How to create professional videos remotely

In fact, it’s been reported that 90% of the information our brains process is visual because brains can understand images 60,000 times faster than text.

As a Medical Device marketer, you may consider making some visual content of your own, which could include filming physicians, creating short clips for social media or even pre-recording a webinar. Whatever it is you are doing, it’s crucial to do it right the first time especially if you’re featuring a speaker with a busy schedule. We have compiled our top tips for creating professional-looking, high-quality videos. These tips can apply anytime you’re recording another person speaking remotely.

It is important to keep the background simple so that the attention doesn’t drift away from the speaker, leading the audience to miss important information.

Here are some things to avoid:

• Avoid busy or colourful backgrounds so that your speaker can get their message across effectively.
• Template backgrounds from Microsoft Teams or Zoom. Sometimes speakers may opt to use a blurred background which adds a border around the speaker, creating an unclear line that can be distracting.

You might suggest the following to the speaker instead:

• A plain white background with a plant for a pop of colour
• An office setting (glass offices looking out onto a quiet ‘working office’ look very professional!)
• A bookshelf (topical books in view is even better)
• Earphones are a great way to improve audio quality. Air pods are a perfect option as they are small and therefore less visible.
• Ask speakers to avoid setting up where they have background noise and to turn off their phones and emails. Placing a few objects in the background, such as ornaments, that say a bit about who they are for an emotional connection with the audience.

The general rule is that lighting should be placed directly in front of the speaker as lighting behind the subject creates a dark shadow and obscures their face. Sitting in front of a window should be the first-choice option as it is the best way to get natural lighting.

If you cannot find any natural light sources that work, there are plenty of alternative light sources available which replicate natural daylight, such as this laptop clip.

Ask the speaker to sit directly in front of the camera, not off to the side. They should also ensure that they are not too close to the camera or too far away; instead, they should sit centrally in the frame. Furthermore, the camera should be facing them head-on. All of this helps to mimic real interaction and eye contact, making it easier for viewers to engage.

It may be helpful to use a tripod to get the correct camera angle, or the speaker could use some boxes or books to prop up their laptop.

• Ask speakers to avoid setting up where they have background noise and to turn off their phones and emails.
• Earphones are a great way to improve audio quality. Air pods are a perfect option as they are small therefore less visible.
• You could also ask your speaker to record the audio on their phone, in sync with your recording, so you have two audio files at the end of filming. Mobile phones tend to have excellent microphones, so they will produce great audio (especially when connected to earphones).

This meeting should take no longer than 10 minutes but will mean that you will be ready to record on the day without any delays.

Before you start filming, you need to know who your audience is and be sure about your purpose for making the video. This clarity will make it much easier to describe to your speaker what you are hoping for them to discuss. It is essential to brief the speaker fully so there are no surprises for them, and they can prepare if they wish to.

It is a good idea to avoid any kind of script, especially lengthy ones, as they can be hard to recall and can make the video seem stiff and mechanical, which is awkward to watch. The speaker might choose to have notes, but this is entirely their choice, and if they do, you should suggest they keep them at eye level, so they are not looking down or away from the camera as viewers will pick up on this.

Editing is a crucial part of the process of creating high-quality video content. Poor editing can result in a lack of flow in the video and may not seem professional.

It is always helpful to ensure that there is edit space around your retakes. If you have your speaker mentally count to 3 before they start talking or before doing a retake, it will leave you space to edit and reduce abruptness.

Make sure before you start that the speaker has a stable internet connection that isn’t going to cut out suddenly or drop in sound quality. The lowest level of internet connection that is acceptable is 5MB upload and download speed.

Podymos is a dedicated Medical Device marketing agency. We are passionate about sharing relevant knowledge to expand our clients’ capabilities. If you would like to find out more about what we do, you can visit our services page, or get in contact with us.

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