VISUAL storytelling VISUAL

7 tips for great videos

1. Keep it short How long are most typical stories on the evening news? About 90 seconds. Keep your videos under 2 minutes when possible. This means you may not be able to tell the whole story, so you're gonna have to boil it down to one theme, one call to action, one emotion, one point or even one moment in time.

2. Have an audience in mind If I'm trying to recruit folks to join a build, I want to keep that video short. However, there is a time when you might want an extended video, and that's often when the targeted audience is people who you feel like you need to thank or people who are already invested in the experience. This is something we've done after Millard Fuller Legacy Builds and such. Those videos are really for documenting the experience and appreciating those involved. We're not trying to go viral.

3. Focus on the quality of the story, not the quality of the video Instead of getting bogged down in technical stuff, remember that your video is really about the story you’re telling, whether it’s about your mission, a person who benefits from your organization, or the volunteer who actively supports your cause. You don’t need fancy equipment or a big production crew. All it takes is a simple camera that can shoot video, a YouTube account, and a good story. There's something earnest about simply-made videos that reinforces grass-rootsy- ness. Remember, Windows Movie Maker is free.

4. Show activity and life Even if it's a quick sit-down interview with a person, it'd be far more effective to have a bunch of folks working on a building in the background or if you're talking to a cyclist to have bikes flying by in the background. If the whole scene is a person sitting in an office, you've got your work cut out for you when it comes to capturing attention.

5. Include a call to action Don’t just leave viewers hanging with a great story. Guide them at the end to take the next step in becoming active supporters. Invite people to volunteer. Give them a link to register for your event or donate to your cause.

6. Use humor If you can make people laugh, they’re more likely to remember your message, connect with your cause, and share your video. Of course, humor isn’t appropriate in every context, but try to keep the tone light when you can.

7. Share it This is not “Field of Dreams” … build it and they will come. You can produce the next 90-second “Gone with the Wind” or “Citizen Kane” but if no one knows it's sitting there on YouTube or Facebook, it's irrelevant. Share it on you group's social media, share it on your own Facebook page or include it in an .

Take great pictures

Which works best to tell the story of Fuller Center training masons in Nepal? 1 2

PHOTO TIP Try to tell a story with your photos when possible. Take the obligatory posed shots, but feature the ones that tell a story.

Which works best to tell the story of Fuller Center founder Millard Fuller? 1 2

PHOTO TIP The background matters. When possible, make sure the background imagery complements the photo rather than distracts from it.

Which face is more captivating? 1 2

PHOTO TIP Get up close. Our ministry isn't about houses as much as it is about people. Viewers bond with images where they feel a sense of intimacy with the subject matter.

Which group photo is more interesting? 1 2

PHOTO TIP Shake up standard group photos. Yes, you still need to take the standard lineup, basic group photo, but consider changing up groupings and angles.

PHOTO TIP Take many photos but share few. Take several shots (or more) of each scene, and then pick out the best to use. That means you'll be deleting some good ones in favor of great ones.

PHOTO TIP Make sure the subject matter is in focus. Press the shutter button halfway down until you've got your subject in focus, then snap.

PHOTO TIP Your subject matter does not have to be in the center of the frame. Having your subject off-center can provide more context.

PHOTO TIP Share it profusely, share it correctly. Keep social media intent in mind.

FOR INSTANCE... NOT THIS. DO THIS.

PHOTO TIP Take advantage of free stuff! From free photo editing software to free file storage, you don't have to spend big money to get results.

AND FINALLY Tell your story one way or the other! Even if you ignore every single rule, you've still got a great story to tell. You're doing good work, and you should tell folks about it. Best practices are always evolving, and you can get bogged down in the minutia. The only wrong way to tell your story is to not tell your story!