Video Recording Tips For Employees (Part One)

So you’ve asked your employees to record videos to highlight your culture and jobs and you want them to look great.

This article is a part one of a three part guide to share with employees so they record high-quality videos.

We surveyed tons of people and watched hundreds upon hundreds of testimonials videos and found two of the most common problems are:

1. Most employees are not sure what a good video looks like.
2. Most employees don't prep their space before recording.

We’re going to focus on solving the second problem in this series, but we need to address the first issue. Here are three things that you can do to help employees make better looking videos.

1. Provide examples of videos that you like. This is a bit subjective but giving them a few samples of videos of high-quality, well lit, audible and properly framed videos is the best way to start.
2. Instruct employees to record videos using their phones.
   Using a computer to record video, without a high-quality video camera, creates less than desirable results. Most people will record their videos in ZOOM or Google Meets, which reduces image quality for faster, smaller file sizes, or results in unsupported file sizes.
   Instructing employees to use their phones will allow them to record in either landscape or portrait mode. They should also check to ensure they are recording in 1080p (or at least 720p) which will produce a high-quality video.
   
   
3. Instruct them not to edit the video in any way. You want to maintain control because everyone might use a different tool or apply different settings which can change the color and size. 

Ok so now your employees are on the same page with what a good video looks like. It’s important to understand how people might feel when you ask the to record a video that you’re going to share with the world and be viewed by hundreds, even thousands of people. If you focus on helping them look good on camera they will be more confident and the outcome will be much better.

In this three part series, we will share video recording tips so your employees will record high-quality videos that can be shared on your career site, in job postings, and on social media.

Let's dive in!

Location/Background

According to Harvard Business Review, people prefer you to have a well arranged background in a virtual setting. Messy backgrounds are distracting and take away from your message.
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‍Quick tips: 

• Find a space where you are comfortable, like your home office or living room.
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• Avoid spaces with a lot of clutter like kitchens and if recording in a bedroom, try to avoid having personal items, like your bed, in the shot. 
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• Avoid messy backgrounds that will distract from your video. Use neutral or muted colors in your background to keep the focus on you.

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‍Lighting 

Good lighting can impact the watchability and overall engagement of your video. If the viewer can’t see your face or the light is causing ghoulish shadows, then it will be more difficult for the audience to connect with you.
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‍Quick tips: 

• Record during the daytime with natural light.
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• Always keep the light in front of you. Recording with a light behind you will result in a silhouette.
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• Avoid using overhead lighting as that will cast ghoulish shadows and scare your audience.
   
• If you do not have a good option for recording with natural light we recommend investing in a ring light.
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• Never use your phones flashlight, not only will it reduce the quality of your video but it will most likely wash you out. 

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Clothing

Clothing can sometimes seem like an afterthought when you are filming but it plays a key role in how candidates can visually interpret your company culture. Focusing on clothes that you would wear "into the office" will help the candidate get a good sense of what to expect if they were to join the team. Additionally, wearing company branded clothes is a subtle way to bring the logo into the video and create continuity across all your videos.
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‍Quick tips: 

• Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in and that express your company’s culture
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• Opt for solid colors over prints or patterns.
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• Jewelry is a great way to enhance your style but avoid anything that will jingle when you speak. 
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• Don't wear anything that covers your eyes or casts shadows on your face.

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Employee generated video content doesn't have to mean low quality or handcuffing them with rules. Guiding employees with video recording tips will give them the confidence to create authentic videos that improve candidate experience and look great on your career site.

See more Video Recording Tips for Employees in Part 2 and Part 3 of this series.