Take a look at what is behind you and make sure to eliminate clutter. While no one expects a professional set, an unmade bed or a full trash can may distract the viewer from you and your message.

The video should be a representation of your brand and who you are. Grab a cup of coffee or your preferred beverage to help dress the set and give an authentic feel. In general, you should keep your colors neutral, so they don't stand out on the camera. Similar to clutter, a pink striped shirt can be distracting. You also want to dress the part. If your message is more casual and relaxed, your clothing can mirror that message. If your message is more serious, your clothes should be as well. 

If you are filming a video near a window flooded by sunlight, the harsh lighting will create dark shadows on your face. You may also find yourself squinting, which can be distracting. Make sure the light is in front of you when filming. Doing this will give you more balance and eliminate shadows. If you are shooting later in the day, a lamp can be helpful. Again, any light should be in front of where you are filming. 

In most cases-your iPhone camera is more powerful than your computer's, so if you can keep it steady using a stand, or if the video is more casual, this may be the route. When hosting a webinar or if you are expecting multiple people to join, your computer has more capacity and maybe the better decision. 

Shoot horizontally to ensure the best viewing experience, unless you are shooting for Instagram—then vertical is best! For example, Miguel Sosa, Founder of Premia Global Advisors takes a horizontal approach in his Market Update on LinkedIn, while Katherine Forrester Schneewind (and her dog Holly Dolly!) of High Note Wealth posted a great vertical Instagram clip thanking those on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis and wishing everyone a happy Passover and Easter.

If you are filming a live session, block time ahead of the event to run through everything. Make sure the technology is working, and your audio is clear. If you are recording for on-demand viewing, even if your first take is perfect, do 2 or 3 takes. You never know what you will notice when you watch everything back. 

Generally, we recommend live videos if you plan for long-form content and conversation (i.e., webinars). Shorter videos where the content is more aligned with "here is what happened and why you should care" can be recorded ahead of time. If you are recording a session, make sure you have your talking points ready and in front of you. There are teleprompter apps that allow you to upload your content and have it flow through while you are filming. A great example of a pre-recorded video that hits on key talking points is this Hopeless Optimist video shot by Erik Strid, Founding Principle of Concentus Wealth Management.

You don't have to be a movie director to leverage tools like iMovie (or wevideo.com on PC) to add a professional touch to your video. Create a bumper in Canva, drop that, any music you wish to use and the recorded video into an editing tool and you can elevate the finished product without spending too much money or time. In this recent video highlighting Dynasty's Cooking for a Cause event with Iron Chef Marc Forgione, iMovie was used to create bumpers and add audio for the intro.

Once you have your final product, YouTube and Vimeo offer free accounts where you can upload your video. Make sure to keep in mind the settings when you upload to ensure who can watch. For example, on YouTube, if you choose to upload your video as "Unlisted," only people who have the link can access it.

· Step 1: Go to Zoom's settings menu

· Step 2: Click on the Video option in the left panel

· Step 3: Under My Video, select the option for Touch Up My Appearance.