Look Better on Camera, Podcaster! Here's How.
There are plenty of moves we can make to look better on camera. Some of these are free and take 30 seconds. Check it out! 👇
Head size and placement: This is one of the easiest fixes that makes a world of difference. I’ve seen too many folks looking like a fishing bobber with their head at the very bottom of the screen. Quick fix: Tilt your camera so that you are looking straight into the camera (not looking down or up at your camera). Place your head in the top third of the frame with your eyes at about the 2/3s way up line. Grab a quick Google search for this one. It’s going to make a huge difference in your podcast episode recordings and short-form video content.
Background: Make sure your background is simple, professional, and not distracting. It’s okay to have some relevant books and maybe some relevant branded or aesthetic items in your background. Avoid very busy or unprofessional backgrounds. You can blur your background or create your own digital background, but that throws off a very “Zoom call” vibe as opposed to having a nice, simple, and professional background. Generally speaking, less is more.
Lighting: Speaking of background, one thing to absolutely avoid in your background is lighting - AKA, backlighting. Natively being an audio nerd myself, I’m not the go-to guy for lighting advice, but I can tell you that proper lighting is very important for professional video. Natural lighting can be nice for short-form video, but it can be detrimental for long-form video, such as podcasting, because the inconsistency of incoming sunlight can make for a very unreliable and unprofessional light source. A quick ring light is likely going to help, but grabbing a couple of softbox lights is going to offer a big upgrade by adding pleasant and evenly-distributed lighting to your set.
Camera: The camera(s) you use will depend on the type of episodes you’ll be doing. Are you doing remote interviews and/or in-person interviews? A quick upgrade is ditching your old webcam and replacing it with your smartphone’s camera. Apple iPhone uses Continuity Camera, and I know there’s an equivalent for Android. A stand like this attaches right to your laptop. The next level up would be using DSLR or proper video cameras, which might not be as costly as you’d think. I bet you can grab a solid setup for under $1000. The Sony ZVE10 and the 16mm lens kit is most commonly mentioned in the podcasting space.
Props: You’ll want to be strategic with in-hand, on-desk, and background props while filming. Don’t rely too much on props or any sort of visual elements while recording a podcast episode for the simple fact that many podcast consumers still listen as opposed to watching your episodes, especially while doing things like…you know…driving (please don’t watch and drive). But having your own book or some interesting items in frame can be a plus. Another bonus mention is a custom microphone tag or custom wrapping of your mic with your brand colors/logo.
“Where should I look?” This is a common question with varying answers. It can be tricky, but the general consensus is to look directly into the camera, most of the time as if you were conversing with a person, and the camera represents their eyes. There are webcam attachments and software that help in real-time and afterward for eye contact improvement or correction that may be worth looking into. Of course, if you’re in an in-person interview, in many cases it’ll make more sense to be looking at the other person/people in the room with you, depending on the setup.
Video quality: Let’s start here: In most cases, unless you’re filming an indie film, 1080p is going to be the sweet spot. Even 720p can cut it in many cases, but please don’t go below this resolution level. As far as remote recording, software such as Riverside.fm is going to be a BIG upgrade in video quality from Zoom - for both long and short-form purposes.
“What should I wear?” Be careful with hats that may cast shadows depending lighting. Shiny jewelry may also reflect off the lighting. Depending on the recording setup, certain colors or clothing patterns may also cause issues. Along with your background, recording setting, and props, what you wear is also communicating your brand image.
Depth perception: One more quick tip. Think of your camera’s depth perception. If your mic is closer to the camera than your face or if you move your hands around a lot, and closer to the camera, the camera’s autofocus may be tempted to zoom in on the mic or your hands. Incorrect or low lighting may also confuse your camera/webcam’s autofocus to grab onto incorrect items, such as your mic or hands.
There you have it, podcaster, a crash course in video podcasting brought to you by an audio engineer by training. At any rate, I dropped some good nuggets here. Drop an email if I missed anything or if you need a hand with your setup. I’m here to help!
Happy Podcasting,
Zack
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