Turn a good video into a great one.

Learn the brilliant basics of video filming and editing to create your own masterpiece.

What makes a good video? Steady filming technique, compelling shots, an engaging story, relatable characters, and strategic editing, to name a few key elements. Master the basics with these tips.

Develop your story.

At its core, a good video is one that tells a story your audience feels invested in. Before you start filming your video, be sure you have an original idea, a structured framework, and an end goal.

Find the right tools and locations.

Remember these tips as you start shooting, and you’ll thank yourself when it’s time to edit:

• Find the right camera: A good camera makes all the difference. If you’re new to video production, you don’t need anything fancy — an 8-megapixel phone camera or better will do.
• Set the stage: Use a location with ample natural light. The best place and time to film are outdoors on a cloudy day or an hour before or after sunset. If you’re shooting inside, use a room with lots of windows.
• Recruit extra hands: Get a few friends to help you shoot. More hands give you extra angles and creative shots. It’s also best to capture audio with a dedicated audio recorder rather than your phone, so you’ll want to put someone in charge of that.
• Film short takes: Don’t make your entire video in one go. Breaking it into small segments helps you edit a more exciting story; it also means that if you make a mistake, you don’t have to reshoot everything.

Learn the editing basics.

Video editing software helps to make good videos even better. These tips can help:

• Lead with your story: Ask yourself, “Does this segment contribute to my narrative?” at every step. Anything that doesn’t serve your story should be removed. Keep the pace moving quickly too — especially with short videos or vlogs.
• Remember your aesthetic: Color correct, smooth out audio, and select music and sound effects that add to the narrative.

Explore what more you can do with Adobe Premiere Pro to create high-quality videos that will hook viewers.