I have been producing videos for over 20 years. And every day, I see which mistakes are repeated in self-shot footage. Most of the time, they aren't the ones you would expect.

Light is your most important piece of equipment

No filter, no edit, and no expensive camera can save bad lighting. When shooting indoors: windows are your friend. Position yourself so that the light falls on your subject from the front or side — not from behind. A subject in front of a window becomes a silhouette. A simple LED panel for 80–150 Euro makes a noticeable difference. No large lighting setup, no technical course — just turn it on, aim, and you're done.

Shakiness is not a style

Handheld can look great — if used intentionally. In most cases, especially for corporate or explainer videos, shakiness looks amateurish. A tripod costs 30 Euro. It is the best investment you can make before any camera.

Planning saves more time than shooting

Every hour of preparation saves three during the shoot. What should the video say? Who is watching it? Which settings do I need at a minimum? A storyboard doesn't have to be a work of art — a handwritten sheet with rough sketches is enough.

Manual is not complicated

Auto mode produces good images — sometimes. The problem: when the light changes, exposure and white balance adjust automatically — right in the middle of a shot. In interviews or product videos, this can look devastating. Manual settings are not rocket science once you have understood the basics.

Audio is half the video

Bad picture with good audio — it's acceptable. Good picture with bad audio — no one will watch it until the end. A lavalier microphone for 40 euros is more important than a lens for 400 euros.

Best regards,
Sascha Manke