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Video recording tips

The tips below will help you self-record video from any location using any camera, including phone cameras.

  •  This video from EduCause is full of good advice and fun to watch.

    Recording

  • Please make sure that your camera (be it an iPhone, Android device, laptop, or SLR style camera) is set to record in a 16:9 LANDSCAPE orientation—that means horizontal, not vertical, video capture.
  • Please make sure that your camera is capturing audio at a comfortable and adequate level.
    • Speak clearly and comfortably.
      • Project your voice at a conversational and 2–3 foot volume, don’t shout.
      • Enunciate clearly and speak at a comfortable pace, don’t try to rush your responses to any prompts or questions.
    • Remember to speak thoughtfully and deliberately.
  • Use a tripod or other stable object to hold your camera!
    • If you have to, tape your phone to something solid so it doesn’t move. Don’t worry, the tape won’t hurt your phone! Just be sure not to tape over the camera lens that you’re using.
  • Don’t be afraid of “messing up!” 
    • You can retake or restart a sentence or phrase as many times as you need to. 
    • It’s our job to edit the footage and make you look flawless, so don’t worry about BEING flawless.

    Wardrobe

  • Please make sure to not wear any tight patterns like pinstripes, houndstooth, or other tight weaves or plaids, these show up as moire patterns on camera.

Lighting

  • Use a large, even light source to give yourself the most flattering lighting possible, like a large window. 
    • You can have a light behind you, as long as the strongest light source is in front of you. 
    • Small lights cast uneven shadows across the face and chest, neck and chin and can make you look angry or sad because of the shadows on your face and neck.
    • Natural light is best.
      • Incandescent and incandescent-like LED bulbs are balanced to a warmer tone, which can make you look unnaturally yellowish on camera.

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