Your mascot has amazing marketing power! They love to be in front of a crowd, and in front of a camera. Using multimedia such as photos and videos as part of your mascot marketing can be a very effective way to engage with your audience, especially on social media. In fact, there are some interesting statistics on using photos and videos in your social media to engage fans:
- 40% of people will respond better to visual information than plain text according to Zabisco.
- Posts with videos attract 3 times more inbound links than plain text posts, says SEOmoz.
- Viewers spend 100% longer average time-on-site per visitor (another one to two minutes) when videos are present, according toMarketingSherpa
With these statistics, it’s easy to see why more and more businesses are using video marketing! When video features a quality mascot with an engaging personality, the potential for engagement with your organization skyrockets.
Once you decide to shoot some video of your mascot, you may elect to have a professional videographer come in to do the work. Videographers can be pricey, and so many companies are investing in their own equipment and shooting the videos themselves. While this can save you a lot of money, you want to make sure your videos look professional, so your mascot comes across in the best light and gives your audience a good impression.
Here are 7 best practices to help you shoot a quality video that engages viewers.
Read the manual
This seems obvious, but you'd be surprised at how many people pick up a camera and start shooting without understanding all the features the camera has to offer. While it’s possible to shoot completely in automatic mode, you’d be missing out on the opportunity to really make your video stand out. Some of the manual camera features will improve the quality of your recording.
Learn how to use manual focus and other features, so you can get the exact shot you have envisioned in your mind! While reading through the camera's operating manual, you may want to try out all of those fun filters and shooting modes that come with the camera. Learn what the camera can do, and then decide on the right settings for your video. It's best to shoot in regular, color footage, and edit the video later.
Composition & Angles
Just like still photography, you want to frame your video shots in an interesting way. Using the rule of thirds, as we talked about in our blog "5 Rules for Taking Great Photos of Your Mascot", is a great place to start. It’s a good idea to avoid placing your subject in the middle of the frame every shot, as this can get repetitive.
You should also try various vantage points. Get some wide footage to show context, and some closeups to show some details. Keep in mind that shooting from different angles can have different effects. If you have a team mascot that you want to make seem large and intimidating, you should shoot from below, getting low to the ground.
Lighting
Lighting is going to be one of the most important factors in your video. Avoid over- and under- lighting your subject. If you’re shooting indoors, open up the blinds and turn on the lights to get the most light possible. Be careful filming in front of bright sunlight or windows, unless you want a silhouette shot (which could be great for shooting teasers or reveals!).
Keep Steady
Be careful about how much zoom on the camera you use. Zoom often sacrifices the video quality and exaggerates shaking. One of the best rules of thumbs is to “zoom in with your feet”, that is, walk closer to your subject to get that close-up!
Another great way to avoid camera shake is by using a tripod. It can be difficult to really pull off that blair-witch shaky camera effect, so keep your tripod on hand and you’ll find your videos look less like home movies and more like professional footage. If you forget your tripod, don’t panic! You can steady your shots using a chair, banister, bench, or any other solid object you find. Holding the camera close to your body with your steadying hand underneath and your elbow braced against your chest is a great way to keep your camera steady as a last resort.
Shoot B-Roll
"B-roll" is a great way to make your videos really look professional. While you want to get plenty of footage of your mascot delivering a message, you should also get some footage of the ambient scene around your mascot and some smaller details. If you’re at a baseball game, take some shots panning across the cheering crowd, some static footage of the dugout, or some details of the field like signage.
A great idea is to show up a bit early and get some shots of the audience filling the stands, or the team warming up. Editing these b-roll shots in with your main footage will bring the whole video together and really keep your viewer’s attention.
Anticipate the action
You’ll develop this skill as you shoot more and more video. You want to really pay attention to everything going on around you. Learn to anticipate action and you’ll be able to recognize when a great shot is about to reveal itself. Have the camera ready, use preset camera settings and press record when you sense something is happening.
Audio
Sound can be one of those things that make or break an otherwise great video. Your best bet, if you want ambient sound or if you have someone speaking in your video, is to invest in an external microphone. You don’t have to get a full boom, just a basic external mic you can attach to your camera will sound much better than the one that is built-in.
Make sure whatever microphone you decide to use, you angle it towards your subject and get close to them so it picks up the audio you need.
Here's a great example of a way to use video to reveal your mascot! New England Revolution did a great job with this video, using lighting for dramatic effect, different angles, and the rule of thirds!
In the end, the best way to improve your videography skills is to practice, practice, practice! Having a well-shot, professional quality video of your mascot entertaining and engaging fans will be an effective way to reach out to your wider audience.
The BAM Mascots team blends creativity with manufacturing excellence to create an innovative, high-quality mascot for your school, team or organization. With more than 25 years experience in mascot design and manufacturing, and hundreds of mascots in our portfolio, the BAM team has the knowledge and skills to bring your dream mascot to life. Contact us today at 1-877-858-4226 to get started!
