Getting a style you'll love
How to steer the look of your music video with light, colour, camera and references, so it looks like one film and not a slideshow.
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A music video looks directed when every shot agrees: the same light, the same palette, the same kind of camera. Your job is to name those three things once. The director keeps them consistent across every keyframe.
Choose the three things
| Choice | Examples |
|---|---|
| Light | Golden hour, harsh noon, neon at night, one practical lamp |
| Palette | Warm oranges and teal, black and white, washed-out pastels |
| Camera | Handheld and close, slow wide pushes, locked-off and still |
Match them to the song. A slow ballad rarely wants fast handheld; a drill track rarely wants soft pastels.
Show, don't describe
A picture says more than a paragraph. Add a photo of the look you want (a film still you love, your cover art, a mood board) as a style reference, and the director matches its palette and light.
Check it on the keyframes
The keyframes are where you judge the style, before the render. If one still is off, fix that shot's description and redraw it. If they're all off, change the words that set the look and redraw.
Consistency beats variety
One strong look held for the whole song feels expensive. A new look every shot feels random.
Go further
- How to choose a visual style for your music video
- What makes a music video look cinematic
- Writing a brief that works