| I just finished my third yoga DVD and I feel completely | | | | have one camera on a jib arm that is getting the wide |
| re-energized. As a director and cameraman, I have | | | | shots while the second camera is shooting close ups. |
| always enjoyed shooting fitness videos since the | | | | Adding a third camera is valuable if you have more |
| process inspires my own athletic practice and yoga | | | | than five people on screen at once. |
| studies. With each shoot, I learn something new, so I | | | | 5) Deciding how many people to have in the shot - |
| thought it would be valuable to share my insights with | | | | This is a key factor in deciding how to set up your |
| fitness and yoga instructors who are considering | | | | shoot and it is important to consider your reasons for |
| producing their own videos. I've culled together some | | | | using more or fewer practitioners to demonstrate. It's |
| tips and considerations to help people avoid pitfalls and | | | | always good to have at least one man and one |
| ways in which they can elevate their fitness video | | | | woman unless your video is marketed for men or |
| productions. | | | | women only. |
| Spending the money to produce a yoga video is a | | | | 6) Voiceover? Or Direct to Camera? - You will need |
| gamble for sure, but you can hedge your bet by doing | | | | to consider if you want the host to address the |
| your homework to ensure that your yoga DVD has a | | | | audience or to use a VO before developing the script. |
| good shot at recouping your investment and (hopefully) | | | | The advantage of doing the exercise routine in Voice |
| making a good profit. The cost to produce a | | | | Over (also called VO), is that it allows you considerable |
| professional fitness DVD can range from $25 to $30K | | | | flexibility once you're in the edit room and it is easier to |
| so you want to be sure you've considered all the | | | | alter the script if and when needed. Personally, I like to |
| elements before firing up the cameras. Of course | | | | switch it up. Have the yoga instructor start out on |
| there are many variables that can alter the budget, | | | | camera for the opening. If you do the entire practice |
| and a lot of videos cost well over $30K, but that's a | | | | on camera make sure to have a wireless headset |
| good starting point. There is another intangible reason | | | | microphone that moves with the instructor so you can |
| to producing a professional yoga DVD - to promote | | | | consistently record clean audio. |
| yourself. Instructional videos allow you to market your | | | | 7) Create more than one routine on a disc - While you |
| name in such a way that word-of-mouth alone cannot | | | | don't want to give away three DVDs worth of yoga |
| accomplish. It will ultimately help strengthen your | | | | on one disc, it's nice to be able to offer a menu with a |
| business and is an effective portfolio of your teaching | | | | few options to choose from. I suggest a basic |
| practices. | | | | hour-long workout, a condensed half hour, and an |
| 1) Make sure your yoga DVD has a unique marketable | | | | advanced workout or practice. I would err on the side |
| approach - For those who don't have a household | | | | of making the disc feel substantial. Two different |
| name, best-selling yoga book or star power, you need | | | | lengths of a similar routine is good because sometimes |
| to play on your strengths. You don't need to be a | | | | the viewer only has a half hour to spend with your |
| Rodney Yee to sell a lot of yoga DVDs, but | | | | DVD. |
| remember, there are dozens of yoga videos all | | | | 8) Chapter your DVD - There are certain sections on |
| competing for the same dollars. It's important that your | | | | the DVD that your viewer will want to watch many |
| video stands out and has a unique niche market, for | | | | times over as they do their routine. There are other |
| example, some successful videos include: pre-nadal | | | | sections that the viewer will only want to see once. |
| yoga, yoga for cyclists, cross training in winter or | | | | Make sure each routine has its own chapter for the |
| hula-hooping fitness for everyone. There is a fine line | | | | viewer's convenience. |
| between making sure there is a broad enough appeal | | | | 9) Know your market - This is key in establishing your |
| and finding a good niche audience. | | | | audience and increases your possibilities of generating |
| 2) Choose the right location - Shooting in a beautiful | | | | a profit. Do your research! Speak to your students and |
| setting can make a world of difference and will | | | | let them know you are considering creating an |
| elevate the production value of the overall video. | | | | instructional video - chances are they'll be happy to |
| 3) Move that camera! - A moving camera can boost | | | | share with you their thoughts and/or interest. Is this |
| production value in a big way. Using a jib arm can not | | | | something they would want to buy? |
| only keep the shot interesting for 30 seconds at a time | | | | 10) Create a beautiful DVD Cover and DVD Menu - |
| but can also be helpful to show different angles as the | | | | They say you can't judge a book by its cover, but the |
| camera floats around the body. | | | | truth of the matter is we all do. DVD packaging is |
| 4) Multiple cameras with matching time code - To do a | | | | important especially when it comes to appealing to |
| professional yoga or fitness video you need to shoot | | | | your audience. Something to consider is featuring your |
| with at least two cameras, if not more, and those | | | | photo on the cover. You may be your DVD's biggest |
| cameras should be synced with time code. I like to | | | | selling point, so be ready for your close up. |