Creating your first video can be a daunting experience, and this week’s guest has to do it in front of the entire The Visual Lounge audience! In this week’s episode, we’re joined by return guest Kassy LaBorie, Founder and Principal Consultant at Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC., as she navigates the ins and outs of creating her own video. Matt takes her through some editing basics, such as cutting, adding all sorts of media to her finished video, and even how to pick some accompanying music. Kassy...
Jul 20, 2022•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 129
Looking to take your video and image content to the next level? Well, you’re in the right place! Matt Pierce, Learning and Video Ambassador at TechSmith, is joined by eight industry experts on this episode of The Visual Lounge. From embracing video imperfections to keeping things consistent and double-checking image attributions, these guests have a lot of helpful advice to offer. Joining this episode are: Andy Owen, Social Engagement and Video Manager at TechSmith Tricia Ransom, Senior Learning...
Jul 13, 2022•57 min•Ep. 128
Mistakes – everyone makes them, but most of the time we try to hide them. What should we be doing instead? Acknowledging that we’re not perfect while looking for ways ‘level up’ in every single video we make. That’s why in this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce, Learning & Video Ambassador, explores the six top mistakes he still makes in his videos. Matt doesn’t just point out the blunders, he also gives clear and precise steps on how to tackle them. So, if you find yourself making t...
Jul 06, 2022•43 min•Ep. 127
Getting started with video creation? Then one of the most basic things you need to master is how to choose the right types of videos and images to get your message across. With that in mind, Matt Pierce, Learning and Video Ambassador at TechSmith, talks about the ABCs of making videos in this episode of The Visual Lounge. As he tells us, video creation isn’t as hard as some people make it out to be. But there are some key decisions that can either make or break the final product. Learn the secre...
Jun 29, 2022•58 min•Ep. 126
Camtasia 2022 unlocks even more great features and capabilities than ever before. Joe Dearman, User Experience, and Brooks Andrus, Product Technical Manager at TechSmith, hopped on to this episode of The Visual Lounge to share their favorite features, what to expect from Camtasia 2022, how its “epic cursors” work, and much more. Joe and Brooks take us behind the scenes of Camtasia’s development and how this new iteration aims to help video creators level up their content. Find out what new featu...
Jun 22, 2022•59 min•Ep. 125
Introducing video content to your arsenal is not an easy task. It’s a gradual procedure, and mistakes will certainly be made along the way. But that’s OK. In this episode, master virtual trainer Kassy LaBorie joins Matt Pierce on The Visual Lounge for a step-by-step tutorial on how to create her first video for her business. From the early planning stages to nailing your script (or deciding whether you need one), Matt and Kassy discuss how to navigate the basics when stepping into the world of v...
Jun 15, 2022•59 min•Ep. 124
Video creation skills aren’t “built in a day.” Like everything else worth learning, it's a gradual process that you’ve got to embrace every step of the way. To share the story behind his stellar video creation skills, Jeff Batt, Learning & Development Specialist and Founder of Learning Dojo, joins The Visual Lounge. He takes us back in time to where it all started to talk about his humble beginnings in video creation. Jeff also explains his production process and shares some insightful advic...
Jun 08, 2022•54 min•Ep. 123
Whether you’re an L&D professional, video creator, or a software developer, your industry has probably been bitten by the hybrid work bug in one way or the other. This isn’t a challenge we can master overnight, but all it takes is the right information to get you moving in the right direction. Michelle Massey, VP of Community Outreach and Customer Operations at TechSmith, joins Matt on this episode to share some practical steps and advice that make for a more wholesome hybrid work environmen...
Jun 01, 2022•54 min•Ep. 122
Microphones, lights, and cameras —the trifecta of good video creation. But this time, we’re focusing on lighting and all the amazing things it can do for your videos. Here’s the thing about lighting, it doesn’t just affect picture quality. It also sets the mood and tone for any video you’re creating. So, if you’re looking for pointers on how to use camera lighting to your advantage, this episode of The Visual Lounge is a good place to start. Matt Pierce, TechSmith’s Learning and Video Ambassador...
May 25, 2022•39 min•Ep. 121
Leveling up your videos is sometimes all about getting back to basics. When creating live training or pre-recorded learning content, there’s one question you should ask yourself - what is your on-camera presence like? In the learning industry, your on-camera presence is key to getting your message across. But what if you’re not a natural in front of the camera? Don’t worry, the truth is most people aren’t. If you want to learn how to improve your on-camera image, we’ve got just the episode of Th...
May 18, 2022•50 min•Ep. 120
When it comes to creating learning video content, the key to success is in how engaging it is. A video can have all the right information and be clear and comprehensive, but unless it’s compelling, it can fall flat with the viewer. A compelling video keeps viewers engaged, and that means any message you want to convey is much more likely to stick. But what’s the secret to creating compelling instructional videos? Mark Lassoff, Video Instructor and Founder of Tech Learning Network, is on The Visu...
May 11, 2022•51 min•Ep. 119
Communication is a natural part of everyday life, and yet most people don’t consider how they communicate. Whether it’s internal team communication or communication with customers and clients, it’s easy for mixed messages and confusion to crop up. The solution? Build a communication strategy. That’s Jesse Lahey’s, Co-founder and Strategic Partner at Workforce Communication, secret for communication success. Jesse joins The Visual Lounge to break down his strategies and frameworks for communicati...
May 04, 2022•51 min•Ep. 118
Are you ready to upgrade your microphone but aren’t sure where to start in the complex world of audio equipment and microphones? You’re in luck. This episode of The Visual Lounge is all about audio – how to pick the best equipment, how to use it correctly, mistakes to watch out for, and much more. Host Matt Pierce has some helpful need-to-know tips and even tests some of the most popular microphones on the market. Learning points from the episode include: 1:28 – 2:38 How much should you spend on...
Apr 27, 2022•55 min•Ep. 117
Are demos a necessary tool in L&D? Well, according to Troy Stein, TechSmith’s VP of Customer Advocacy, they’re super vital. He joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain why and share some tips on how to do demos the right way. The way Troy sees it, demos are to instructional videos what trailers are to movies. They don’t just give a sneak peek into what’s coming, they also pique the viewer's interest and make them want to know more. But there are key elements that need to be on poin...
Apr 20, 2022•51 min•Ep. 116
How do you balance aesthetics and helpfulness when creating videos? Diane Elkins, the Co-owner of Artisan E-Learning and E-Learning Uncovered, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to discuss. Diane is a national e-learning expert. She’s in the business of helping people create courses they can be proud of —and visual aids happen to play a big part. It’s not simply about creating visuals that look great. They also have to be purposeful, offer value, and complement the rest of your content. For...
Apr 13, 2022•57 min•Ep. 115
Want to take your video editing skill to the next level (we’re talking ‘coloring outside the line ' levels)? Then this episode has your name on it. Cristi Cotovan joins The Visual Lounge to take us through some of the ‘out of the box’ work he’s been doing on Camtasia. Cristi is a video editor, educational content creator, developer, and Founder of Design Catchup and Graphicious. One of his superpowers is having a “visual brain,” and that certainly comes in handy in his line of work. One of...
Apr 06, 2022•58 min•Ep. 114
Creating videos can be a work-intensive process – especially when you’re doing everything from scratch. But it doesn’t have to take eons to come up with a well-rounded video, and that’s what Andy Owen, the Social Engagement and Video Manager at TechSmith, discusses in this episode of The Visual Lounge. As Andy explains, recreating every element of your video from scratch is just not practical as your career progresses, it’s important for content creators to embrace the efficiency that comes with...
Mar 30, 2022•57 min•Ep. 113
Storytelling can be a powerful tool in the L&D community. But, as it is with most tools, you need to know how to use it to get the desired end result. That’s what Hadiya Nuriddin, Learning Strategist, speaker, and CEO of Duets Learning, explores on this episode of The Visual Lounge. Hadiya doesn’t just have a wealth of experience developing and delivering both technical and professional development courses, she’s an advocate for storytelling. She believes that the right stories can deliver c...
Mar 23, 2022•54 min•Ep. 112
What can learning and development professionals learn from marketing experts? That’s the question we tackle in this episode of The Visual Lounge featuring Danielle Wallace, Chief Learning Strategist from Beyond the Sky. Danielle specializes in coming up with innovative ways to infuse marketing into training to create learning content that sticks . Believe it or not, we can learn so much from marketing teams, especially when it comes to identifying learner (or consumer) personas, defining the con...
Mar 16, 2022•46 min•Ep. 111
With the world shifting more into virtual spaces, live events are becoming the order of the day. If you’re in the L&D community, it’s probably time to think about ways to manage your time, space, tech and everything in between. To speak more on how to own your virtual training space, Kassy LaBorie, the Founder of Kassy LaBorie Consulting, LLC and virtual classroom master trainer, joined The Visual Lounge. Kassy is the “Original Virtual Training Hero" and is in the business of helping people ...
Mar 09, 2022•56 min•Ep. 110
What makes graphics click with your audience? Is it your skill level, the finer details like color or shape, or could it be something else altogether? While those things definitely contribute to the success of your graphics, you could still end up producing graphics that just don’t work even if you have the skills to show for it. Mike Parkinson, author and Founder of Billion Dollar Graphics, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain what it takes to make graphics that work. He explains ...
Mar 02, 2022•49 min•Ep. 109
Using stories to make more impactful videos is not a new idea. But it’s an overlooked part of video creation, especially when it comes to tutorials or corporate videos. But storytelling isn’t just for the fun, creative videos out there. Even if you’re creating a video tutorial about car insurance, injecting a little storytelling can go a long way in hitting your primary video goal – connecting with your audience. Andrew Kan, filmmaker, storyteller, and YouTube creator, joined The Visual Lounge t...
Feb 23, 2022•49 min•Ep. 108
What’s the secret to the perfect video editing workflow? Same as for many great questions we hear, the true answer is that it depends. But it all depends on you . Building a workflow that’s efficient, doesn’t cut corners, and saves time can take a while to figure out, especially if you’re new to it all. But once you’ve figured out what works for you, you can start to level up your videos and fine-tune your craft. The Visual Lounge host Matt Pierce breaks down a sample video editing workflow that...
Feb 16, 2022•46 min•Ep. 107
How do people really learn? As an instructional designer or learning and development professional, understanding how people learn helps you deliver training that hits the nail on the head. It’s more complicated than learning styles or picking video over written instructions. In fact, there’s a whole science behind it. Clark Quinn, Executive Director of Quinnovation, joins this episode of The Visual Lounge to impart some words of wisdom and share his knowledge on the science of learning. He takes...
Feb 09, 2022•50 min•Ep. 106
It may be considered the most basic part of editing, but there’s nothing basic about a cut. Cuts can be powerful tools in the hands of anyone who knows how to wield them. They don’t just make videos look way cooler, they bring an extra dash of clarity, brevity, and seamlessness to the table. In this episode of The Visual Lounge, Matt Pierce takes us through some handy cutting techniques as well as how to use them on Camtasia or any other video editing tool. This is a great episode to sink your t...
Feb 02, 2022•56 min•Ep. 105
Are you ready to level up your video creation skills this year? Whether you’ve been creating videos for the past month or several years, there’s always room for improvement to make your content the best it can possibly be. Matt Pierce, host of The Visual Lounge, breaks down some ways to hone your skills, improve your videos, and level up for 2022. If you want to make 2022 your year for video, start by tuning in to this episode. Learning points from the episode include: Why you...
Jan 26, 2022•49 min•Ep. 104
Snagit 2022 is here! And it comes packed with brand new and updated features to help instructional designers, L&D professionals, and anyone who wants to create video level up their content. To explain more about what’s new on Snagit and why, TechSmith’s Chris Larson, Technical Product Manager and Daniel Foster, Strategy Manager, joined The Visual Lounge to give us a breakdown. Chris currently works remotely with an amazing development team dedicated to Snagit. He’s a graduate of Michigan Sta...
Jan 12, 2022•59 min•Ep. 103
What’s new in the world of instructional and informational video? If you’re in the business of creating videos, having the latest research and stats at hand is always important. Luckily, we’ve got you covered. We’ve just released our 2021 Video Viewer Study – a collaboration between TechSmith and Dr. Jane Bozarth, Director of Research at The Learning Guild. We publish this study every year, but this time, we invited Jane to help us out as an unbiased third party. Jane joined this special episode...
Jan 05, 2022•1 hr•Ep. 102
Thank You for Listening Just a quick end-of-the-year episode to say thank you and to share with you some of the things we have learned. I asked a few of my TechSmith friends and colleagues to share so of their takeaways about visuals and images this year. We'll be back with full episodes in 2022 and look forward to continuing the conversations in The Visual Lounge. Share What You've Learned We'd love to hear from you! What have you learned from The Visual Lounge this year? Who was your favorite ...
Dec 20, 2021•4 min•Ep. 101
Your video and workplace media can have a big impact on users, but is it affecting everyone in the same way? Understanding how your media choices represent people and their experiences can help you select more diverse and inclusive images and videos that impact everyone more effectively. Jess Jackson, Racial Equity Strategist, and Megan Torrance, CEO, both of TorranceLearning, join this episode of The Visual Lounge to explain how to incorporate a diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB...
Dec 15, 2021•58 min•Ep. 100
