Warning: Before you upload your video to the internet, make sure it is safe information to share. Check with a ministry supervisor, collegue, or local friend. Never upload anything to the internet you don't want to be widely known!
Should you Edit?
Not every video needs to be edited. Sometimes the most effecient way to communicate is just to upload your unedited video straight to the internet.
However, a carefully edited video will usually be more clear and effective than a video that hasn't been edited.
Gather Content for your Video
Photos, video clips, and music can all help the effectiveness of your video
Looks for content which reinforces your message
The internet can be a great source for free material. Check out www.freesound.org and www.ccmixter.org for some great free sound and music content. Just be sure to follow the licensing rules.
Make sure that you use only content you have permission to use as part of your video.
Software Help
For help learning your software, use the internet to find software tutorials.
Many tutorials can be found for free using google, youtube, or vimeo, however, for a small yearly fee Lynda.com provides excellent professional tutorials for many applications.
Make Good Music Choices
The right music can help your audience emotionally engage with your message
The wrong music can send them some place else entirely
Avoid music with lyrics when using a voice over or having someone speak on camera
Save Multiple Versions
It's a good idea to save multiple versions of your edited video each time you make major changes
This makes it easy to go back and recover something you lose
It also gives you the freedom to cut things to make your video tighter and more clearly focused
Use Matching Shots
Be careful to use shots that flow nicely together.
Avoid a zoom in followed by a zoom out, or a pan left followed by a pan right
Use shots that are easy to watch from one scene to the next
Remember the goal is simplicity and clarity
Get a Second Opinion
What makes perfect sense to you may not be clear to another person
Ask where things are confusing, or move to fast or too slowly
Ask how the audio sounds
Always get someone to take a final look before you upload your video!
Think Security
Once your video is online, you may not be able to take it back
Be sure you're sharing things that are safe and comfortable to share
Check with a ministry supervisor, collegue, or local friend and ask them if your video is safe to share
Share Your Story
Once your video is completed and online, don't just share it with your supporters
Be sure to also share it with friends and ministry collegues
What may seem ordinary to you may be powerful and inspiring to others
Also it may help them to see how they can share stories going on in their own lives and ministries