SproutVideo Blog

Holiday Food Video Tips

Ever wonder why food looks so much better on your plate than it does on camera? As it turns out, there are a few simple tricks to filming food so that it looks as good as it tastes.

We’re not talking about crazy food industry sleight of hand, like using shaving cream instead of whipped cream. We’re talking about easy ways you can use existing tools in your kitchen to make your meal picture perfect.

In the video below, we’ll walk you through the four key ingredients you’ll need to create a feast for the eyes.

Filming Single Take Oners

Image Credit: Film camera by ponsulak on Shutterstock

From epic fifteen minute long fight scenes, to fun holiday commercials, single take shots are suddenly everywhere. What used to be a cinematic feat is rapidly becoming commonplace in TV shows, music videos, and online videos.

Still, not all “oners” are made the same way, or for the same reasons. If you’re considering attempting a single take, whether it’s to show off your office’s holiday spirit, or to announce a fancy product release, read this post first. We’ll cover all the different types of single take shots, and how to overcome common challenges they can pose.

Storytelling Without Dialogue

Sometimes, it’s what goes unsaid that adds the most to a story. It might not be your first instinct, but you can engage viewers and get a message across without any dialogue at all.

Given that many videos play without sound, especially if they are autoplaying, or shared on social media, knowing how to craft a silent story is an especially valuable skill. In this post, we explore the pieces that help your viewers put the picture together without a word.

How to Light a Horror Scene on Film

As the nights grow longer, and the shadows deepen, our minds tend to turn to things that go bump in the night. With Halloween around the corner, it’s the perfect time of year to embrace the spookier side of filmmaking.

In this episode of our How To Video series, we’re diving headfirst into the world of horror. Our video tutorial will walk you through exactly how to light a scene for a most frightful effect. You’ll learn tips for working in adverse conditions, adding atmosphere, avoiding lens flare, and getting a truly terrifying end result.

private videos for business

Videos aren’t just for marketing. They can also be leveraged for internal communications, training, collaboration, and in client deliverables.

In those types of scenarios, it’s critically important to be able to restrict your audience to a select group. In this post, we’ll walk through seven examples of when curtailing sharing is necessary, and best practices for securing your videos with the exact settings to use.

Testimonial Videos

Testimonials are a powerful way to encourage new customers and to build your brand identity. Yet they have to be done properly to be effective.

Testimonial videos that feel rote, generic, or coached aren’t going to inspire trust in your brand — quite the opposite. If you want to create testimonial videos that customers really listen to, you need to improve your techniques.

In this guest post from D-Mak Productions, we explore six trade secrets to producing compelling testimonial videos.

measure traction with video analytics

Traction is the early support from your target customer base that allows you to quite literally “get the ball rolling.” Like a runner sprinting off the line, you need good grip to get started. If the support is continuous, and grows in numbers, the runner moves faster and more efficiently as they accelerate. The runner, of course, is your business, and their momentum is ideally an upwards peak in customers!

While traction is primarily used in the context of early stage startups, it also applies to companies in any stage of development. For instance, when launching new product lines, rebranding, or continuing to expand at a healthy rate.

In this post, we’ll share video metrics that are helpful in measuring and improving traction for each stage of growth. These tips apply whether your company is barely more than a daydream, or already a well-established brand.

hiring freelancers for business video

The standards for business video are incredibly high. Any problems related to the audio, visuals, or post-production can derail the final product, leading to reduced viewer engagement and unhappy clients. This applies whether the content is destined to be a commercial, shared online, or for internal communications.

For that reason, video production companies rely on freelancers with highly specialized skill sets. Since freelancers are typically hired per project, on-boarding these new team members presents its own challenges.

In this guest post from Melty Cone Video, they share their expertise in hiring freelancers. Here are their tips for consistently promoting great working relationships, efficient working environments, and ensuring smooth shoot days.

psychology of video and customers By A. and I. Kruk on Shutterstock

Photo Credit: A. and I. Kruk on Shutterstock

It’s no secret – video is everywhere! Brands are using video in new and exciting ways and enjoying unheard of results, like higher time on page, lower bounce rate, and jumps in SEO. But why? What is it about video that leads to higher engagement and interaction rates?

It has a lot to do with human psychology. Video as a medium is more engaging than other mediums, tugging at our heartstrings and captivating our attention better than anything else. If you’ve ever cried at a movie, you know what we mean! And, when you use it in your marketing efforts, a lot of these same effects carry through. The difference? That emotion and connection can ultimately help convert a viewer into a paying customer.

In this guest post from our friends at Lemonlight, we’ll take a look at just why video is such a powerhouse and how you can use that to your advantage.

People Watching Video on Smartphone by Jacob Lund

Photo Credit: Jacob Lund on Shutterstock

It’s a hard truth that not every product is exciting. They might be incredibly necessary, they might even solve important problems, but at the end of the day, they are still… boring.

However, that doesn’t mean the stories told about these products have to be boring. In fact, using video, you can demonstrate the exact opposite. The key to success is to use powerful, emotional connections to sell something that otherwise might be seen as dull.

In this guest post from Bold Content Video, we’ll examine four different campaigns that managed to deliver exciting videos about relatively boring products, with key takeaways for your own business.

SproutVideo

Four Simple Tricks to Making Mouthwatering Food Videos

Use a Single Take for a Simply Stunning Effect

Image Credit: Film camera by ponsulak on Shutterstock

How to Produce a Compelling Video Without Dialogue

How To Video: Lighting a Horror Scene

7 Best Practices for Restricting Sharing for Business Video

Improve Your Testimonial Videos With These Six Secret Techniques

How to Use Video Analytics to Measure Traction In Each Stage of Growth

How to Hire Freelancers for Business Video Production

The Psychology of Video: Why Video Makes People More Likely to Buy

Photo Credit: A. and I. Kruk on Shutterstock

How to Create Effective Product Videos with Emotional Storytelling

Photo Credit: Jacob Lund on Shutterstock

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