Spur-of-the-moment videos
This might seem counterintuitive for a video guy, but I’m a fan of homemade videos by nonprofits. This kind of footage might not be appropriate for your website or dinner, but it’s perfect for social media or email updates. And, given how inexpensive and convenient it is, this means that you can put out a lot more regular, interesting content to keep your supporters engaged, which I believe is a core part of any long-term, sustainable fundraising strategy.
Think about it. Right at your fingertips, you have the tools to send off a thank-you message to a big donor any day of the week, showing them exactly how their latest contribution is helping people: “Hey, I wanted to share with you what happened today. I thought you’d appreciate it.” This is incredibly powerful. You have the opportunity to express your gratitude in the moment, giving them a live glimpse of how meaningful their contributions are.
With that in mind, I want to offer some tips for how you can get the best quality when filming as an amateur with a cellphone.
Horizontal or vertical?
Vertical recordings are designed to fit properly and look good on cell phone screens (without rotating them onto their side). On a PC, on the other hand, they may appear a little funny, with all that blank space on the sides sending them into too-casual and unpolished territory. Consider where and how you expect most viewers to encounter your video, and make an intentional decision about which filming orientation you want to use.
Watch your hands.
If you’re not paying attention, it can be easy to slip up and block the camera lens or microphone with your fingers. Before you start filming, make sure you know where these parts are on the camera, so you can be sure that you’re not getting in your own way.
Limit movement.
If you want the image quality to come out looking sharp, try to keep still if you can. Cell phones have decent image stabilization, but you can still get some blurring or graininess if you’re walking fast or panning the camera around. Think about what you want to capture, and try to find the best place to stand from the start, so you won’t have to move around to get a good view.
Get the whole thing.
To make sure that you capture the moment in its entirety, it’s best to hit record before it starts, and don’t cut until you’re absolutely sure it’s over. You can always trim the extra bits later—phone cameras come equipped with tools that let you handle that easily. Better to get too much than to miss something important or end up with something that feels sloppy and half-done.
Just because these videos are more casual and spontaneous doesn’t mean that you can’t come across as relatively polished and professional. It’s nice for donors to see that you do good work and have high standards, no matter what.
Have you taken to sharing cell phone footage with donors and prospects? Why or why not? I’d love to hear how it’s affected your donor relationships; if you have any great stories, feel free to share them below.