Lights, Layers, Action: Four Video Tips for the Holiday Season

Don’t leave your visuals out in the cold – learn how to capture video magic!

With the summer festival season but a small speck in the distance, now is the moment to set the tone for the most wonderful time of the year! The holiday music business is a well-oiled machine – one that artists must learn to navigate if they hope to enjoy a lucrative (and delicious) piece of the pie. 

According to Spotify, festive streaming habits go completely global by the end of November, marking the official start of holiday listening. These insights can inform campaign strategies that last long after the season ends. That’s why it's key for indies to ready their message during this pivotal time of year, engaging fans and reaching new listeners across the globe. 

So grab a mug, press ‘Record,’ and gather ‘round the fire! Here are our four tips for creating video content that will help you sharpen your promotional strategy during the holiday season.

1. Lean into the Mood

When it comes to directing your music video, the best thing about the season’s aesthetics is that it does half the work for you. Picture misty mornings, the cinematic crunch of leaves underfoot, or the rising sun against a snow-filled horizon. Pick a mood that aligns with your vision (melancholy, hopeful, haunted, romantic?) and let your location follow suit.

With the sun setting a little earlier, these upcoming months offer up their own rhythm: soft, slanted rays of daylight, and frosty, breath-filled shadows by nightfall. Use the natural cadence of the season to remember that stillness has power. Let the camera linger. Let moments breathe.          

✅ ROTOR RECOMMENDS: Need a little help injecting that seasonal atmosphere? Start your music video on Rotor Videos, and lean into the calm, cinematic flare of our "Super 8" and "Film" styles. Each one comes with its own vivid and detailed description, guiding you towards visuals that match your creative direction.

2. Strip it Back & Slow it Down

Sometimes the most powerful long-form visuals are the simplest: a single subject and a clear emotional arc. This is a great time for themes like walking through moments of change, sitting in reflection, or leaving something behind. If you’re looking for some inspiration, reimagine a previously released track as a stripped-back take. Or, give your fans a gift exclusive to the season, like covering timeless songs or filming homey behind-the-scenes content. Whether you’re performing in your room, a studio, or out in nature, intimate arrangements pair well with subtlety.

✅ ROTOR RECOMMENDS: Once you’ve chosen your style, dial in that stripped-back, slowed-down energy. Head into “Moods” in our clip library, and filter for “Chill” or “Calm” to find ready-to-use shots that bring your mellow moment to life.

Don’t let the end-of-year savings slip away! Until November 30th, use code THANKS20 to elevate your next release to new heights – for less.

3. Mix Performance & Narrative

A great music video doesn’t have to choose between performance and narrative. The sweet spot is when the two weave together, both adding layers, keeping viewers engaged, and giving your audience more ways to connect with your song. 

You might cut between shots of you singing in a snow-covered alleyway, and a short visual sequence of you walking home after a show. Or, you could alternate between playing in a warm-lit studio and scenes of a relationship quietly fading, told through small gestures and settings. The performance shots keep the focus on your artistry, while the narrative moments pull your audience into the feeling of the song – creating an experience both cinematic and personal.

✅ ROTOR RECOMMENDS: Got your clips ready? Simply drag each shot into the order you want them to appear. Shuffle things around, try fresh combinations, and lock in your perfect sequence. It's all about crafting your story, your way.

4. Film Now, Use Later

Even if you’re not ready to drop your next release, shoot now while the scenery is rich and versatile. Get wide shots, close-ups and movement of the same setup. This gives you maximum flexibility when editing, and lets you build multiple videos from one session. 

Keep those shots in your back-pocket for a visualizer, teaser or lyric video to ensure that intimate details (like hands on a guitar, or a sentimental gaze that moves through the chorus) continue to add emotion and texture. Remember to shoot both horizontally (for YouTube) and vertically (for TikTok, Reels, and Stories), so that you can adapt your content for any platform without missing any of the action with awkward cropping.

✅ ROTOR RECOMMENDS: Don’t forget – even after rendering, you can still fine-tune your video! Add text overlays or filters, resize, and trim as needed. You can also duplicate your project to edit your style, or switch up your clips.

As the sounds of the season begin to take centre stage, we hope you found some inspiration for your next visual campaign! By leaning into what makes this time of year special, you can create visuals that enhance experience, build your brand, and strike a chord from platform to platform.

That’s a wrap on this month’s post! 2025 might slowly be winding down, but we're still dropping our best tips and tricks! Next, get ready to frame the future, fuel your inspiration, and build your moodboard – with Rotor Videos by your side.

Catch us in December,

The Rotor Videos Team