How to DIY a Music Video

(John-Mark Smith / Pexels)

We are living in a visual world. Even though we are musicians, we still need visual representation of our music. People enjoy watching music videos because it enhances the feeling and meaning of the song that they are listening to. That is why it’s important to release a music video when you are dropping your new single. But what if you don’t have the budget to hire professional filmmakers? Well, you can always do it yourself. Let me give you some tips on how to make your own music video.

Think of the Concept and Start Prepping

Do you want your music video to highlight your performance, or is there going to be a storyline? Is it going to be one-take? Or maybe you want to make a stop motion video? Are you going to be in the video, or do you want an actor to be the main character? Brainstorm all the ideas and see your options. Then you can choose the one concept that fits your music best. Here’s a tip. Since you will be shooting everything yourself, consider a concept that looks like you film it yourself. Embrace the “homemade”-ness, if it makes sense. Maybe you want to make a video of your band jamming in the living room. Or you can shoot your video during a road trip, with the shaky camera and all. Once you decide on a concept, then you can start prepping. Create a shotlist and a storyboard. These will help you get all the shots you need for the editing part later. 

(Brands&People / Unsplash)

Logistic, Logistic, Logistic

You need filming gears to shoot your video. Of course, professional cameras will give you better quality than your phone, so you might want to consider renting a camera or borrowing your friend’s DSLR camera. But that doesn’t mean that your phone won’t get the job done, especially if it’s part of your concept. Just make sure you have good lighting when you shoot your video. Another thing to consider is the locations. Make sure you have the permission if you want to shoot at private locations. You definitely don’t want security to chase you down in the middle of filming. Unless it’s part of your concept, then I guess… go ahead.

Learn Video Editing Software

Once you get all your footage, it’s time to edit. It will be helpful to know how to use some video editing softwares like Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro. If you find problems when you are editing, YouTube is always a good place to find solutions. Spend some time watching tutorials, and you are good to go. And the best thing of all, it’s free!

(Jakob Owens / Unsplash)

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

It can be overwhelming to do everything yourself. Plus, some things can only be done with the help of others. So don’t be shy, ask for help. If they are good friends, they will be willing to hold the camera, lend you some gears, or help you edit the video. Just make sure that you buy them pizza at the end. 

Good luck filming your own video. It’s one of the most fun parts about being a musician. And don’t forget to share the final product on your YouTube channel and social media. It’s the best feeling when people get to enjoy the fruit of your hard work.

This article was published on Evolution website, November 17, 2023