Video Blog Tips #1 - Unboxing Videos

Unboxing videos have grown more and more popular over the past few years. On YouTube alone, some users have generated millions of views on their account just by allowing others to join in on their recent purchases. This is a great way to take advantage of all aspects of your craft. Use each element to your advantage.

A professional Photographer does not have much to offer if he or she can not reach their audience. In this age, there are so many avenues to take such as the internet, advertisements, blogs, social networks and of course word of mouth. Now, those that stand out are the ones going above and beyond. A simple unboxing video is a great way to broaden your audience and also a way to quickly put that new equipment to use.

Tips on a good unboxing video:

1) External audio. Audio is just as important as video. It is recommended to use an external audio source such as a personal recorder or a boom mic. Generally, on-board mics pic up a lot of background ambiance and offer low quality vocals at best. However, it is great to have the internal mic recording at the same time as a means for backup.

2) Keep it short. As with any visual story, it should be told in the least amount of time possible, without disregarding needed content. An unboxing video is just that, an unboxing. It does not take long and should not be weighed down with any unnecessary information. Also, if the video is too long, you may lose the interest of your viewers.

3) Video Quality. With digital prices dropping across every manufacturing line, there is no excuse to offer poor quality video. The development of "Flip" style cameras was a great launch into consumer HD, and these little gems can be had for as little as $200USD. One YouTube user that has had great success with these cameras is MysteryGuitarMan, who recently crossed over the 1,000,000 subscriber mark.

5) Keep it simple. At the end of the day, no matter what type of video you are producing, you are telling a story. Certain elements are needed to tell a story and it is your job to control those elements. An unboxing video does not need any fancy editing, just basic color correction. Don't over-think it. And as with all your work, include something in the video to let the viewers know who you are. This can be a watermark, credits or even just simple splash of personality.