How I Made My “About Me” Video

In this blog, I will explain the simple steps I took to create a video that best showed who I am as a videographer and marketing creative. From storyboarding to editing the final product, each step required careful thinking to ensure consistency with my brand’s message and theme.

Intro

To better show who we are, an “About Me” video is a great way to show who you are while providing information on how you can better help your clientele. I know that sounds intimidating for some of us, and it can be hard to find where to start, but I am here to hopefully mitigate those emotions of feeling lost and uncomfortable. I will give you the basics to help guide you through creating a video that effectively tells your story.

The Vision

The first step anyone should take when making any video is to have some sort of storyboard. What is a storyboard, you may ask? A storyboard is a visual representation of a film sequence and breaks down the action into individual panels. It is a series of ordered drawings, in my case, simple screenshots from a similar project, with camera direction, dialogue, or other pertinent details. It sketches out how a video will unfold, shot by shot. By having a firm understanding of what I wanted my video to look like, I was able to move through production with much more than I could have without.

With a storyboard, you also need a script. It doesn’t need to be very long, but it should be a source that you can refer back to when you get lost on what to say. Scripts and storyboards go hand-in-hand, they work together to tell the story you wish to convey.

For your “About Me” video, I would consider starting with a brief introduction of you and the purpose of your brand and then show examples of your work. If you have the time, I would also highly recommend including a client testimonial too, as that helps the viewer better see the value that you may be able to give to them.

What About Gear?

The next thing we need to consider is how are we going to film this video? We have to consider all the gear that we may need, whether that’s lights or the tripod we use, we must know what gear we need and how to use it in order to make our video to the best of it’s ability. Check out this simple check list I have for gear you may need on a project like an “About Me” video like mine.

• Camera
• Tripod
• Microphone
• Lights
• Someone to operate the camera (optional)

When deciding on gear, the biggest problem I see other creators face is deciding how you will shoot the video and on what camera. The easiest way is to just film it on your phone! With today’s newest technology, our phones can record and take photos better than some high-end cameras we see today. Sure, it may be nice to get familiar with current gear, but sometimes that can be hard to come by. I would recommend using what you have as, in most cases, it is the best option. Check out this article I found on how to make your iPhone videos better!

Time for Production

Now, I will say that this video is quite simple to produce now that we have a firm storyboard. I just need to sit down in front of the camera and talk about myself, no biggie, false. I’m sure some of us have this feeling. Maybe you cringe when you hear your voice in a recording, or maybe you are a little awkward, but that’s ok. I understand the feeling of not being able to get the words out or feeling like you just aren’t cut out to be the one with the camera pointed at you. Here are some tips that I like to follow to help make for a smooth and enjoyable production.

• Plan out your talking point (this is why we have a script)
• Rehearse before you record.
• Pick a camera angel that you feel comfortable with.
• Talk slower, no need to speed.
• Don’t take yourself too seriously, go easy on yourself.
• Make more and more videos! It gets easier overtime.

Time to Put it Together

Once you have filmed your video, it is time to edit. For some, this can be the most challenging and intimidating part of the process. There are tons of editing software out there, some more used and appreciated than others, like Adobe Premiere, FinalCut, and my software of choice, Davinci Resolve. But some platforms are much more user-friendly, like Canva and iMovie. If you are looking to make something fast and easy, without much of a worry about how much play you have in the video, services like Canva and iMovie are great. They are perfect for those unfamiliar with video editing and want to test the water. But if you are looking to learn on a more professional software or are simply tired of other software, Davinci Resolve is great for those who are still unfamiliar but also well-rounded in the world of editing.

Now, I may be biased, of course, but Davinci is a very simple software to use once you understand the basics, which you can find in about 5 minutes here. The software is also one of few that is designed by actual video editors, unlike Adobe’s Premiere Pro, which is designed only by those who code it. The layout of Davinci is much more user friendly as it has some features that remind me of services like iMovie. Also, did I mention that Davinci Resolve has a free version? This free version has just about every feature you could ever ask for our need when starting out. In fact, I edited in the free version of Davinci for many years before purchasing the studio version of Davinci.

Now You Try!

Now it’s your turn! Get creative, and start thinking of ways you can make your “About Me” video about you! I know video and video editing can be intimidating, but trust me, it is a very rewarding and satisfying craft that must take patience and practice. I have been making videos for many years, and I still don’t even feel qualified enough to write this blog, so keep that in mind.