How can you make immersive videos?

1 Choose the right format

Depending on your goal, budget, and audience, you can choose from different formats of immersive videos, such as 360-degree videos, virtual reality (VR) videos, augmented reality (AR) videos, or mixed reality (MR) videos. Each format has its own advantages and challenges, and requires different equipment, software, and platforms. For example, 360-degree videos are relatively easy to produce and distribute, but they limit the viewer's interaction and control. VR videos offer a more immersive and interactive experience, but they require special headsets and apps, and can cause motion sickness or discomfort. AR and MR videos blend digital elements with the real world, creating a new layer of reality, but they also need advanced technology and skills.

2 Plan your story and perspective

Immersive videos are not just about showing a panoramic view of a location or a scene. They need to have a clear and compelling story that engages the viewer emotionally and intellectually. You need to plan your story carefully, considering the plot, the characters, the setting, the conflict, and the resolution. You also need to decide what perspective you want to use for your immersive video. Do you want to put the viewer in the first-person perspective, as if they are the protagonist or a witness of the story? Or do you want to use the third-person perspective, as if they are an observer or a companion of the characters? The perspective you choose will affect how you frame, shoot, and edit your immersive video.

3 Use the right camera and audio

To make immersive videos, you need to use a camera that can capture a wide or full range of view, such as a 360-degree camera, a VR camera, or a smartphone with a fisheye lens or a special app. You also need to use a tripod, a monopod, or a stabilizer to avoid shaky or distorted footage. You should also pay attention to the audio quality of your immersive video, as sound can enhance or ruin the immersion effect. You can use a microphone that can record spatial or binaural sound, which mimics how humans hear sound in different directions and distances. You can also use sound effects, music, or narration to create a more immersive and realistic atmosphere.

4 Edit and optimize your video

Editing immersive videos can be challenging, as you need to consider the viewer's attention, orientation, and comfort. You need to use a software that can handle immersive video formats, such as Adobe Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, or DaVinci Resolve. You should avoid using too many cuts, transitions, or effects, as they can disrupt the immersion or cause nausea. You should also use markers, arrows, or cues to guide the viewer's attention and movement, especially if you want them to focus on a specific point or action. You should also optimize your video for the platform and device you want to distribute it on, such as YouTube, Facebook, or Oculus. You should check the resolution, frame rate, file size, and metadata of your video to ensure that it meets the requirements and standards of the platform and device.

5 Test and distribute your video

Before you publish or share your immersive video, you should test it on different devices and platforms, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, VR headsets, or smart TVs. You should also ask for feedback from your target audience, such as friends, family, or customers. You should evaluate how they react to your immersive video, how they navigate through it, and how they feel about it. You should also measure the performance and impact of your immersive video, using metrics such as views, likes, comments, shares, conversions, or retention. You should use the data and insights to improve your immersive video or plan your next one.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?