Consider This Before Shooting Your Video Profile - Freelancer Library

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Consider This Before Shooting Your Video Profile

If you have already seen the sample Freelancer video profile video you know what a good video looks like. If you have not yet viewed this example, please take a moment to do so. To achieve this type of quality video you must first avoid some common pitfalls. Because of the limitations of web cams, we advise Freelancers to avoid using them if they have other equipment available. Here's our reasoning:

The video quality is bad - Web cams have lower resolution and frame rates than other comparable technology. Old web cams (like the one used for these video stills) are particularly bad, giving grainy slideshow-like results.
The audio is bad or non-existent -Some web cams don’t have any built-in microphones, requiring you to dub the audio in after filming if you want sound. The ones that do have microphones have very cheap ones, resulting in barely audible sound with lots of distortion.
Your range of options for filming are limited - Web cams have to be connected to your computer when you’re filming. They also can only focus on objects a certain distance away, with blurring occurring if the object is too close or too far. These factors really restrict where you can film, often resulting in additional problems with background images, lighting and sound.

Then again, there are exceptions to every rule. With a top-of-the-line web cam and great editing skills, someone could probably make a good video profile. But with all these technology limitations, it might have been easier if they just used a digital camera or camcorder in the first place.

Now that you know what not to do, here are a few suggestions on what to do to create a professional and memorable video profile.

We advise Freelancers to use a "narration over action shots" style for the central part of their video profile. What does that mean?

It's kind of like a demo reel. For example, if you were a great photographer, it would be a good idea to show some of the best examples from your portfolio and explain them. Maybe even include some interesting video footage of you on location and setting up your shots. Of course, for some freelance professions, it can be a little difficult to demonstrate in video form what you do. But even for lawyers and accountants, you could show yourself working with clients and get their testimonials. For coders and web designers, you could always show the finished project and explain how it was developed.

Just make sure you have the consent of all parties involved before uploading your video though.

One visually compelling technique you might want to try is time-lapse filming. If you search around, you can find many appealing examples of this technique. For the sample video profile, we used Camtasia Studio to capture a time-lapse of Angela creating a poster in Photoshop. One reason we find this style very effective is that it allows professionals to convey information that would be difficult to explain even in a face-to-face meeting. Unless someone physically observes you for extended amounts of time, it's traditionally difficult to provide demonstrations of you at work. However, with the advent of online video, Employers from around the world can view you doing complex work at lightning-fast speeds.

No matter how you choose to shot your video, please take the time to review it carefully. It is one of the best marketing tools in your profile, make sure it represents you and your work in the best and most professional light possible.