The Basic Steps to Make a Video

Creating a video means moving through four stages: planning what you want to film, recording the footage, editing it into a finished piece, and saving it in a format you can share. You do not need expensive equipment or years of training to start. A smartphone camera and free editing software on your computer can produce a watchable video in a few hours.

The order matters. Filming without a plan wastes time and leaves you with footage that does not fit together. Editing without knowing your final goal — whether it is a YouTube video, a social media clip, or something to email — means you may have to re-export the whole thing later. Saving in the wrong format can make your video unplayable on the device someone is using.

This guide walks you through each stage in the order you will actually do them, with the real decisions you face at each step.

Key Takeaways

  • Plan your video by writing down what you want to say or show, how long it should be, and what shots you need before you press record.
  • Record on whatever camera you have — smartphone, webcam, or camcorder — and keep the phone or camera steady by resting it on something rather than holding it by hand.
  • Edit by importing your footage into free software like DaVinci Resolve or CapCut, cutting out the parts you do not want, and adding text or music if needed.
  • Save your finished video in MP4 format unless the platform you are uploading to tells you otherwise, because MP4 plays on almost every device.

Planning Before You Film

Write down what your video is about in one sentence. This sounds straightforward but stops you from filming for an hour and realizing halfway through editing that you have no clear message. If your video is "how to change a car tire," that sentence is your anchor — every shot should show a step in that process, and anything else gets cut.

Decide how long the video should be. A tutorial video is usually two to five minutes. A social media clip is often 15 to 60 seconds. A personal message to a friend can be anything. Knowing the target length before you film means you will not shoot 20 minutes of footage when you only need five, which saves you hours of editing later.

List the shots you need. For a tutorial, you might need: a wide shot showing the whole workspace, close-ups of your hands doing the work, and a shot of the finished result. For a talking-head video — you speaking to the camera — you need yourself in frame, good lighting on your face, and a background that does not distract. Write these down so you do not forget them while filming.

Recording Your Footage

Use whatever camera you have. A smartphone camera is good enough for most videos. A webcam works if you are sitting at a desk. A camcorder or DSLR camera gives you more control but is not necessary to start. The camera matters less than what you do with it.

Stabilize your camera before you press record. Handheld footage looks shaky and unprofessional. Rest your phone on a stack of books, a tripod, or even a water bottle pointed at what you want to film. If you are recording yourself talking, position the camera at eye level or slightly above — this is more flattering than looking down at the lens. Leave a few seconds of still footage at the start and end of each shot; this gives you room to cut without losing important content.

Record in good light. Natural light from a window works well. If you are indoors without good windows, turn on the overhead lights and any desk lamps you have. Avoid filming with the light behind you, because your face will be dark. If you are filming something small — like a product or a document — position the light to the side so you can see detail without glare.

Record sound carefully. If you are speaking, get the microphone close to your mouth — most phones have the microphone on the bottom, so hold it lower than your face. If you are filming something that makes noise, like cooking or building, position the phone or camera close enough to pick up the sound clearly. Avoid filming in places with loud background noise like traffic or a busy restaurant unless that noise is part of your video.

Importing and Organizing Your Footage

Move your video files from your phone or camera to your computer. Connect your phone with a USB cable and drag the video files to a folder on your desktop, or use your camera's software to transfer them. Create a folder called something like "Project Name - Raw Footage" so you know where everything is.

Open your editing software. DaVinci Resolve and CapCut are free and work on Windows and Mac. Adobe Premiere Elements costs money but is simpler for beginners. Shotcut is free and more powerful. Start with DaVinci Resolve or CapCut if you have never edited before — both have straightforward layouts and do not require learning many buttons.

Create a new project in your editing software and import your footage. The software will ask you to choose a resolution and frame rate. If you filmed on a smartphone, choose 1080p (sometimes called Full HD) and 30 frames per second — these are standard and work everywhere. Drag your video files into the software's media library or use the import button.

Cutting and Arranging Your Footage

Drag your first video clip into the timeline — this is the strip at the bottom of the screen where your video takes shape. Watch it and mark the parts you want to keep. Most editing software lets you click at the start of a section you want to remove, then click at the end, and press Delete or Backspace. Remove long pauses, mistakes, or parts where nothing is happening.

Arrange your clips in order. If you filmed multiple shots of the same action, put them in the sequence that tells the story. A tutorial might go: wide shot of the workspace, close-up of the first step, close-up of the second step, wide shot of the finished result. Drag clips around in the timeline to reorder them.

Add transitions between clips if you want them. A transition is a brief effect — like a fade or a slide — that plays between one clip and the next. Most editing software includes basic transitions. For a professional look, use no transitions or only fades. Avoid spinning effects or bounces unless your video is meant to be playful.

Adding Text, Music, and Sound

Add text if your video needs titles or labels. Click the text button in your editing software, type what you want to say, and drag the text box onto the timeline. Position it so it appears at the right moment — for example, a title at the start, or labels during a tutorial. Make the text large enough to read on a phone screen, not just a computer monitor.

Add background music if the video needs it. Most editing software includes a library of free music you can use. Search for a mood — "upbeat," "calm," "dramatic" — and drag a track into the timeline below your video. Lower the volume of the music so it does not drown out any talking or important sounds in your video. If you are using music from outside the software, make sure you have the right to use it — YouTube and other platforms will remove videos that use copyrighted music without permission.

Adjust the volume of your original audio. If you recorded yourself talking, make sure your voice is clear and loud enough. If you recorded background noise you do not want, lower its volume or mute it entirely. Most editing software shows a volume slider for each clip — drag it to the left to make it quieter.

Exporting Your Finished Video

When your video is finished, export it — this means saving it as a file you can watch and share. Click the export or render button in your editing software. The software will ask you to choose a format and quality.

Choose MP4 format unless you have a specific reason not to. MP4 plays on phones, computers, tablets, and most websites. It is the standard format for sharing video online. The software may ask you to choose a bitrate or quality level — choose "high" or "1080p" if the option exists. This makes the file larger but the video will look sharp.

Choose where to save the file. Create a folder called "Finished Videos" or something similar so you can find it later. The export process can take a few minutes depending on how long your video is and how powerful your computer is. Do not close the software while it is exporting.

Watch the exported video on your phone or computer before you share it. Make sure the sound is clear, the text is readable, and the clips are in the right order. If something is wrong, go back to your editing software, fix it, and export again.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my video is shaky even though I used a tripod?

Most editing software includes a stabilization tool that smooths out small movements. In DaVinci Resolve, right-click your clip and look for "Stabilize." In CapCut, select the clip and find the stabilization option in the effects menu. This works best for minor shakiness; if your footage is very shaky, you may need to re-film with better stabilization.

Can I edit a video on my phone instead of a computer?

Yes. CapCut, iMovie (on iPhone), and Adobe Premiere Rush all work on phones and tablets. Phone editing is slower for long videos but works fine for short clips. If you are making videos longer than five minutes regularly, a computer is faster and easier.

How do I add subtitles to my video?

Most editing software can generate subtitles automatically by listening to the audio. In DaVinci Resolve, go to the Fusion page and use the speech-to-text tool. In CapCut, select your clip and tap "Captions" to auto-generate them. You can then edit the text if the software misheard words. Manual subtitles take longer but are more accurate.

What file size should my video be?

A one-minute video in MP4 format at 1080p is usually 50 to 150 megabytes. A five-minute video is usually 250 to 750 megabytes. If your file is much larger, your bitrate is too high — lower it when you export. If you are uploading to YouTube or social media, those platforms compress the video anyway, so exact file size does not matter much.

Can I use copyrighted music in my video?

Not without permission. YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram will mute or remove videos that use copyrighted music. Use music from your editing software's library, or search for "royalty-free music" online — sites like Pixabay and Pexels offer free music you can use legally. Always read the license to make sure you are allowed to use it the way you plan to.