Editor’s Note: This post was written by Jake Magleby, who has written extensively about effective marketing, sales, and financing strategies to help small business owners succeed in the fast-paced and ever-changing business world. He is also interested in photography and video production. To learn more about choosing great media for your site, check out Stockfootage.com.
If you are creating content for television, blogs, movies, print ads, or websites, you know high-quality media essential. Humans are visual thinkers and learners, and we gravitate toward images and videos. While well-written copy is usually an important component of quality content, engaging media is one of the best ways to capture and hold someone’s attention. Here are some essential characteristics to look for when selecting an image or video for your next project.
Sharp Focus
Image by steve r watson via Flickr
One of the most important things to look for in a photo or video is sharp and correct focus. An adorable photo of tiger cubs loses its value if the photo is blurry or the camera focused on the rocks behind the cubs. The same thing goes for video—looking at blurry photos is uncomfortable, but watching out-of-focus video isn’t just uncomfortable; it can induce nausea and headaches. Before you consider anything else, make sure your image or video is focused. If it isn’t, throw it out and move on. [Read more…] about Essential Characteristics of a High-Quality Image or Video
