How to Make a Music Video: 4 Music Video Production Tips

Music videos are a form of digital media where a song plays over a film that echoes a theme, story, or message in the music and lyrics. Video clips may feature band members performing the song and actors telegraphing the story, or a music video may feature solely the musicians jamming or the actors performing. Regardless of content, music videos entail a rich production process full of storyboarding, video editing, and special effects.

Music videos have existed as a form since the 1920s when they were known as musical short films, but the medium as it is currently known was popularized on MTV in the 1980s, giving fans new ways to engage with their favorite bands’ music.

Whether creating your first music video on a camera phone or completing one on a professional shoot with savvy crew members and multiple camera angles, music videos play a major role in advancing the music career of a band or artist. Uploading the final video to websites and social media can unlock new avenues to reach listeners and market the song to boost record sales.

Video production varies from project to project, but to create your own music video, use these steps as a template:

1. 1. Establish a concept. Directors must work closely with the artist or band to develop a concept or story for the music video. Do the research and find references to other video content that might provide a springboard for initial ideas and storyboards.
2. 2. Budget accordingly. After deciding your concept, which will dictate how many actors and locations you need, you can begin working on a budget. Consider the number of crew members, actors, and equipment pieces you will need.
3. 3. Scout locations and take photos. The video locations will articulate the tone of a film, so you’ll want to assemble several options to present to your director and production team to determine which location will be most feasible. During this key phase of preproduction, consider if the location offers access to power, take photographs of the area in good lighting and at the time of day you intend to shoot, and get a sense of how much space the location affords if actors or the band will be moving around.
4. 4. Build your storyboard. Map out your music video shot by shot. The video director will want to see what each frame looks like for reference, so consider lens types, camera angles, and blocking for each shot. You can hand draw a storyboard or use an online program.
5. 5. Assemble your crew and equipment. For equipment, determine which video cameras and lighting instruments you will need and whether a green screen is necessary. Your budget will dictate how many crew members you can hire. Normally, music videos employ a gaffer, grip, sound technician, and production assistant to ensure a smooth shoot.
6. 6. Shoot your music video. A producer or assistant director will share a shooting schedule and delineate call times and meal breaks. If time affords it at the shoot, get extra takes, so your video editor has plenty of options to play with to create a cohesive final cut.
7. 7. Start the post-production phase. After shooting, returning the gear, and paying the talent, the editing process will take up the bulk of post-production. Share the music track and footage files with your editor, who will take the needed parts and stitch them together to create a draft to share with the team. Editors may use video editing software to add visual effects or sound effects.
8. 8. Review and refine drafts. Many people may weigh in on the editor’s work, including the director, producer, and band members themselves. Through patience and collaboration, these creative leads will settle on a final product that represents the story of a song.
9. 9. Finalize and share. After a music video is complete, the marketing rollout can begin. Tease out bits of the video to drop online leading up to the official release, then upload the final cut to a video sharing platform, your band’s website, and social media so it is accessible to a wide audience.

Beginners can benefit from these tips for making music videos:

1. 1. Keep your notes in one place. Different ideas and inspirations can strike at any moment; keep a notebook or computer file on hand, so you have one place for all your ideas.
2. 2. Maintain communication with the artist or band. Given the time, money, and effort that goes into creating a music video, you want to ensure you get it right—and that means realizing the vision of the musical artist. Stay in touch with them throughout the process to ensure you are on the same page and deliver a product that matches their intentions.
3. 3. Know the song in detail. Different points of view may present themselves on unique listenings. Try playing the song at varying times of day to see what reactions you have to it. Each new listen can reveal fresh insights to help guide you in the production process.
4. 4. Factor in rehearsal time. If there is intricate choreography or blocking, you’ll be grateful if you pad in rehearsal time. This does not have to happen on the shoot location, though it is a benefit if it does, as your performers will be more accustomed to the space.

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