Making of music video

This post explains how I created my music video, from filming to editing. The main focus was emotional performance and a consistent visual style inspired by the chosen song.

Portrait Format Choice

I chose a portrait format because the video is designed to be watched on a phone.

The performer is placed in the centre of the frame and fills most of the screen. This keeps attention on facial expression rather than the background. If the video was filmed in landscape, more empty space would appear on the sides and the emotional focus would be weaker.

Most shots are head-and-shoulders, which works well on small screens and helps the audience connect more closely with the performer.

Framing and Shot Types

The video mainly uses close-ups and medium shots.

There are no wide establishing shots. Instead, the camera stays close to the performer so small facial movements can communicate emotion. This is more effective for a short teaser than showing location.

Even though many shots are filmed in the same space, variation is created by slightly changing angles and distance. This keeps the video visually interesting without changing locations.

Lighting Choices

Lighting was kept soft and controlled.

Harsh overhead lighting was avoided so the face stays evenly lit. This also helps when converting the footage to black and white, as strong shadows would be too distracting.

When the performer changes her appearance, the exposure becomes darker. This supports the emotional shift in the video and helps show progression without needing costume or location changes.

Editing Pace

The editing follows the rhythm of the music.

At the start, the cuts are slightly longer and later the shots become shorter to capture suspans and tension. This makes the video feel natural and connected to the track rather than randomly edited.

Colour and Mood

The video is edited fully in black and white.

This was inspired by Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black era. Removing colour helps focus on emotion, contrast, and expression instead of visual distractions.

The tones stay consistent throughout the video so it feels cohesive. Only small exposure changes are used to reflect emotional moments.

Editing in Canva

All editing was done in Canva; this includes adding together all the video fragments to create a whole, adding music and finding the best transitions for every cut.

Canva made it easy to control the foreground separately and keep the performer as the main focus.

Working With Limitations

The filming space was limited, so camera movement was minimal. Instead of moving the camera, meaning is created through: performance, framing, lighting changes and editing rhythm.

This helped the video feel intentional rather than restricted.

Final Outcome

Overall, the project shows how simple tools and careful choices can create a strong and effective video teaser. Below I attached a small comparison of the music video before editing and after, when the final product is ready.

BEFORE

AFTER