our editing process but if there are a ton, the video can come out choppy.
So it’s best to not have them to begin with. This will also help you come across as more confident in your day-to-day conversations like phone calls and networking events.
What filler words have you been able to eliminate?
Vertical vs. Horizontal Video: Which is Better?
This is a question we get from potential clients from time to time.
When determining whether your video should be shot horizontally (landscape) or vertically (portrait), there are two factors to consider: where the video is going and what its goal is.
Let’s get into it:
Website
If the video is going on your website, we recommend that you have a horizontal video. When you embed it from a platform like Vimeo or YouTube, it will look better than a vertical video.
Also, if the goal is for the video to have a long shelf life, you should have it on YouTube and those look best shot horizontally.
These will also look better if you plan on embedding the video in an email campaign.
Social Media
Here is where it gets a little tricky. Both styles of video, horizontal and vertical, can look great on social media, depending on the content/type of post.
What we recommend for vertical video:
- Reels (Facebook and Instagram)
- Short Form Video (YouTube shorts, TikTok, LinkedIn)
- Stories (Facebook and Instagram)
- If the content does not need a long shelf
What we recommend for horizontal video:
- Promotional Video (Facebook and LinkedIn)
- Testimonial Video: (Facebook and LinkedIn)
- If the content needs a long shelf life
Since most of our clients need a variety of videos for their marketing strategy, we can provide both horizontal and vertical video assets so they are covered for their website (long-form content) and social media (short-form content).
If you are shooting your own content, you want to determine where you are posting the videos before you start recording.
What type of content does your company use most of the time?
How Much is a Professional Video?
One of the biggest mysteries regarding creative services is how much you need to budget. Whether you need a logo, a website, or a professional video, pricing is all over the map. This has to be frustrating for businesses.
Here at 12 Media Group, we don’t have set pricing, but I want to shed light on how much you need to plan on investing in video production with us.
Our projects can range from about $10,000 to $3,000, depending on the scope of the video shoot.
Here are 3 factors that determine the cost of a professional with us:
How Many Videos/Assets?
During our initial call, we talk about the full scope of the shoot. Sometimes we’re only producing 1 video, but on most occasions, we are providing our clients with several assets (a mix of videos and pictures).
For example: your shoot could consist of a brand video, some short videos you can use for social as well as some still photos. We recently had a video shoot with Paradigm Roofing in which we provided them with a testimonial video and we also gave them several photos that they can use in their marketing.
The number of assets is a major factor when we are creating a quote for your business.
How Many Days?
Another factor in determining price is how many days we will be on location shooting. Most of our video shoots are done in a couple of hours.
Some video shoots require us to be on-site (or at least come back multiple times on the same day) for the entire day. For the Paradigm Roofing video shoot mentioned above, we got footage first thing in the morning, then shot the testimonial, and then came back later that evening to get more footage of the roof installation.
Some shoots take multiple days. We are in the middle of a video shoot for a landscaping company where we are getting footage of multiple phases of a back and front yard transformation. This video will cost more than a video where we are only shooting for a couple of hours.
How Many Videographers?
Event videos typically require more than one videographer (or at least a videographer and photographer) to capture all of the footage and to be sure we don’t miss a big moment.
These will require more of an investment, but the return (which most of our clients pay the most attention to) is great on a video because they can be used over a over again for years to come.
We hope these factors help you budget for your next video project.
When To Shoot a New Brand Video
One of the first questions we ask potential clients on a discovery call is “Why are you interested in a professional video?”. A common answer lately has been, “We are updating our website and our web developer asked us if we had any video content for the home page?”.
This huge event typically triggers the need for a new video. Here are the other main events that may mean it’s time to shoot a new brand video:
New Website/Rebrand
We just mentioned this above. When your company updates its website or goes through a rebrand, you may need a new video.
If your old video is outdated, it won’t look consistent with a new website. Also, if you change your logo, your old video may include old logos, etc.
Web developers that we work with highly recommend shooting a new video to add to a new website or rebrand package.
New Office
We’re scheduling a shoot for a financial services firm in Frisco that just moved to a new office. They want a new professional video to show off their company’s culture and its new digs.
Their location is a selling point to attract advisors to their firm, so it’s important to them that we highlight their office interior and the surrounding areas.
If your company moves offices, especially if it’s an upgrade, it may be time to shoot a new brand video.
New Key Team Members
Recently, we talked to a company that needed new professional videos because their CEO is stepping down and he was in most of the videos on their website.
They wanted to reshoot the videos with their new key team members so there was an accurate representation of their company. If you’ve experienced turnover with key team members, and the old ones are in your brand video, it’s time to shoot a new one.
If any of these events happen at your company, we’d love to get you a quote for an updated brand video.
Click here to schedule a call with us: Book Discovery Call
How to Look Better on Camera
Most people we talk to aren’t naturally excited about being on camera, but they understand the impact that a brand video can make for their company. Here are 3 tips on how to look better on camera in your next video.
Talk Slowly
You may be thinking, “How does talking slowly help me LOOK better?”. When you talk slower, you’re more in control of your words and you will appear more confident and trustworthy.
Think about the opposite: have you ever come across someone who talks fast and looks “shifty”? These people tend to have us put our guard up. Slow down your speech and you will look like you’re in command of every word you say.
Also, use your hands when you talk. This makes you look confident as well.
Wear Clothes That Make You Feel Great
We’ve touched on this in a previous article called, What to Wear For a Video Shoot.
You want to pick out an outfit that you know makes you look and feel great. The feel is just as important as the look because you’ll appear more confident when you’re comfortable. I probably look better in a suit, but I feel better in a nice t-shirt or henley so that’s typically what I wear in our videos.
Be prepared
Preparation=confidence. When you’ve rehearsed what you will say before we shoot the video, you’ll be more confident and look better on camera.
It’s similar to giving a presentation: When you know your material, you look more natural and the words just flow.
We ensure you’re prepared by having a pre-production call with your company about a week before the video shoot. We cover all of the details of the shoot, including an outline of what you’ll be saying in the video. Our production assistant will be there on shot day to help guide you, but going over the content beforehand will help you look amazing.
We hope these tips help you look your best on your next video shoot.
What would you add?
Click here for a quote for your next video project: Get a Quote
What Should We Talk About in Our Brand Video?
This is a common question on discovery calls with professional service businesses.
Here are 3 questions that we ask to determine the best content to include in your company’s brand video.
What is Important to You That You Want Your Ideal Client To Know?
When producing a video for your company, it’s our job to guide you, but ultimately you will know your business far better than us. You know what makes you different from your competitors and the services your companies offer.
During our pre-production call, we will ask you what is important for your ideal customer to know about your company, based on your years of experience. This will help us create an outline for you to go over to ensure your content aligns with your brand.
What Questions Do Your Ideal Clients Always Ask You?
Chances are if one of your clients has a question, several potential clients have the same question. Start thinking of questions that you answer day in and day out. Answering these in your brand video is a great way to build trust.
That’s exactly what we’ve done in the articles that we write. We simply address questions we get on sales calls or production meetings and build content around them.
What Are The Main Problems Your Company Solves?
The last question I ask clients is what pain points and problems their clients have that their company solves. If you work for an IT company, you may solve cybersecurity issues.
Law firms solve legal issues, but it’s best to be specific. For example, business attorneys will solve different problems than a family law attorney.
Put yourself in the place of your ideal client. What pain points do they have? What problems do they consistently come to your company to solve? This is the content you should discuss in your brand video.
Your Next Step
Are you ready to take your company’s branding to the next level? Click here to schedule a call to discuss your brand video project: book a call
Preparing Your Office For a Video Shoot
One of the events that triggers the need for a new professional video is when your company moves to a new office. We are working with a financial services firm that recently relocated and they asked us for a quote to produce a new video and to update their company’s employee headshots.
Before we move forward and shoot the video, we recommended that they have their decor set up first as their office and walls are bare. We want the video to look as great as possible. Here are a few things to consider when preparing your office for a video shoot:
Location:
Where within your office are we going to film the speaking parts of the video? The CEO’s office, the conference room, or various offices? These are some of the details that we cover during our pre-production call.
Ultimately, it’s our job to put our creative eyes on your space to guide you, but it’s good to have a plan so the areas are ready (we’ll get into that shortly). Also, we will be getting b roll (shots that support the speaking parts of the video) in various locations of your office.
We also want to select a space in your office with good lighting, although we always bring our professional lighting setup with us to ensure your team looks fantastic.
Clean and Declutter:
It’s not necessary to buy new decor for your professional video shoot. We do ask that the space(s) we will be filming in is clean and tidy. This will help keep the video free of distractions and give your company a great first impression. Details matter.
Let your Employees Know:
Our production assistants do a great job of managing the shoot and it’s much easier if everyone in the office knows that video production is happening. This will ensure that employees who are not supposed to be in the video don’t make an unexpected cameo. This will also keep noise (talking and phones) at a minimum during the recording.
We hope these tips help your video shoot go as smoothly as possible.
If your company needs to refresh its brand video due to an office move, you can contact us here to get started: Get a Quote
How To Maximize The ROI of a Video
Today, let’s get into how to maximize the return on investment on a video. So when we shoot a video for a client, we don’t just want to produce an incredible video, we want it to perform well and make you money. So I want to give a few tips to ensure it does just that.
Put it on Your Website
You want to be sure to put this video somewhere on your company’s website. Now, depending on the type of video it is, is where you’re going to put it.
For a brand video:
If it’s a brand video, that corporate video that shows off your team and services, you probably want to have that somewhere on the home screen. Depending on the layout, it could be above the fold, below the fold, but somewhere on that home screen to where when someone’s browsing your website, then they watch that video, it usually does a lot of the trust building and selling for you.
For a recruiting video:
Now, if you have a recruiting-style video where you’re more going into depth on your team, you may have that on the About Us section of your website.
For a services video:
And if it’s a video on a specific service, you want to have that on your services page under that particular service.
Social Media Channels
In addition to posting videos on social media, you want to ensure your videos are uploaded to YouTube or Vimeo.
The reason is, that someone can find that content years down the road, and your company can be making money long after the video is shot. That’s important to us because we don’t want you investing money with us to just produce a killer video. We want you to get a strong return on your investment as well.
So hope this helps. Get recording. And remember at 12 Media Group, we put your brand in focus.
Ready to discuss a video project for your company? Click here to get started: Get a Quote
Choosing The Right Video Production Company
When choosing the right video production company for your business, there are several factors to consider. Here are 5 things we recommend to check to ensure you get the best experience:
Portfolio
You’ll want to check out the video production company’s portfolio of videos to ensure their style aligns with what you want for your project. Also, what types of video do they shoot? Music videos? Corporate videos? Events? You want to go with a company with experience in the kind of video you’re looking for.
Proximity
Where are they located? You may find a video production company that fits your creative needs, but do they service your area? We are located in McKinney, TX, just outside of Dallas, but we will travel to our client’s location if necessary. Full disclosure: we add travel expenses to our agreement if we travel out of town. Most of our video projects are shot in the DFW area.
Delivery of Video Assets
A must-ask when interviewing video production companies: When will you receive your video? Our process allows us to get assets to our clients in about a week and a half after shooting the video. Also, you own the videos once we deliver them to you. I’m finding that several companies try to guard your video assets instead of sharing the raw file with you.
Also, how your video is delivered is important. Our preferred method is sharing the files in a Dropbox folder to free up space for you.
Licenses
Music: Something else you need to be aware of: the cool music you hear in brand videos isn’t necessarily free. Any reputable video production company will use royalty-free music from a company like Epidemic Sound to ensure your company doesn’t get in trouble for uploading the video to YouTube, Facebook, or other social media platforms.
Drone Footage: Drone videography looks amazing in a video, but be sure whoever you’re using is licensed to fly a drone. All of our videographers have the required credentials to shoot amazing drone shots.
Budget
You need a rough idea of your budget and the typical project amount of the video production company you’re considering. That way the proposal does not blow you away. Most companies will have a range on our website. Most of our video projects are about $5000 (sometimes more and sometimes less) depending on the project’s scope.
I hope this helps in your decision-making process to choose the right video production company for your project. To schedule a discovery call with us, please click here: Get a Quote
