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How to choose background for videos? Let's see!
Even though viewers place more emphasis on the video presenter, there's something else that can make or break your scene - BACKGROUND!
Want to know how to choose the perfect background for your business videos? Let's dive in!
Background, also known as backdrop, is a critical video element that can impact how your story is told.
Putting a background behind your foreground content can make your videos more appealing to the viewers.
While a stunning background can add some flavor to your videos, an unprofessional backdrop can ruin any chance you may have to achieve your company goals.
With a plethora of options, figuring out what should be in your video's background can be daunting and some people even hire experts from video editing services to assist them with the background choice.
Well, fret not!
In this blog post, we'll walk you through three types of backgrounds you can choose from. Plus, we'll also discuss a few tips for selecting the right backdrop for your next BIG project.
Different Types of Video Background
Paper Background
Worried about showing your messy office space in the video?
Want to shoot outdoors, but the weather is not helping?
This is where a paper backdrop comes into the picture.
Paper background is a versatile option for both amateur and professional videos. It is a roll of seamless photo paper available in multiple sizes and colors.
With seamless paper, you get a polished, non-reflecting background surface. Plus, you can choose from endless color options depending on your video's feel and style.
What's unique about this background is that your viewers will never know what your actual location looks like.
You can shoot literally anywhere and still get an incredible shot, provided your lighting is perfect.
Paper background works best when:
- You want people to focus on you and your message.
- Keep the video clear and simple.
- Maintain a consistent and professional look.
- You don't have an excellent location to film on.
- Or, the weather outside is so frightful that it messes up your video or audio quality.
Further, for shooting distraction-free FAQ videos, product review videos, and unboxing videos, a paper backdrop is the way to go.
Talking about the paper background color, it can highly impact your scene. Just because a color looks great in person doesn't mean it will appear the same on the camera.
Bright colors like red, orange, and yellow are a big NO as these can be distracting and cause color reflections.
On the contrary, neutral tones like dark blue, grey, and soft white are comfortable on the eyes and look best on the camera.
Mounting a paper background can be a headache. Check out Chadwin Smith's video on how to set it up in your office, house, studio, etc.
Office Background
In contrast to a solid-colored backdrop, sometimes you need to add a more natural feel to your background. This is where the office backdrop can help.
It's a good idea to choose a 'professional' environment to shoot your videos, the place where you work or spend time. An office background is best for shooting testimonial videos, day-in-the-life videos, event videos, and so on.
Check out this testimonial video by Slack:
What's good about office background is that it warrants authenticity.
Seeing your team working in the natural environment builds trust with the viewers by showcasing your firm as a real place with real people in it.
But, how do you make sure you have an acceptable office background?
Any space in your office can work, provided it is quiet, clean, distraction-free, have adequate lighting, and contributes to your message or brand.
However, before you jump into filming your videos in your office, here are a few things you must consider:
- If your background isn't interesting or relevant to your story, or you want to draw more attention to your subject, use a fast camera lens to blur out the backdrop.
- The background is the part of your brand. So, be mindful of what to put behind you. Don't be afraid of moving distracting items to get the perfect shot. This means no fake plants, clutter, or untidy shelves.
- You can't have people walking in the background unless you want to lose your viewer's attention. Before hitting the record button, ensure nothing is moving behind you.
- Take your lighting seriously when shooting in your office. While you have total control over the lighting in a studio, it's not the same in an office space, especially with a mix of natural and artificial lights.
What if you're shooting in your home office? Well, the goal here is to create a beautiful office setup while still being professional.
Want inspiration? Check out how Amy Landino makes all her professional videos in her home office.
Outdoors Background
If you're done experimenting with lighting or indoor backgrounds, it's time to move outdoors!
Shooting outside can give you some cool backgrounds. Besides, you have plenty of natural light to work with.
Pulling this off can be overwhelming, especially when you can't control what's happening in the environment. Like when it's raining or windy or both.
But, the good news is that as long as you choose a good time of the day to shoot and master your camera settings, you can film in any background you could think of.
Want to capture a well-balanced shot outdoors? Here’s what you can do:
- Follow the Golden Hour rule. Golden hour is the hour after sunrise or before sunset. It's the time of the day when the sun is the lowest in the sky, making the overall color warm and giving the light that smooth and golden hue. Shooting in the golden hour lightens the scene and makes your videos look magical and dramatic.
- Stay in the shade! No, we're not saying this to prevent suntan (well, it can be a reason too), but because your camera can't function properly if the lighting is too harsh. If you shoot in direct sunlight, the sun will blow out your camera, making it hard to see your face.
- Want people to focus on YOU? The blurry backdrop is a way to go. To do this, you can either put enough distance between you and the backdrop or use a quality lens that works well in most backgrounds.
- Use ND filters if your shot is overexposed. This happens when you film your videos at a location where the sun is too bright. ND filters can darken your shots, helping you capture a properly exposed video.
Filming outdoors is a great way to make your videos stand out when your office space isn't vibrant or clean enough. If done right, it provides a memorable experience and makes your viewers wonder where you're shooting from.
Tips To Choose The Right Video Background
Now that you're aware of the different types of backdrops, it's time to choose the one that suits your video theme.
However, with a plethora of cool options available, it can be quite challenging to decide.
While a good backdrop helps you put over a more professional image, a wrong one can do more harm than good for your videos.
Not sure what background type to go for? Check out the following tips.
Bonus Read: How to Create the Perfect Brand Video
Don't distract your viewers
Have you ever been excited to capture a great video take only to notice later that there's something weird happening in the background?
Distracting elements in the scene can ruin your videos. The last thing you want is your viewers getting distracted by your wrong background choices and ignoring the message you're conveying.
Remember: The background's role is to enhance your look in the shot rather than dominating the whole video.
Here's an example of a very simple background:
Make it relevant
Do you know your potential customers judge your products by looking at your video background? Strange, but true!
Your video backdrop is the best chance to make an excellent first impression. So, make sure it is relevant to your video's content and relates to the business or industry you're in.
For example, if you're talking about your eCommerce business that sells clothes for children, don't have a background of a beach. A background of a library or a classroom would be perfect for training or educational video or you can use transparent background maker to make it transparent.
Bonus Read: How to Improve Your Video Quality
Good lighting is the key!
Your video background is only as good as your lighting. Poor lighting can ruin your entire video, no matter how stunning your backdrop is.
Wherever you choose to film your business video, the best place to keep your lighting source is in front of you and not behind you.
For example, if you're filming in an office set up with windows or another reflective surface in the background, you can accidentally catch the camera in the reflection. Or shooting outside in front of the sun can make you look dark and shadowy.
Avoid shadows as much as you can, especially when shooting with a paper background.
Pro tip: To avoid shadows, shoot on cloudy days for a steady ambient light.
Hence, the key is to get your video lighting right. After all, you don't want your background to tell a different story than your subject.
Pick a pleasing color
Your backdrop color is something super important when it comes to shooting a well-balanced video.
A well-chosen backdrop can enhance the overall aesthetic of your video and help your subject stand out. Tools like AI video editors can assist in background replacement or color correction, but initially selecting the fitting backdrop remains crucial.
Whichever type you decide to go with, pick the background colors that flatter your subject and other props present in the frame.
Make sure the colors are pleasing to the viewer's eyes and are not horrendous or monotonous enough to bore them to sleep.
However, choosing a background color is a personal choice. The goal is to go for something that portrays your video's mood and message.
Control what your viewers see
Control what appears in the camera frame. Not all props, people, or other things present in the background are worth showing in your videos.
For example, if you're standing in front of a busy street, you cannot control the vehicles going backward and forward on the road. But what you can control is how much background your viewers can actually see.
So, this brings us to the end of this post!
While choosing a professional-looking background does take some practice, it isn't something you need to study for years.
We hope the above backdrop tips can help you step up the quality of your business video right away.
Moreover, sharing videos through an animated flipbook enhances visual storytelling, and offers an immersive and dynamic experience that effectively communicates with your target audience.
Remember: What you display behind you can distract your viewers from what you're trying to convey - and that's where the focus should be.
So, what are you waiting for? Experiment with different styles. Pick the one that suits your brand. And, get ready to roll!
