DIY shop videos: A step-by-step guide

Howat emphasized the importance of having someone knowledgeable assist in writing the video script, if it has one.

“You have to work closely with your subject matter experts as you prepare the project,” he said. “We do what’s called a mock-through early in production, where our writers and our SMEs are at the unit. They walk through the procedure, and everyone understands what it’s going to be.”

Another factor to consider is safety. When documenting an entire repair process, it’s essential to adhere to best safety practices not only to keep yourself safe but to avoid liability.

“You need to understand your company’s safety policies and the OSHA requirements around what you do, because that little video has big ripples. You’re sending a message to your associates about how important you think safety is, and your goal is to create a culture of safety,” Howat continued.

Forgetting to put safety glasses back on between takes or leaving sweat on your brow will all be noticeable to the viewer, he explained.

Missy Albin, a technician with Taylor and Lloyd International, concurred, offering that careful thought about the process you want recorded before you even pick up the wrench can streamline filming.

“Definitely go in with a plan,” she said. “If you have a certain job and you know you’re going to be rebuilding something, think about having your camera overhead while you’re rebuilding it. Think about camera placements prior to whatever you’re going into.”

Fix it in post

Your video is shot, but what now? Depending on the goal of your video, you can have from a few minutes to a few hours (for more complex repairs) of raw footage to trim down to a watchable piece of content, and there are a few ways to do this.

Many companies, like Bendix and Diesel Laptops, use paid subscription-based editing software like the applications offered through the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, while other creators use the free software built into platforms like TikTok.

“I would say 99% of [our editing] is done in [Adobe] Premiere Pro or After Effects, or a combination of both of those,” Diesel Laptops’ Heath said, adding that they use a website called Kapwing.com to auto-generate captions.

Free options include iMovie and CapCut, which are user-friendly and can be picked up in minutes. DaVinci Resolve, also free, is more intermediate with a bit of a learning curve, but offers more features and control. All can be solid options, with some requiring more of an initial time investment.

Penske captions their videos for convenience.

“All of our videos are closed captioned because the work environment can be loud,” Howat explained. “We also include the transcripts of some of our videos so they can print them out and keep them for taking notes or their own reference.”

Another thing to consider is that different editing styles are better for certain jobs. For longer repairs, Albin suggested something like a time-lapse video to speed things up for the viewer.

“You can always go in and dub that over with music, or you can talk and explain what you’re doing in those moments,” she offered. “Then that doesn’t interrupt your workflow.”

While editing can entail more detail-oriented processes like color grading, multi-cam sync, and refining audio and lighting, it can also mean simply cutting out dead space in an iPhone clip. The goal is to create a more polished end product.

“I try not to have any boring time in my video,” explained Mike Gaffin, better known as The Boston Trucker on YouTube. “I’ll edit stuff right up to the second, so there’s no lag time where you’re just waiting for something to happen.”

Star search

Another overlooked factor is that someone has to be on camera, and vo-techs aren’t known for their drama clubs.

“These people aren’t actors,” Howat said. “They’re technicians, they’re subject matter experts.”

He offered some strategies for warming up, like tossing a Nerf ball back and forth before filming to get some of those pre-show jitters out, or planning out the first shot with some stage direction.

“We start with movement,” he explained. “Usually, the first shot, they’re walking into frame. It just gives the nervous system a chance to burn off some of that extra energy at the start.”

Not to fear, though, as he emphasized that initial stage fright usually wears off quickly.

“Everyone gets better during the shoot. So if they start off nervous, they will get their feet under them in about five minutes, and then from there, they’re fine,” he continued.

Gaffin had similar thoughts on getting more comfortable in front of the camera, sharing that despite his shyness in public speaking, he can overcome these hesitations when filming himself.

“It’s definitely mental,” he said. “I get in my own head every time. I don’t like the sound of my own voice, I don’t like watching myself back.”

The key is to relax and the audience will follow.

“You’ve got to pretend you’re just having a regular conversation. You’ve got to get out of your own head and not worry about sounding stupid,” he suggested.

Shop to screen

When the final .MP4 file sits in the export folder, the final step is determining where to distribute it. Is the video for onboarding and training purposes? Then maybe it’d be most effective shared internally. But if the objective of the project is to reach a new audience or attract customers, then it needs to go somewhere publicly accessible.

Gaffin’s main focus is YouTube, where his videos average anywhere from 15 minutes to over an hour, but he utilizes Instagram and TikTok to boost and promote his longer work.

Albin said YouTube’s “rules are more difficult to adhere to if you’re making videos on another platform, especially with music,” mentioning potential copyright issues when transferring videos from platform to platform.

Bendix’s approach involves their own site rather than a public outlet.

“Bendix has a successful and popular—over 200,000 users—online education portal, brake-school.com. Most of the videos we create in-house go there and are used by technicians,” Day outlined. “These videos have helped bolster our reputation and establish Bendix as an industry leader when it comes to online training.”

This keeps Bendix’s content consolidated and available to customers while making it easy to get feedback.

“We often hear from techs and mechanics who say how much they like the videos,” Day continued. “When a truck is down, every minute is critical to getting it back on the road, so technicians appreciate that most of our videos are only five to seven minutes and often point them to the supporting technical documents, as applicable.”

National Express’ Rock emphasized the importance of viewer feedback.

“Start small, keep it simple for both the creators and the audience, gain feedback on what worked and didn’t work, and constantly adapt to make the process easier and the end product more beneficial for your audience,” he concluded.

And as Holly Gerke, VP of maintenance training and technical development for Penske Truck Leasing, pointed out, the only way to get input on video content is if people see it.

“We can create content, and we will only get feedback if we put that video somewhere where it’s accessible,” she said, “in a place where it’s useful for whoever it is you’re shooting it for.”

Just hit record

Creating video in-house can bring many benefits to shops and techs, but it’s undeniably difficult to start. However, the best video is the one you make.

“When you go in to edit and to upload it, it comes along with a little bit of humiliation at first, because you’re uncertain,” Albin related.

The process itself is daunting, let alone having to put yourself out there on camera.

“All of that is intimidating, but I think once you break the ice, you get genuine feedback,” she continued. “Sometimes you have to sift through the comments, but there are wonderful people out there who enjoy this type of content.”

Sometimes the best way in is to “just throw it out there,” Diesel Laptops’ Heath recommended.

“At the beginning, you’re going to suck, and only over time can you improve,” he said. “My two tips would be: one, start recording, get out there, and two, be consistent with it.”