A simple instruction for recording the best quality video message is:
- Adjusted camera to the highest available resolution.
- A good light on your face but avoiding high exposure in the background.
- A good sound quality by using a simple earphone mic.
- And, finally, the right hight level of camera in respect to your eyes.
These are the most important elements you need.
The description below is a curtesy of tutsplus that we found helpful for those who want further assistance on how to record their short video messages for Kalima Horra show.
… Why do so many webcam shots look like garbage? I’m not talking about technical quality, like whether the camera is recording high definition video. I’m talking about the framing of the shot. Here’s a textbook example:
Yikes! Look at all that wasted space above the woman’s head. The framing on this shot is distracting because it just looks…wrong.
Most of us don’t intuitively know how to frame ourselves for video. And why would we? Unless you’re a film major or a TV journalist, you’re not exactly learning this in school.
Here are four common mistakes seen in webcam selfies, along with some simple (and free!) fixes for making your shot look more flattering and professional:
1. Use a Little Less Head Room
When most people sit down in front of a webcam, they position themselves so their head is smack dab in the middle of the screen (if they give any thought to it at all).
Instinctively, this just looks off. There’s too much empty space above my head. In industry speak, there’s too much head room.
Head room refers to the amount of space between the top of your head and the top of the frame. Put too much and you’ll look small and insignificant. Put too little (or none) and it will look like your head is stuck to the top of the screen.
Here’s the secret to getting the right amount of head room. Imagine a “tic tac toe” grid laid over top of your screen. Instead of placing the your head in the centre square, put your eyes along that imaginary top third line of the tic tac toe grid. Make sure you can see your shoulders in the shot.
Doesn’t that look a lot better? Now I have the correct amount of head room.
This type of head-and-shoulders shot is ideal for communication. Any further away, and you start to lose that personal contact. And if you move too close to the camera, it gets uncomfortable for the viewer
2. Raise the Webcam Up to Eye Level
I don’t know about you, but I don’t enjoy looking up people’s noses. Low camera angles are not flattering to anyone—they just make your face look jowly and distorted (and who wants that?).
This isn’t usually a problem with desktop computers. Their webcams are roughly at eye level when we sit in front of them. But laptops on a table or desk are lower, and we have to look down into the camera’s lens.
The solution is simple: bring that webcam up to your eye level, or even slightly above. Try stacking a few books underneath your laptop, or lowering your chair.
Voilà: no more double chin! (or ceiling shots).
3. Light it Right
The only thing worse that looking up someone’s nose is not being able to see their face at all. This can happen when a window or bright light is behind you—you become backlit.
Without getting too technical here, your webcam detects the amount of light and increases or reduces the exposure to produce an image that’s, on average, not to bright or not too dark. If you set up with a bright light behind you, however, the camera will see that big bright light and lower the exposure level overall to compensate. As result, you’ll end up looking like you’re in a witness protection program: shrouded in shadow. Yikes.
If possible, position your computer so you’re facing a window to take advantage of the natural light coming in. My office has an ideal set up:
If there’s no window or it’s dark outside, you need to turn on some lights. Overhead lights are better than none, but this kind of lighting isn’t always flattering. A better solution, if you’re at home, is to set a lamp on either side of your computer to provide a soft, even light. If you make webcam video frequently, it’s worth looking into buying or making yourself something dedicated for the purpose. It doesn’t need to be fancy or expensive to be effective.
If that’s not bright enough, try removing the lamp shade. Experiment! It doesn’t matter what kind of light you use—just make sure it’s in front or slightly to the side of you, not behind.
4. Simplify the Background
Messy closets. Cluttered bookshelves. Laundry on the couch. I’ve seen it all in the background of webcam shots. Your friends and family may not care, but if you’re hosting a webinar or video blogging for business, you need to clean up your act (so to speak).
You want people to focus on you, not what’s going on behind you. So keep the background as simple and uncluttered as possible.
If you’re using a laptop, you have a lot of flexibility to move around and experiment with different locations. Choose a clean, bright wall. Avoid bookshelves or walls with lots of paintings or posters. Close any doors that might be in the background.
Next Steps
So just to recap, here’s what you should do before your next webcast:
- Position your body for a head and shoulders shot. Put your eyes on that imaginary top third line of a tic-tac-toe grid.
- Make sure your webcam is at eye level or slightly above.
- Add light by sitting near a window or adding lamps.
- Clean up any clutter in the background!
