What You Need to Know as a Beginner Videographer

Basic Tips You Need to Start Videography

Videography, like photography is a wide and creative medium, but do you know how to start videography? 

There is so much to explore with videography, specially if you are adding video as a product alongside your photography, which is a great business model!

But when you’re just starting out, it’s difficult to know the basic things you need to know to get started. Learning something new always has a learning curve!

In this video tutorial, Joris Hermans shares his top advice for videographers just starting out in the biz, including lighting, audio and editing tips!

How to Start Videography as a Beginner

The Truth about Starting Videography

You will make bad videos at first. Give yourself a break! 

When you are learning something new, the first thing you create is always going to not be as good as the one you make years down the road. 

You will make some bad videos at first – but failure and experience will be your best teachers. So don’t expect perfection; just keep creating and keep learning.

How to Start Videography Tip #1: Camera Gear – Lenses > Camera

Gear includes cameras, microphones, tripods, lenses, lighting equipment, and more. Basically any technology or equipment you use to shoot videos.

But gear doesn’t matter as much as your experience and understanding of it. Don’t focus so much on the camera and accessories when you are just a beginner.

This pro tip is to actually invest in a few good lenses, at a few different focal lengths. Then take the time to know everything you can about your camera and lenses and how to use it all.

Then, once you have niched down to a specific field of videography, you can invest in more specific gear. Like, if you are going to focus on real estate videography, you should get a drone. 

So gear matters, but not as much as your knowledge of it and how to use it!

How to Start Videography Tip #2: Go Make Videos! Don’t Wait to Start 

There is no better way to learn than by doing. You will learn the most by trial and error, failure and mistakes. This will cause you to learn how to solve problems and will ultimate make you a better videographer.

So don’t wait – get out there and make videos. Don’t wait until you are ‘good enough’ or know everything. Just take videos and learn from them.

If you find the motivation to make videos hard especially now as a beginner, try giving yourself some assignments or deadlines. Create goals for yourself of a number of finished videos to make in a week and motivate yourself to reach them.

How to Start Videography Tip #3: Post-production AKA Editing

Even if you plan to hire an editor or outsource your editing, it’s a good skill to know at least the basics of editing. That way when you are shooting, you know what kind of post-production changes you will be able to make.

Editing software costs a lot, and are mostly very similar in the features they give you. Software like Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro or DaVinci Resolve 18 are great for video editing.

As you are probably on a tight budget since you are a beginner, try the free version of DaVinci Resolve to learn the basics. 

How to Start Videography Tip #4: What to Know About Lighting and Audio 

You can decide to just make videos with natural lighting sources, but it’s better to know how to use artificial light. You might have a client video or some other reason come up where you will need to have a light and know how to use it!

So as a beginner, just get one light and learn how to use it. You want to learn how the direction and diffusion of light changes your video, as well as camera settings affected by light like ISO, aperture and shutter speed. You will have to adjust settings based on the lighting conditions. Even your inexpensive camera can take amazing videos if the lighting is done well!

Similarly with audio, make sure you learn how audio affects your videos. How to add music, how to adjust audio settings, and even getting a good mic.

How to Start Videography Tip #5: Avoid Gear Aquisition Syndrome (GAS)

Stay away from the temptation to buy new gear every time you have a little extra cash. This will drain your resources and you will end up with way more gear than you actually need!

The super new and shiny camera or freshest lens on the market isn’t going to help you right now.

Instead, save the cash and wait until you run into a situation where you really need a piece of gear. For example, if your computer dies or your backup harddrive fails, you will need that extra money to get new gear when you need it.

Remember, trying anything new will take some time 

Excellence in any skill takes time and experience. So get started and keep creating!

Which of these 5 tips will you use to get started with videography TODAY?