If you’re looking for effective photography marketing with video on your website, Animoto may be the tool to use. Animoto allows you to create professional quality videos that can be a maximum size of thirty seconds for free. This software tool is one more "benefit of technological advancement" for photographers.
Making the ‘standard’ information video is not what Animoto produces. Animoto‘creatively’ rotates and intercuts photos and synchronizes the changes to music that you choose. The videos provide limited space for text. But, the text is rotated in and out with the photos making for uniquely creative videos. Artists use Animoto to do their new song video in different formats. Photographers use Animoto to make 'viral photo portfolios.' The videos are very, very simple to produce. Which makes photography marketing with video that much easier.
Free vs. Paid
Animoto allows users to produce videos with a maximum length of 30 seconds for free. To make longer videos requires a paid account. Animoto accounts range from $30 a year to $249. The best buy is the $249 package. Especially if you regularly submit videos to the online video directories.
Animoto videos can be sold or offered as bonuses to photography clients. It is one of the best tools available for photography marketing with video for photographers. Similar to Photoshop placing tools in the hands of photographers that were once only accessible by large production houses, Animoto also places once non-accessible tools in the hands of photographers. Photography marketing with video might be thought of as complicated and expensive. Animoto provides a free service that can be used for very effective photography marketing with video.
Select to produce a short thirty second (you must use their paid version for longer videos)
Choose to upload photos from your computer (they also will download images from online directories such as Flickr, Picasa, Photobucket, etc.)
Upload images: this process takes a few minutes
Next, select music from their collection or upload your own
Finally, complete your video with a title and description and click to produce video
Animoto then ‘goes to work.’ Once complete, the free version allows you to upload your uniquely created video to your YouTube account. (The paid versions lets you download your video; upload it to YouTube; copy the embed code; download DVD quality versions; etc. The paid version is the best buy.)
You have the option of choosing to remove the music credit and the “created using animoto” screen from being on the end of the video. Some free version users download the YouTube video to their computers and edit the Animoto branding out.
The process is 1-2-3 easy to do! It will surprise you how easy it is. You’ll be even more surprised at how uniquely creative the videos that you produce will be. Featuring video on your website or blog is now push-button easy for you.
Paid Version
Without a doubt, the paid version is the best choice. As mentioned, the paid version includes: letting you to download your video; upload it to YouTube; copy the embed code; download DVD quality versions; remix videos at the click of a button; etc.
Also, the paid version allows you to embed a website link at the end of the video which allows the video viewer to click through. A business could use this feature to send the viewer to their sales page or their email form. Models could use this feature to send viewers of their portfolio to their contact page. Any website featuring video by Animoto can add perceived value to their websites with creative and unique videos.
Want to see another unique video? No problem. Simply click the ‘remix’ button. Presto! You’ve got another creative and unique video. Here’s a tip that even regular Animoto users don’t know! The images in the videos change in synchronization with the music. So, the tempo of the music that you choose, determines the pace of image rotation. For example, love songs have slower, smoother transitions. And rock songs have a higher paced transition. Most options look outstanding, in my opinion.
Here's a great example of an Animoto video that lends itself to photography marketing. For years, the real estate industry has successfully used similar methods to 'display' what they're selling in a way that's convenient for clients, 'virtual tours.' Animoto allows you to make 'virtual tours' for real estate businesses or any other business that want their customers to 'see' what they have for sale. This is a very easy and profitable money making strategy that any photography enthusiast that takes good pictures can implement today. This method can make the money needed to support your photography hobby and passion.
Making videos with Animoto is fun! A lot of fun! And you make great, valuable videos in the process. With even the smallest amount of imagination, any photographer can see their ability to now include photography marketing with video in their bag of photographer tools. Photography is made to be seen. And photography marketing is needed because photos don't sell themselves.
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