Behind-the-scenes (BTS) content offers a unique glimpse into the creative process, allowing audiences to connect more deeply with the work and the people behind it. Whether you’re in the fashion, beauty, tech, or design industry, capturing elevated BTS content can enhance your brand storytelling and engage your audience in meaningful ways. Here are some tips to elevate your brand’s behind-the-scenes content. 

1. Define your story

Before you start capturing content, it’s crucial to define the story you want to tell. What message are you conveying? Which elements of the project are essential to feature? Who are the key stakeholders? Establishing your narrative arc first allows you to guide your audience through the behind-the-scenes experience effectively. Consider framing your content around: 

• Creative journey: Highlight the collaborative process, showcasing how ideas evolve and come to life. 

• Challenges faced and overcome: Share stories about obstacles encountered during projects and how your team, alongside partners, successfully navigated these challenges. This can resonate with audiences who are looking for authenticity. 

• Fun anecdotes from the team: Capture light-hearted moments or insights from key stakeholders, like partners or team members, to humanize your brand and create relatability. 

• Jumping on trends: Look for current trends, cultural, and seasonal moments that align with your brand and content to build engagement and foster community. 

This approach not only builds a compelling narrative that reflects your brand identity but also enhances your content, making it relatable and impactful on social media. 

See how behind-the-scenes content from Sweat and Tonic’s partnership with Moroccanoil tells a story: HERE

2. You don’t need fancy equipment

While high-end equipment can enhance the quality of your BTS content, you can achieve impressive results using a smartphone. Here are some tips to elevate your mobile photography and videography: 

• Frame your shot: Pay attention to framing. Use the rule of thirds (place your subject in the left or right third of an image, leaving the other two thirds more open) to create balanced compositions, and make sure to be conscious of how you’re including key people or products in your frame as the focal point while also being conscious of what is in the background. 

• Stabilization: To capture smooth footage, try using a tripod or a handheld stabilizer. If you don’t have these, stabilize your phone against a solid surface when shooting. 

• Audio matters: Good audio can make a significant difference in your content. If you want to take it to the next level, consider investing in a clip-on microphone for clearer sound, but you can also use your phone’s built-in mic effectively by reducing background noise. 

By focusing on these accessible techniques, you can create captivating content that showcases your behind-the-scenes moments beautifully. 

3. Pay attention to lighting

Lighting can make or break your content. Natural light brightens the scene and provides the best results, but when shooting indoors or at night, it’s essential to have additional lighting on hand. To achieve the best results, consider the following tips: 

• Golden hour: Shoot during the early morning or late afternoon for warm, flattering light. 

• Diffused lighting: Use softboxes or diffusers to minimize harsh shadows and reduce glare. 

• Manage glare and lens flares: Be mindful of reflective surfaces, and experiment with angles to avoid unwanted glare. 

• Crisp visuals: Consider shooting in HDR to enhance detail and contrast, ensuring your content looks its best even in challenging lighting conditions. 

By mastering these techniques, you can elevate the quality of your visuals to create stunning, engaging content. 

4. Capture authentic moments

While staged, produced shots have their time and place, candid, low-fi content has shown a higher effectiveness rate with more views than produced content on social media. So, get your camera ready to capture: 

• Human interactions: Moments of connection and laughter that reflect genuine emotions. 

• Unscripted creativity: Natural bursts of inspiration that demonstrate the creative process. 

• Behind-the-scenes preparation: The process of setting up or rehearsing, revealing the effort that goes into the final project. 

If you’re including people in your content, be sure to get their consent. Encourage subjects to act naturally and create a relaxed environment to capture genuine moments, which are crucial for producing engaging content that truly connects with your audience. 

Example: Levi’s 

5. Use creative angles and perspectives 

Elevate your content by experimenting with different angles and perspectives. Engaging visuals can hook viewers and draw them into your story. Here are some techniques to consider: 

• Over-the-shoulder shots: Offer viewers a peek into the creative process, making them feel like part of the action. 

• Close-ups: Highlight the details that make your project special, such as intricate designs or tools in use. This can evoke a sense of intimacy and connection. 

• Wide shots: Capture the entire scene to provide context and scale, allowing viewers to appreciate the bigger picture. 

By incorporating these creative angles, you not only enhance the visual appeal of your content but also create a more immersive experience that keeps your audience engaged. 

Example: Apple 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9VCeZfpMoQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link 

6. Incorporate soundbites and b-roll

Capturing sound bites that enhance your message can provide depth and context to your BTS content.  

Consider including: 

• Reflective: Short clips of audiences or team members sharing their thoughts on the project. 

• Solutions-oriented: Unique stories or challenges faced and how the team overcame them. 

• Aspirational: Add a brief summary of what you hope audiences will take away from the content. 

Enhance these sound bites with engaging b-roll footage to visually break up talking footage to retain audience interest. This will enhance storytelling without leaning on lengthy interviews, making your brand content more impactful and relatable. 

Example: Disney 

7. Edit with care

Post-production is where the magic happens. Editing your footage thoughtfully can retain attention, especially in an era of short attention spans. Here are some actionable tips for DIY editing if you don’t have an agency partner or video editor to lean on. 

• Cut for pace: Keep your edits tight to maintain viewer engagement. Aim for quick cuts that keep the action flowing, helping to hold the audience’s interest. 

• Add music: Choose a fitting soundtrack to enhance the mood of your content. Explore tools like Epidemic Sound, Artlist, or leverage trending in-platform audio to add the perfect track. 

• Incorporate text: Overlay quotes or key insights from interviews to add context. Use tools like Adobe Premiere Pro or Final Cut Pro to create visually appealing text overlays that complement your visuals. 

By focusing on these editing techniques, you can create compelling content that captures attention and keeps viewers coming back for more. 

Example: KARO Crafts 

Elevate your content strategy  

While great content is important, it’s crucial that it’s paired with the right content strategy. If you’re looking to take your social media and content strategy to the next level, get in touch with us! 

Capturing elevated behind-the-scenes content is about more than just showcasing the process; it’s about telling a story that resonates with your audience. By defining your narrative, showcasing authenticity, and being intentional in your approach, you can create content that not only informs but also inspires. So, grab your camera, let your creativity flow, and share the magic behind your work!