Telling a story on camera is a great way to connect with an audience. When you’re just getting started, however, it may take some practice. Using video to narrate a story comes with its own unique set of challenges. When you’re telling a story to a friend, for example, you can gauge their reaction. On camera, there’s no way to tell if your story is making an impact. That means you have to be prepared well before you hit record.
How to Tell a Good Story on Camera
Have a Well-Defined Structure
Before you tell your story on camera, consider writing a script or a basic outline beforehand. Of course, you don’t want your story to sound scripted, but having a plan can help. Know what main events you want to cover and practice a few times before recording. Every narrative has a beginning, a middle and an end. Once as you have those markers, you have a structure to rely on. If you want feedback, ask some friends to sit with you while you rehearse. They can act as your audience and provide you with valuable tips.
Don’t Get Off-Track
No matter what kind of story you’re telling, it’s important to be succinct. People love watching videos, but they’ll quickly lose interest if you get off track. Today, attention spans are short and competition is high. If you don’t tell your story in an engaging way, your viewers will move on to something else. Refer back to the outline you created in order to stick to your main points. Then, as you practice, reflect on what you’re saying moment to moment. If it doesn’t directly relate to your beginning, middle or end, it doesn’t need to be there. Some context or brief explanation may be necessary at the start of your video, but it shouldn’t take longer than a minute to describe. To tell a successful story on camera, you have to stay on target.
Know Where Your Story Ends
Have you ever reached the end of a book only to be completely unsatisfied with the ending? More than likely, your frustration with the final pages outweighed the story’s positive attributes. Outside of fiction, you may not be able to alter an ending that occurred. However, you can change the way you tell it. First, ask yourself what tone you want your story to have. Is it light and uplifting? If so, you may want to end on a humorous note. Perhaps, for instance, you could take something negative and turn it into a relatable joke. Alternatively, you may be telling a sad story that encourages the viewer to take action. If that’s the case, you want to end with a strong and emotional call-to-action. As you finish telling your story on camera, always consider what you feelings you want your audience members to walk away with.
ZMBmedia can help elevate your videos and make them stand out. We can assist you with creating engaging videos according to your business’s needs, from promotional material to more detailed marketing videos for your products or services. ZMBmedia invites you to get in touch with our Baltimore-based videographers to learn more. For more information about telling your story on camera, contact us today at www.zmbmedia.com.