Horizontal or Vertical Video for Social Media?
How 9:16, 4:5, 1:1 and 16:9 video display on Instagram, YouTube and social feeds, plus framing and safe zones so nothing important gets cropped.
Does Your Video Really Need Color Grading?
Color correction fixes footage, color grading adds style. Learn which your business videos need, what LUTs actually fix, and the right order to work in.
Getting Started With Shooting in Manual Mode
A plain guide to aperture, shutter speed and ISO for small business owners, with starting recipes for product photos and video.
A Timeline for Finishing a Client Video, From Cut to Delivery
A step-by-step post-production timeline for small businesses: selects, rough cut, picture lock, sound, color, captions, client review and final export.
If Your Edited Photos Look Different on Your Phone
Why a photo that looked perfect in Lightroom shifts color on phones and other screens, and the export settings that make it look right everywhere.
What It Really Costs to Make Videos for Social Media
A dollar-by-dollar look at what shooting social media video in-house costs a small business: gear, software, music, captions and your own hours.
Why Does My Video Look Blurry After I Upload It?
Social platforms recompress every upload. How export settings, bitrate and processing time make videos look soft, and what to fix before you post.
Social Video Terms to Know Before You Post
A plain-English glossary of social video terms, from aspect ratio, codecs and frame rates to safe zones, hooks and why uploads get cropped or compressed.
Diffuse Harsh Light With Household Items
Soften harsh shadows in product photos using parchment paper, a bedsheet and foam board. A step-by-step budget lighting method with household items.
Before Your First Client Shoot: A Lighting Checklist
A checklist for scouting a shoot location: window light, mixed bulb colors, power outlets and the cheap gear that fixes most problem rooms.