So, you have the goal to shoot brilliant fitness videos. First of all, you need to clearly plan what exactly you are going to shoot. It is better to start with the basics, that is, with basic movements and exercises. What will these exercises be? It depends on the specialization of the fitness club and the training programs that you usually offer to clients.
For example, if the club specializes in weightlifting, then among the first videos should be practical guides for doing squats, deadlifts, or bench presses. There are two key points here: firstly, you are gradually expanding your base of training videos, and secondly, you are getting used to the video shooting process, which will allow you to make videos of ever better quality in the future.
Here are some questions to ask yourself at this stage:
- Where will you film the video?
- What exercises will you shoot?
- From what angle will the video be filmed (from the side, from the back, frontally, etc.)?
- What exercises can be filmed from the same angle? Maybe write them all down at once? (For example, planks and push-ups require a similarly low camera setup.)
- What kind of light source will be used (natural light, artificial studio light)?
- Are you going to pay for the work of a professional operator?
- If you are going to shoot video material yourself, what equipment will you use?
- Will the video have voice acting? If so, what kind of audio track should be created?
- Will you hire a professional editor to organize and edit the footage? If not, can you do it yourself (or learn how to do it)?
- What software will be used for video processing?
- If you edit your videos yourself, you should know how to add text to a video, how to adjust brightness, and more. Are you sure you can do it?
Before you know all the answers, you can proceed to shoot. Here are some practical tips that will definitely help you.
#1 Don’t Wear Too Light or Too Dark Clothing, Especially If You’re Not Using Studio Lighting
There may be curious cases when the athlete in the video is simply indistinguishable from the background. If you try to lighten the video or give it more contrast during the editing phase, you will most likely end up with a grainy, low-quality picture.
#2 If You’re Going to Use Audio, Don’t Rely on Camera Audio
Camera audio is usually of very poor quality. It is also recommended to use a highly directional, highly sensitive microphone for demonstrating exercises, as some other microphones will cause unpleasant sound distortion. Keep in mind that even the friction of cloth or hand movements near the microphone can affect the clarity of the sound.
#3 Try to Shoot the Same Type of Videos at One Time
Do not underestimate the time and effort spent on preparing and shooting one video. However, if your plan includes exercises that require the same camera angles and similar equipment setups, it’s best to shoot them on the same day.
#4 If You’re Shooting Outdoors, It’s Best to Shoot Either on an Overcast Day, Dawn or Sunset
The video will turn out dim if you try to record it in the middle of the day. If you’re shooting indoors, try to find a location with good lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, as well as shadows, as they violate the integrity of the video image. If available, you can buy or rent inexpensive studio lighting to balance the lighting and give your footage a professional look.
#5 Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Details
Make sure that the selected sportswear looks good and matches the color of the skin, hair, and eyes of the person. Women who appear in the video are advised to get a neat manicure, and men should also make sure that their hands look well-groomed.
#6 When Editing a Video, Add Your Fitness Club Logo
Once you have both video and audio ready, you need to edit that content. Get ready that this process takes even more time than the shooting itself. Find software that is reliable, easy to learn, and inexpensive. Remember to brand your video content.
Conclusion
Shooting high-quality fitness videos is easier than it seems! If you follow our rules, your videos will look excellent. Have fun and stay fit!