Guide to self-recording video
As many of us are finding new ways to work and study, recording video content of yourself speaking is becoming more common place.
Follow this guide for best practice and tips on setting up and managing self-recorded video content.
Step one
Elevate your laptop or webcam or smart phone to eye level. You want to be looking straight at the camera, not up or down into it. You can raise a laptop with books.
Always prop up a smart phone or tablet – do not go handheld and always shoot in landscape orientation.
Step two
Ensure the room is well lit and that the main light source is in front of you. Windows are your best light source, move to them.
Rearrange furniture, it can always go back afterwards.
If you need to add light, use lamps and move them so they are in front of you. If the light is quite harsh from a lamp, try bouncing the light off a wall or ceiling.
Try not to position yourself in a corner or up against a wall. Aim for depth behind you.
Good backdrops can be – bookshelves, nice wallpaper, houseplants, the quiet garden.
Bad backdrops can be – white walls, messy kitchens, tight corners of rooms.
Step three
Speak directly into the camera. This gives you eye contact and a connection with the viewer.
Do not look at the screen, or at yourself in the corner of the screen, despite how tempting it may be.
Step four
Speak clearly but don’t project or shout.
Make the room as quiet as possible – close doors, turn off televisions or radios, send other occupants out with the dog.
Test record some audio. If it is crackly or overloaded or too quiet, check your mic input settings to reduce or raise the levels.
Is your smart phone newer than your laptop? If so, it may well have a better camera and mic. Try both and see which gives better results.
Step five
Review your footage.
Is it as good as it could be? You can always do more takes, this then gives you choices.
Be excited, be passionate, lean in, share your joys with enthusiasm – this will all translate to the viewer and make them feel the same way!
Technical notes
If you are a Mac user, you can use Quicktime Player.
File > New Recording > Select maximum quality from the dropdown arrow next to the record button.
If you are a PC User you can use the Camera app.
Start > Camera > Video.
Clips can be sent directly from iPhones by using services such as WeTransfer or OneDrive.
Attaching the video file directly to an email is not advised as this process often compresses the video and causes loss in quality.