Why LEARN Video?

Mid-2018, I knew I needed to add video to my own channels. I'd already added it for my clients. I understood the power of it. But was having a hard time consistently creating it for myself. So I conjured a solution, hired my son, and launched a docuseries called Love, Lark.

This is the trailer...

The series was met with lukewarm reviews. It's social media, after all. Some nice comments came in via YouTube and Facebook. One client dramatically expanded my role with their company after seeing the films. 

Then, in early 2018, an email came in from a major TV & Web production agency. They'd seen the trailer and wanted to talk about greenlighting a professionally produced series, based on my docuseries. 

You know the algorithms are video friendly. But it is so much bigger than that. When it comes to the world wide web, the video space is STILL like the wild, wild west. Wide open, waiting for you to claim a space in it.

Done right, video is THE most effective way to expanding your brand, tell your story, engage with fans, build a portfolio that sells your skill & stake your claim as an effective content creator.

STEP 1: SET YOUR RECORDING SIZE

Select 1920 x 24. If shooting on a dSLR, you need to select your resolution and frames per second. If your camera allows, select the 1920x24 option. On this setting you will shoot maximum resolution and capture shots that have "cinematic" film like style. To quickly adjust the video settings on your camera, head on over to YouTube and search for "[YOUR CAMERA TYPE] How to Video Settings."

You will need to flip your camera to video mode (on a Canon, this can be done by twisting the dial near the "start stop" button to the movie camera. 

If you plan to use slow motion, select 1920x60. This setting captures more frames per second, so there is more info to edit and you'll get a smoother slow-mo look.

STEP 2: ADJUST YOUR CAMERA SETTINGS

1. Set your fstop first. I tend to shoot on the lowest fstop possible, to allow for maximum light into the camera.

2. Turn your shutterspeed to 100. Start here, and you can always turn the shutterspeed up or down to adjust lighting as needed. I almost always adjust exposure by adjusting my shutterspeed.

3. Select as ISO that makes the scene properly bright. With shutterspeed at 100, turn your ISO to a number that makes the scene correctly light. I always shoot at 2 stops above "balanced" on my exposure meter.

STEP 3: SET YOUR CUSTOM WHITE BALANCE

For the most accurate color between scenes, and least amount of editing time, you'll want to set your white balance. Don't panic. Though it sounds fancy, this is an easy step and will quickly become second nature to you. For this one, hit YouTube and find a quick tutorial to walk you through setting white balance for your specific camera. Here's a good one for the Canon 5D and one for Nikon.

• NOTE: If I am shooting on a cloudy day, or over a series of hours, when light tends to come and go in a variety of hues, I will often stick with auto white balance, and accept that the frames will edit together with variation between scenes.

ADD GREAT MUSIC

Good music can make your video stand out.  To avoid copyright issues, always purchase from a well-respected source. 3 of my favorites:

• 1. SongFreedom.com - $50-100 per song, but a great selection of unique, catchy tunes.

• 2. JoshWoodward.com - Free with attribution. A nice selection of singer/songwriter music.

• 3. Pond5.com - $5-15 per song, robust selection and seamless search.

• On a budget? Get instant access to lots of basic instrumental clips. About $100/year for unlimited downloads at AudioBlocks.com or click here to discover 33 Sites with Free Music for Videos.

STEP 1: Create Stunning Thumbnails

Always, always, always add a thumbnail. It is a free ad for your video. 
The images above show 4 different thumbnail options for the same video. Which do you think wins?
According to most studies (and to TubeFilter) , the clear winner is the thumbnail which:

• 1. Includes a closeup of a face, preferably making eye contact.

• 2. Shows strong emotions.

• 3. Uses bright backgrounds.

• 4. Uses contrast and outlines.

• 5. Uses Readable Text

After shooting a video, I always include a few minutes of shooting photos to ensure I've got a good shot for thumbnails. A screengrab can be used, but generally doesn't have the same punch.

STEP 2: SHARE EVERYWHERE

6 Weekas + 25 Foodie Videos
Here’s What Happened

In February, I invited 25 foodies to make 1 video per week for 6-weeks. Together we would track & share metrics, see what was really working. Most of the group was brand-new to video, had never posted once on YouTube.

Weekly challenges were designed to be filmed and edited within 2 hours each. The prompts were food blogger focussed, but specifically designed to go beyond the Tasty-style video. What other ideas could a foodie create with their camera? Turns out, the possiblities are endless.

People dig real life snippets, especially when real life is messy/crazy! It doesn't have to be big/scary/super personal for them to relate. (Erin Parker, thespeckledplate.com)

3 Non-Tasty Style Videos That Work Well for Foodies

1. A Day in the Life

This got significantly higher organic reach than my last Tasty video that I published a few days before. (Melissa Belinger, simplywhisked.com | Week 1, Day in the Life)

• WHY THIS STYLE WORKS: A great way to share the story of your life, create a branded video, and make more content without killing yourself.

• HOW TO MAKE IT: Place a camera on a tripod, and let it film you going about your day.

• QUICK TIP: Keep your shots close, so viewers can see inside your life. Film yourself doing something watchable, add a little flair--dance, get messy, let life get in the frame. Keep the edits snappy. If something interesting isn't happening in the frame, speed it up or cut it out.

2. LIVE VIDEO

I was surprised to have so many people comment on this to me in REAL LIFE - a lot more people watched or at least tuned in than I expected. (Felicia Barger, thestarvingchef.com)

• WHY THIS STYLE WORKS: Algorithm friendly. You don't have to have a lot of equipment, no editing required. So while setup and prep might be time-intensive, once's it's done, that's a wrap!

• HOW TO MAKE IT: Use your iphone or a high-quality webcam/laptop camera. Tripod or laptop on your countertop. Cook, chat to the camera, invite viewers into your kitchen.

• QUICK TIP: Promote ahead of time. Go live with a clear topic or story. Viewers should know what you're talking about, and why they want to tune in.

3. SHOW A NEW ANGLE & SHOW YOU

This is the style I should continue with, definitely a success." (Laura Tobin, yourguardianchef.com)

• WHY THIS STYLE WORKS: Recipes are naturally prepared on a countertop. So setting your camera up to show the process is a relatively simple way to show 2 things fans love: you + food.

• HOW TO MAKE IT: Place a camera or iphone on a tripod, or set a laptop on the counter. Hit record. Use a second camera to add another angle, or capture close-up "b-roll" shots. Edit together with snappy pacing.

• QUICK TIP: Know your audience. Create videos that answer questions they have, engage the with stories they'll love. Don't just show you, show that you know them.

Meet MY SCRAPPY FILm MENTOR

February 9, 2018 | PM from @thefoodfreakk

"Hi Brooke, just started following you. Just wanted to say thank you for that shot of inspiration in your last post. Going through a split with my fiance and I'm not sue we're gonna make it. I've owned a food truck in the city, been doing photo and video for food clients the past few years, but something still feels missing, and the think that scares me the most that I thikn I'd be greatest at is YouTube show around me and my unique food style. And your post is what I needed to hear.

So thank  you, words are important and your words were heard by someone who needed to hear it. I want you to know that I hope to stay in touch..."

February 10, 2018 | PM from @thefoodfreakk

"...So I took your advice and made a video and posted it to my page."

February 22, 2018 | PM from @thefoodfreakk

"...Started by YouTube channel and have been posting videos as fast as I can make 'em!! Feels good!"

5 LESSONS I LEARNED FROM Not another cooking show

1. Go All In.

If video is your focus, go at it with laser focus. Post consistently, post regularly. Create an editorial calendar, stick to a schedule. No lukewarm allowed.

2. Call You By Your Name.

If you say you're a food blogger, you'll become a food blogger. If you say you're a filmographer, you'll become a filmographer. Use big words, and you'll grow into your big britches.

3. Create Good Content

Quality, not quantity. 

4. Produce Series, Not Videos

Pick a theme, and stick to that theme for at least 6 episodes. This will not only hone in your creative madness, it will also set you up for significant potential growth on platforms that matter. Namely, Facebook Watch.

5. PROMOTE THYSELF

Don't just make videos, create magic. Don't just tell them to subscribe, make them want to subscribe.

2020 Update: Steve Cusato now has more than 300K YouTube subscribers. His approach to video has been an absolute success. So proud of him!

“Yourviewershavetowalkaway
feelingliketheytookmoreawayfromYOU
thanyoutookfromthem.”

-ScottAlexander Director of Digital Brand Marketing Oakley @sc00ter5

Want a shortcut to video success? Start now.

Don't wait until you have a better kitchen, more time or seasoned skills. JUST START. Start with these 3 steps, and you are well on your way to rocking video success on the interwebs.

1. Pick a FILM STYLE.
2. Start a Series.
3. Stick to it for at least 6 weeks.

The Easiest Way Ever to Get Started With Video

You don't have to be a tech genius or film school grad to create absolutely stunning video...in just 2 hours. My 90-Minute Food Video Crash Course was designed for creatives like you, who need to get up and running fast. Got a dSLR and 90 minutes? Then I can show you everything you need to know to film, edit and publish your first food video.

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