Sometimes our customers like recording short video greetings or statements for social media themselves using their smartphones. In an interview with editor Janina Singer, mbw studio manager Sebastian Sittl explains what you need to be aware of.

mbw is an expert in making films for and with its customers, for example image films or product presentations. Professional and modern equipment is available, from camera to light and sound to background. However, short greetings can be a reals eye-catcher even without professional equipment. Studio manager Sebastian Sittl knows how to do this.

Janina Singer: Sebastian, you work with people in front of a camera almost every day, in front of a professional camera of course. If customers want to shoot a short film themselves – is that even possible without professional equipment?

Sebastian Sittl: Yes, if you don't have a professional camera at your disposal, you can also use a smartphone these days. Modern devices have very good built in cameras. However, the model should not be older than two years.

How to make a professional video message

Okay, and I just hold the camera like I would for a selfie shot, for example?

No, I wouldn't recommend it, the result will not look professional. You should definitely use a tripod. This prevents the shot from shaking and you can position the camera at exactly the right height.

Do I sit down and then set up the tripod looking directly into the camera?

Yes and no. I would rather not sit down. It's better to remain standing during the recording. The voice will sound more voluminous and the gestures will appear more natural. This underlines the content of the presentation. But you should definitely directly into the camera. This makes the audience feel personally adressed. So simply place the camera on the tripod at eye level.

If I am recording a greeting message for a virtual event for example, what format should I use?

Recording today is usually done in 16:9 format, but whether you film in a horizontal or vertical format depends on what you want to do with the film afterwards. The vertical format can look better on a homepage or for a presentation on a large screen. A small disadvatage of the horizontal format is that things in the background are often recorded that are actually unnecessary and distracting.

However, I am not such a technology freak and I am sure many others aren't either – how do I get the format right?

It's quite simple. You can adjust the format in the smartphone camera settings. And while you're at it, it's also a good idea to choose the highest possible resolution, for example FHD 1080p. At the end of the production, you then decide which format is really needed; a smaller format may be enough. The files will then be smaller and easier to send.

It's the details that matter: Books or windows in the background are distracting.

What else should I consider with regard to the image design?

The room in which the video is filmed is important. You need enough natural light, in other words a room that is a bright as possible and the light should be coming from the front, otherwise hard shadowns will appear on the face. The recording will therefore be good if you look towards the window. However, the background should be as neutral as possible. So either you have a pop-up stand, for example with the company logo, or you are standing in front of a white wall.

Phew, there's a lot to consider. Sebastian, do you have one last important tip for the video recording?

Yes, you should also pay attention to the right clothing. By that I mean patterns and colors in particular. Clothing should be anti-reflective and you should check beforehand that there are no light reflections in the lenses. Regarding jewelry, however, I would advise you to be rather restrained. At the very least, you should avoid clinking jewlery, such as bracelets or earrings, because you would probably hear these noises on the recording.

We wouldn't want that. But I really enjoyed listening to you, many thanks to mbw studio manager Sebastian Sittle for all these good tips.

And one more piece of information:

If necessary, mbw will of course be happy to take care of post-production at our state-of-the-art editing suite. And for more elaborate productions, Sebastian Sittl will be happy to put all his experience and technology at your disposal. In our green screen suite, a wide variety of virtual backgrounds can also be incorporated. Professional speakers are available if required – so just get in touch with mbw for your professional video recording.