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ON-CAMERA GUIDE
HOW TO LOOK GREAT ON CAMERA
Four things to get right before we start. Get these and you will look like you meant to be there.
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The wide frame is how you should see yourself on screen: landscape, with your eyes on the orange line.
1
EYES ON THE TOP LINE
Your eyes sit about one third of the way down the screen, not in the middle. Look at the camera lens, not at yourself.
2
A LITTLE ROOM ABOVE
Leave a small gap above your head. Too much empty space makes you look small. Cutting off the top of your head feels tight.
3
HEAD AND SHOULDERS
Frame from the top of your head to about mid-chest. Sit back far enough that your hands can move into the shot.
4
STAY CENTERED
Line your face up with the center of the frame. If you lean in your chair, check that you are still in the shot.
SET UP IN TWO MINUTES
- Go wide. On a phone, turn it sideways so the screen is wider than it is tall. Wide matches YouTube and the podcast video.
- Camera at eye level. Prop a laptop on a stack of books or use a stand. Looking down into the lens is not your best angle.
- Light in front of you. Face a window or a lamp. Do not sit with a window behind you, or you turn into a silhouette.
- Quiet room. Close the door, silence notifications, and wear headphones if you have them. They cut echo.
- Plug in and hold still. Charge your device, and set your phone on a stand or a stack of books instead of holding it.
- Simple background. A plain wall or a tidy shelf is plenty.
Questions? Just reply to my email. Choosing audio only or private? Framing is optional for you.
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