As a talent under these bright lights, it's best if you can completely forget about your appearance and focus on being yourself. Consider the following top tips for better look.
Apparel
When it comes to dressing for a shoot, solid colors are always a good bet. In fact, we have a whole rack of plain t-shirts in our office in all different sizes, ready for anyone to wear. Try to avoid large logos, wrinkled clothing or tight patterns, as these can all be visually distracting to the viewer.
When choosing your look, remember that a suit and tie will send a different message than a ripped t-shirt. Also remember that when you feel comfortable, you look comfortable. There's no point in overdoing your outfit if it means you can't breathe or relax properly.
Ultimately, look should be based on your brand and whatever message you're trying to convey in your video. There are no hard and fast rules. When you start shooting, make sure your subject's jewelry isn't making noise. Metal bracelets can be a nightmare for sound!
Makeup
If you are preparing for a role in a video, do what you would normally do on a normal day. In our humble opinion, the best makeup in videos is makeup that viewers don't even notice. Getting in front of the camera is already quite intimidating for non-actors, and asking people to put on makeup for a video can add another layer of unfamiliarity.
We do not require any of our subjects to wear makeup for our corporate videos. But then again, if you're the one to step into those bright lights, then that's up to you! If you feel more comfortable in front of the camera after applying powder and mascara, by all means go for it. The most important thing is that you feel like yourself. If you go with a look that's completely different from your everyday look, it'll be harder to feel authentic on camera.
We all know it can get hot under those lights. Blotting paper can help reduce oiliness and minimize shine.
Camera location
You may have already learned this from years of selfies, but when you're busy preparing for a photo shoot, it's easy to forget.
Even if you're working with a taller subject, try to hold the lens just above their eye line. This placement will help prevent the double chin situation and provide a much more flattering angle. This rule applies if you are filming with a webcam too! Make sure you lift your laptop off the table and tilt it down towards your face, making sure the camera is just above your eye line.
Have a stool or step in your studio so lifting the camera for a tall subject doesn't mean standing on tiptoes the entire time you're shooting.
Lighting
When lighting your subject, do your best to remove any harsh shadows on their face.
Consider the environment you are shooting in and watch for unwanted shadows. If your talent is directly under an office ceiling light, either turn off the lights or move the subject out of the light. This will help avoid the dreaded "raccoon eyes".
If using video lights, make sure your lights are positioned just in front of the camera and slightly above the talent's eye line for best results.
Background
There's a reason we use dark gray backgrounds in many of our company videos. We've found that muted blues and grays are universally flattering, while bright colors like oranges and reds reflect color back onto the subject and affect the way the camera records skin tone.
If you're not shooting in front of a paper backdrop, it's important to make sure there's nothing distracting behind the subject. You can also use a lower aperture from your prime lens, such as the 50 mm, to blur the background while keeping the subject sharp.
Performance
When you first jump in front of the camera, it can be a little intimidating. Do your best to focus on owning each row. Get those hands out of your pockets, stand up or sit up straight, and finish each line with gusto (just not too gusto). Also, remember that when you're on camera, you're always on, so make every moment count. Sure, you can edit some things in post, but that bored face you make between the first two lines might make it into the final cut.
If you've had an all-nighter or are sick, consider rescheduling your shoot. There's only so much you can do to look great if you're not feeling great.
give this work
You must be logged in to post a comment.