Developing one or more cool music videos, can send a band to the top nowadays. The fantastic thing is that the video doesn’t need to be produced with the best equipment or production value, in fact, DIY videos are often preferred to ones that are saturated with all the professional bells and whistles.

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Because of this, making a music video for a client can cost as little or as much as you want it to. All you need are a few pieces of solid equipment, a little know-how, planning, and the creativity to get things moving.

This guide will go over a few of the things necessary to create cool music videos from scratch. So, if you want to compliment your client’s song with a video that will give it some buzz, read on to find out how.

How to Create Cool Music Videos From Scratch

There are a few things to consider before you begin tackling your project. The whole video is based around a song, created by an artist, so make sure you understand the song before you start thinking about developing the video. Additionally, consult with the artist and get an idea of their vision.

Identify the themes, tones, and style that will be present in the video. There is a lot of room to be creative stylistically, so brainstorm a few different options. For example, you can piece together images like Andy Shauf did in his, “The Magician”, music video.

You could also derive some inspiration from videos of the past. There is quite a lot of revival in the area of decades, like 80’s and 90’s music videos, which had generally low production value and didn’t require much more than basic video editing software and a camera.

If you’re trying to emulate the styles of the past, look into the cameras used in the music video you’re recreating. If nothing else, look into the cameras that were industry standard during that time. You can try to find an older camera to recreate the style, or you can find a phone application that emulates the style of older cameras.

It’s getting easier and easier to record videos with the ever-improving technology inside of our phones. In fact, a lot of apps contain free video recording and editing software. That being said, there are some benefits to physical cameras and editing equipment.

Either way you go, the first thing that you want to identify, is the technology you’re going to use for your music video project.

What Kind of Equipment You Will Need

The equipment you need to shoot a cool music video, will depend on the specifications given to you by the band. Different shoots will warrant the use of alternate equipment. There are, however, a few things that you’re always likely to need.

Camera

Think about what you want the video to do for your band, or your clients group. If you want a video that is low-fidelity, you won’t need to invest too much in a camera. If you want the video to be on TV and gain national attention or have a better chance of going viral, you might want to look into the more expensive, higher quality options.

Lighting

If you’re shooting inside you’ll also want to gather some lighting equipment. While it may be useful to look into some video lighting tutorials, you can definitely create a makeshift rig with lights found around your home, or perhaps some cheaper lighting from the home improvement or hardware store.

Learning the ropes of how to arrange lighting and making a shot look professional, will help you produce a quality video. Proper lighting placement, which you can arrange using expensive or cheap lighting equipment, come from well thought-through scene requirements.

Make sure you have a number of extension cords on hand if you’re going to be shooting in a number of locations, to ensure the flexibility and tweaking you’re likely to do on the spot.

Transportation

If you’re shooting in a single room you can skip this step, but if you’re going to be shooting in a number of locations, you’ll want to consider the following.

You’ll want cases for your high-end equipment if you have it. Otherwise, the main concern that you’ll have is moving your lighting equipment and props. This just requires that you have a couple of vehicles to safely transport your people and equipment.

Preparing a Location

Your chosen location, or locations, are an essential aspect of shooting cool music videos. Obviously, a scene in the woods just requires that you go to the spot and shoot the video. Some video settings can require more preparation and effort, however.

For example, if you’re shooting a video in a diner, you’ll need to speak with the management of the restaurant and gain permission, to ensure that they are alright with you shooting there. You may even need to ask them about coming in after hours if you require that the diner is empty.

Simply jotting down the logistics of your shoot will make it all the easier to flesh out later. Make a list of things that you need to prepare and people you need to speak with.

Video Editing

Most computers made this decade have decent video editing software. Macs have a pretty intuitive user interface that allows for the easy construction of a good video. This is where you have the opportunity to get really creative.

YouTube typically has tutorials for any video editing software that your computer will have, so make sure to look through a few videos and get a grasp for the basics. Additionally, you’ll want to play around for a few hours, discovering editing tricks and tips, visual effects, and other unique things in the software that you can bring into the video.

It’s important not to go too overboard with the use of effects, otherwise your cool music videos can become a very uncool ones. While they are useful and can add a lot to your video, it’s always apparent when someone creates and overdoes the zoom, special effects, and transitions.

Seek Out Inspiration

Look to art, videos, and music for a little inspiration for your cool music videos. There’s no better way to see where to go than looking to the past. Additionally, consider implementing modern art in your video.

For example, there are thousands of public domain images that you can use as backgrounds for green screens and visual supplements. If you’re looking for some artwork or photography to inspire your music video, we have everything you’ll need.

Premium Stock Images from Shutterstock (Save 10% using Coupon Code SS10):

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