I get questions about making the “Tasty Style” videos all the time, so I created this page as a resource to help you get started and answer the most frequently asked questions.
Equipment List
(some affiliate links… I am a blogger after all. Ha!)
- DSLR Camera – I’m currently using the Canon 5D Mark IV, but before that I shot many videos on the Canon T5. I mainly use a 50mm f/1.4 lens but I am wishing for the 100mm f/2.8 macro lens for up close beauty shots.
- Large SD card – Video is a data hog, so make sure you have a card with a lot of space and a fast write speed. If you find that your camera is turning off after just a few seconds of filming, your SD card’s write speed is probably the culprit. I am currently using the 32GB Compact Flash card and it’s awesome.
- Tripod – I use a regular tripod for side shots and close ups and then a second tripod that mounts to my Varipole system for easy overhead shots. You can see it in the photos below. It consists of an articulated arm and a ball head mount with a super clamp to attach it to the pole.
- Lighting Kit – I started making videos with a mix of artificial and natural light, so the inexpensive Cowboy Studio lights worked well enough for me… although for just a few extra bucks, I think these FancierStudio Lights are much better quality. If you will be shooting with 100% artificial light, you might need more light power than these provide.
- *** UPDATE: I recently switched to a more powerful and permanent lighting setup using a Varipole Support System that holds two of these LED panel lights above and then I use this light with this dome as my third light. Here’s what my current setup looks like minus the dome light:
- Vinyl Photography Backdrops – I am slowly switching to all vinyl backdrops because I’m tired of spilling food and paint and hot glue on poster board. After trying several of the ones available on Amazon and being disappointed, I’ve found that the best vinyl backdrops are from Ink and Elm. The quality and style selection just can’t be beat! Just never wipe them down with acetone… ask me how I know it ruins them. Doh!
- Ikea Table Top – I love this thing! It gives me a large, solid surface to work on and is easy enough to move around the house if needed.
- White Wood Poster Board – A cheap backdrop option that looks great in photos!
- Natural Wood Poster Board – Another great, inexpensive option.
- Video Editing Software: If you already subscribe to Adobe, Premiere Pro is the industry standard for video editing. I personally hate monthly subscriptions, so I switched to Wondershare Filmora for video editing and I love it! It’s super easy and intuitive, but has great color correction tools and lighting adjustment. Highly recommend Filmora. Watch for sales!
- Sound Equipment: I’m using this clip-on mic hooked up to this recorder and the sound is so much better than just talking right into the camera!
Tips for Making Better Videos
- Before you ever turn on the camera, start by storyboarding the project. Plan out each shot you want to get, what angle would work best for that shot and think through any potential difficulties ahead of time. Write it all down so you can refer to it while filming! Add in any still photography shots you will need to snap for your blog post along the way.
- Filming video requires a lot more light than regular photography. You will need studio lights.
- Start with an amazing moving hero shot of the finished project. Ex: the cheese pull, the purse that changes into an umbrella, a child twirling in the dress you sewed, etc. The first 3 seconds are your HOOK to suck people into watching.
- The 5 second rule: No single shot should last for more than five seconds before you change angles or move to a view of something else. Honestly, with ever-shortening attention spans, 3 seconds might even be a better rule of thumb.
- Too much timelapse is off-putting and can make your viewers feel motion sick. Use timelapse sparingly and strategically.
- Remember your audience– each social media platform has a slightly different audience and you should cater to what that particular audience wants. Good content is not about you, it’s about giving the viewers what they want. Valuable content entertains, inspires, teaches, etc.
- Remove every millisecond of “boring” from your footage. If there’s no movement happening, edit that part out!
- Avoid still photography shots inserted into your video.
- Be objective… is your video boring or hard to watch? Is the subject matter uninspired or unoriginal?
- START! Consistently start making videos, even if they’re not great at first! The best way to learn is to DO, and as you churn out content, you’ll start to see what does well and what your audience likes.