Tips for making a great VideoStamps video.

Once you purchase a VideoStamp sticker sheet, individual sticker, or greeting card, you’ll be able to record your personal video message at any time. After you scan the QR code with your smartphone, you’ll go to the VideoStamps web app and be prompted to record your video message. Now for the fun part – making your video! 

Many aspects of making a great video may seem obvious, but they are often overlooked – having adequate lighting, clear sound, and proper framing. Then there’s the content. What are you going to say or do? Should you rehearse? Selfie or not? Or maybe you prefer to just hit “Record” and go for it!

The wonderful thing about a VideoStamps video is that it is yours to make. Keep it simple or go crazy! Whatever you want to do with your video is up to you. But we do have a few helpful tips to get the most out of your personal video card. 

Blinded by the light. 

Let’s start with the basics. It may seem obvious, but make sure you or your subject is properly lit. If you’re shooting indoors, turn on a few lights or open the curtains to let in some daylight. Next, avoid “back-lighting”, that is, having a bright light behind you or your subject. Natural light is the best light, so facing a window when recording your video makes everyone look good. 

If you’re making your video outdoors, here’s a fun fact - cloudy mornings and afternoons create the best light for shooting. Direct sunlight isn’t very flattering actually. And try to keep the sun or other lighting on your face or your subject. This is especially important if you’re doing a selfie and moving around.

Can you hear me now?

You may have the most thoughtful, funny, or special thing to say in your video greeting, but if it can’t be heard or understood, it’s all for nothing. Even if you’re indoors you have to keep the ambient sound down. Is the TV on too loud? Is the dog barking? Kids yelling at each other? 

If you’re outside, just make sure you’re recording in an area that doesn’t have lots of sound interference. Unless you’re doing sign language or you’re a mime, there are all kinds of sounds that can drown out what you’re saying, such as traffic, airplanes, sirens, wind, and even kids on the playground. Whether you’re inside or outside, try closing your eyes and listen to what’s going on around you.   

Lastly, make sure you’re speaking clearly and not too fast. If the recipient is unable to understand your message, you might get a sad reply like “I didn’t understand what you said!”  

Framing is more important than you think.

Properly framing your video makes a big difference. There are three things to consider.

1. Distance: Make sure you’re not too far from your subject. If you’re doing a selfie, you’ll be at arm’s length or a little further with a selfie-stick. That’s perfect. If you set up a tripod, stand, or have someone shooting your video, just don’t get too far away.
   
2. Stay Steady: Try and keep your phone as steady as possible, even if it’s a selfie. You don’t want the recipient to get seasick!
3. Go Horizontal!: One of the most common mistakes people make when shooting smartphone videos is holding the phone vertically in “portrait” mode. Take advantage of the size of the screen and shoot your videos horizontally. It’ll look way better on the recipient’s phone.

To rehearse or not to rehearse.

Your video can be up to 30 seconds in length, which is plenty of time. However, we do encourage you to think a little about your video message before you record it, so you convey the message you want that will mean so much to them. 

Or, you might prefer to just say whatever pops into your head. But don’t worry! If you say something, um, that you wish you hadn’t, you can re-record your message as many times as you want until you get it just right. Just remember that once you stick and send your VideoStamp, you cannot go back and change it. 

What about a selfie?

Selfies are great and one of the most personal kinds of messages because it feels like it’s just you and the other person together. But selfies can also be a little hard to watch if you’re moving around too much, so bear that in mind. Just remember the lighting and sound tips, and you should be good to go.

You can also set up your phone on a stand or prop it up and do your video that way. It’s probably better if you’re going to do a little dance or some other performance.

Add more friends and family to your video if you like! Pass the camera around and make it a VideoStamps video clips party!

Lights! Camera! Action!

With a little planning, you can “go Hollywood” and make your own 30-second movie. Cameras in our phones are getting better and better. Here are just a few ideas:  

• Write a short script and get more people in on the fun. 
• Make a mystery to help the recipient figure out what’s in the package. 
• Do a music video with a meaningful song you both love.
• Shoot it at a location that’s important to the recipient of your video. 
• Try cool apps for your phone that can enhance your video with visual effects, creative overlays, and more. 

It’s important to note that if you decide to go all out and add visual effects, edit videos together, or something else you come up with, you’ll have to make the video separately and then upload it when prompted by the VideoStamps web app. 

Whatever you do, just imagine how touched they’ll be when they see the effort you went through to do something special, just for them.

Stick it to the ones you love.

From a three-second “I hope you like it!” video to an epic, 30-second movie with friends and family, your VideoStamps video is about you and the person or people who receive it. Whatever you do, you’ll be sure to put a smile on their face with VideoStamps.

SHOP NOW!