Your employees are more than just signatures on an e-mail or faces in a meeting. They're stories, experiences and unique talents. And video portraits reveal all this human potential in just a few minutes.
Today, inspiring communication is all about authenticity. By putting your teams on screen, you give your company a face, create links and humanize your brand. The result? Greater internal cohesion and a stronger brand image with your partners and customers.
In this article, find out why video portraits are a powerful way of boosting your internal communications. Ideas, tips, concrete feedback... It's up to you to give a voice to the people who make your company tick!
What is a video portrait?
A video portrait puts the spotlight on an employee by capturing his or her role, story and personality within the company. This format allows employees to share their experience, their missions and their vision of their profession.
The aim of a video portrait goes beyond a simple presentation. It's about humanizing the brand, strengthening internal bonds and instilling a sense of pride and belonging among teams. Externally, it's a powerful way of presenting your values and attracting like-minded talent.
Short and dynamic, this type of video provides a concrete illustration of your employees' expertise and commitment, while bringing your company's story to life.
What are the benefits of video portraits for your company?
Video portraits bring tangible benefits for internal cohesion, brand image and even talent attraction. Here are their main benefits.
Strengthen team cohesion and commitment
- Highlighting roles and talents: video portraits reveal the contributions made by each employee, often unrecognized outside their department. They give teams a better understanding of each other's roles, and highlight the specific talents that make up the company;
- Creating a sense of belonging: by putting your employees in the spotlight, you show them that they are an important part of your organization. This feeling of recognition strengthens their commitment, involvement and motivation.
Facilitating the integration of your new recruits
- Introducing teams and corporate culture: video portraits offer newcomers an immersive introduction to their future colleagues. They discover not only their faces and roles, but also the company's values and atmosphere;
- Speed uponboarding: thanks to these videos, new employees integrate more quickly. They have a better understanding of how things work, and feel connected to their teams right from the start.
Improve your employer brand
- Attract new talent: video portraits show an authentic, rewarding work environment. By highlighting your teams and your values, you'll attract talent who share your aspirations;
- Reinforce brand image: these videos demonstrate your company's transparency and authenticity. They project a positive image to employees, customers and partners alike.
- Create natural ambassadors: when your employees proudly share their portrait on social networks, they become your first ambassadors. Their enthusiasm and pride reinforce your credibility and visibility with a wider audience.
Steps for creating a quality video portrait
Creating a compelling video portrait takes time. Every step, from preparation to final editing, must be mastered to guarantee a professional result. Here's a detailed guide to help you along the way.
1# Preparation: laying solid foundations
First of all, you need to determine your objective. Why make this video portrait?Do you want to showcase an in-house talent?Strengthen your employer brand?Orpresent alittle-knownrole? A clear vision from the outset will enable you to structure your project effectively.
Next, you'll need to choose the employee you'd like to interview. For this, choose a profile that is representative and motivated to share their experience. This could be a technical expert, a passionate ambassador or even a new employee with a fresh perspective on the company.
Once you've found your interviewee, help him or her prepare a little. Not everyone is comfortable in front of a camera. So take the time to reassure and brief the interviewee. Give them an idea of the questions being asked, and let them take ownership of the key messages. Spontaneity andauthenticity should always come first, but a little preparation goes a long way.
2# Shooting: capturing the essence of the portrait
To best reflect your company's identity and the interviewee's role, choose the location andenvironment carefully. A well-lit office, a workshop in action or a convivial space are all settings that can enrich your story. Make sure the background is clean and free of unnecessary distractions.
You also need to control light and sound. Good lighting, whether natural or artificial, highlights facial features and avoids unsightly shadows. As for sound, choose lapel or directional microphones to capture a clear voice and avoid extraneous noise. These technical elements have a direct influence on the perceived quality of your video.
You don't necessarily need expensive cameras : a recent smartphone combined with accessories such as a stabilizer may suffice. If your budget allows, a professional camera offers better image quality. Don't forget the essentials: tripod, LED lighting and a neutral background if necessary.
3# Post-production: fine-tuning and enhancing the rendering
Editing is where everything comes to life. Cut lengths, organize sequences and highlight highlights. Make sure the narrative remains fluid and coherent.
You can also integrate music and graphic elements. Well-chosen music adds an emotional dimension to your portrait. As for graphics (names, titles, logos), they add a professional touch and make it easier to understand. Keep the design sober, however, so as not to distract from the main message.
And to top it all off, don't forget to subtitle your video portrait. This will make it accessible to a wider audience, especially those who watch without sound or have special needs. Plus, it boosts engagement, especially on social networks.
For impeccable results, call in the experts!
Whether you want to shoot on location with professional equipment or transform your rushes into a finalized, impactful video, we're there. Our 48-hour editing service guarantees polished content ready to impress your audience.
Best practices for maximizing the impact of video portraits
A successful video portrait relies on more than just its execution; its strength lies in the details that make it memorable. Here are the best practices to integrate so that your video portraits reach their full potential.
Prioritizing authenticity and transparency
Viewers connect better with true, heartfelt stories. Encourage your employees to be themselves, without trying to play a role. Naturalness creates a strong emotional connection with the audience, whether customers, partners or other team members.
💡 Tip:
Ask your employees to share a personal anecdote or an important moment in their career. This humanizes their testimony and reflects your company's culture.
Telling a captivating story with storytelling
A video portrait is more than just a list of facts. Turn it into an engaging story: a catchy beginning to capture attention, a development that explores the collaborator's background or role, and a conclusion that leaves a lasting impression.
💡 Tip:
Connect the employee's individual story to that of your company. For example, how do their contributions reflect your values or contribute to your successes?
Optimum duration
Viewers' attention quickly wanes. Keep your video portraits concise and punchy. For most formats, 1 to 3 minutes is enough. This allows you to convey the essentials while keeping your audience captivated.
💡 Tip:
If the content exceeds 3 minutes, consider dividing it into shorter capsules to maintain interest. These formats are ideal for social networks.
Planning strategic distribution
Adapt distribution to your target audience. Video portraits can be placed on your website to showcase your teams, on your social networks to reach a wider audience, or on your intranet to motivate your staff.
And don't forget to define a publication schedule. Regularity plays a key role. Integrate your portraits into an editorial calendar to maintain constant visibility and avoid the "one shot" effect.
💡 Tip:
Plan your publications around special events: onboarding, recruitment campaigns or internal events.
Some examples of video portraits
Kohler: an authentic look at a technical profession
In a dedicated video, Kohler puts the spotlight on Capucine, a high-powered production operator, to present her role and daily routine within the company.
Video highlights:
- The questions appear on the screen before each answer, making the video fluid and easy to understand;
- Shots alternate between Capucine speaking on camera and immersive footage of her working alone or as part of a team;
- Capucine shares her attachment to the job, the quality of her training, her interactions with her colleagues and supervisor, and concludes on a positive note by saying that Kohler is a"great place to work".
This video offers a human and empowering image of Kohler, ideal for attracting new talent and reinforcing internal commitment by demonstrating the company's excellence and positive atmosphere.
Hitachi: giving work-study students a voice
In this video, Hitachi puts the spotlight on Baptiste and Camille, work-study students at the company. They describe their career path, their assignments and how the company supports them in their apprenticeship.
Video highlights:
- Baptiste and Camille talk about the support of their teams, who offer them both autonomy and guidance, thus encouraging their professional development;
- The pictures of the work-study students in action show the diversity and interest of the assignments offered by Hitachi:
- These testimonials reflect a corporate culture focused on developing talent and passing on knowledge.
Hitachi is demonstrating its commitment to training and apprenticeship, which attracts young, dynamic profiles while enhancing the value of existing teams.
These two examples highlight the versatility of video portraits. They don't just inform, but create an emotional connection with the audience, reinforcing brand image and employee pride.
Highlight your teams with video portraits
Video portraits are a powerful way of enhancing the value of your employees, reinforcing internal cohesion and embodying your values in the eyes of your audience. By giving your teams a voice, you humanize your communications while creating engaging content that inspires and unites.
Whether you want to motivate your teams, share your corporate culture or attract new talent, these videos fit perfectly into a modern communications strategy .
Would you like to create video portraits that live up to your ambitions? We're here to support you with professional shooting and 48-hour editing services. Contact us today to turn your ideas into unforgettable videos.
