To recap on the introduction, we went over the basics when considering making a sales video for your horse. The easy exposure which comes with online sharing of your video through Facebook and YouTube (or Vimeo).
The easy access that equestrians throughout your country and even the world can have to view your horse wherever they may be.
The limited amount of editing that is necessary for you to create a flattering video.
And most importantly, the simple basics to consider when making a video.
Now that we have briefly covered the above, lets get into more detail.
Lets first talk about photographs. Part of a sales video should include a small amount of photos which can show your horse in a still frame which will give someone a different perspective on how your horse; conformation, jumping style, dressage ring appearance etc. It's a nice added touch.
We would suggest the following types of photos included in your video:
1) Portrait/Head-Shot
2) At Liberty
3) Under Saddle (Jumping, Dressage etc)
4) Under Saddle Shot 2 (Of a different variety of the above)
5) Possibly an additional under saddle shot, especially if you are marketing an eventer. A cross country shot would be a nice addition.
6) Conformation Shot (feel free to add various conformation shots, but one should be sufficient in addition to your written ad which should also include a conformation shot).
It is important to note that the photographs not be over-used. You should have a nice bunch of selections of all the varieties listed above, so that you have different shots to offer through video and written sales ads. This says that you have taken the time to market your horse and you care about the detail going into the ad. You are a serious seller.
Additionally if you choose to take these photos yourself, we recommend a nice camera because the quality of these photos will decrease once the video itself if uploaded onto the Internet. If you can, try hiring a photography student or even an amateur photographer to help you achieve the quality and type of photos you want to properly show off your horse. A good eye and a good camera can make all the difference!
We will talk about ideas of implementing these photos into the video later on in this series.
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Now onto the video portion.
Here are some key steps to consider before you begin the video process:
1) Your Videographer!
No, the person who videos your horse does not have to be a professional. If you can, do it yourself, or ask a friend to assist you. This will of course depend on if you will be riding your horse yourself. If you have a trainer who is helping market your horse they might already suggest or it might be a good idea to ask them.
An important thing to note with the videographer/helper: If the person has little to no video skills, make sure you use a tri-pod, which will help stabilize the camcorder, making the video much more viewer-friendly. Shaky hands = bad video results! No one wants to feel like they're equilibrium is off while viewing your video.
2) Location!
Location is important. These little details can make or break a video.
First off, if you choose to shoot the horse inside an arena the footing should be free of dust. You should pick a time to shoot during the day when the footing conditions are at their best: i.e, right after it's been groomed/watered. Dusty footing can make shooting a nice video difficult and reflects poorly on the conditions upon which your horse is worked. The footing is a small detail, but people notice!
Make sure you do so during the later morning or afternoon. After the sun is up and before the sun begins to set.
If you choose to shoot indoor, make sure your arena again is not dusty. An indoor arena can enhance the appearance of a dusty setting compared to an outdoor. Make sure your indoor is properly lighted and again done during the day unless the lighting is good enough for evening shooting.
3) Turnout!
Turnout is another important detail to very much consider.
Horses should be neatly cleaned, groomed, clipped etc.
Riders should be neatly turned out as well. But don't over-do it. A good polo, belt and of course a helmet is a good choice. Consider what you'd wear for a clinic, for shooting a video. Nice, neat and tidy. Viewers do notice these things and again will surely take you more seriously if you attend to these details, as the horses are being more seriously represented.
And now, what you should shoot!
This is the fun part. Time to break out your video and go record, record and record some more!
A variety of shots will prove in your favor. It's always a good idea to get more shots than you need, so you have many to choose from.
For example, lets talk about a Dressage horse's ad and how one would go about complimenting this ad with a video.
Here is what the ad might say for this horse:
"Henry is a lovely, enthusiastic, Dressage horse who is currently schooling second level. Henry is a perfect mount for an up-coming junior or adult who is looking to move up. A fantastic, quiet yet forward ride, this horse is an excellent confidence builder with the talent to get you further into your Dressage career. He truly takes care of his rider! In addition to Henry's excellence in the Dressage ring, he is also a safe and enjoyable horse to hack out alone or with company. He is a gentlemen in the barn and is an overall agreeable horse that is easy-going guy."
Looking at the above ad, here are some things to include in the video:
- "lovely, enthusiastic, Dressage horse who is currently schooling second level"
In your video, show your viewers exactly what you mean when you describe your horse as "lovely, enthusiastic." Show the horse schooling second level movements.
- "a perfect mount for an up-coming junior or adult who is looking to move up"
Show your horse being piloted through his second level movements by a junior and/or an adult.
- "safe and enjoyable horse to hack out alone or with company"
Show your horse hacking out alone and/or with company. Adding in these shots provide a viewer with a stronger sense of the horse you describe and more interesting video altogether. The viewer will be waiting for the next scene to see what you'll show next! Interest is always a good thing!
- "gentlemen in the barn and is an overall agreeable horse that is easy-going guy"
Again, show what you mean. A clip of him being tacked or untacked, turned out etc, to show his "gentlemen-like" behavior is a perfect compliment to your ad.
To sum your video up - you should again, have a variety of shots that truly express the horse and all it's features!
Well, now we have an idea of how to go about getting the shots that we want. Part 2 of the photographs & videos section will be tomorrow as well as examples of well done sales videos from throughout the world!
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