This is how you make a good figure in front of the camera!
Content – technique – appearance as success factors

1. Crisp content: Think about the topic you are going to talk about and we will be able to give you a short and crisp presentation. Less but clear is better!
2. Stable camera position: Make sure that your camera or smartphone has a good and stable position during the recording and does not wobble.
3. Perspective: Make sure that the camera films you at eye level, not from above or below.
4. Lighting: Your face should be evenly lit from the front, making sure that the background is not brighter than you are and that there is no backlight.
5. Sound: The sound is crucial for the quality of the video! It is best to record it with an external microphone and avoid loud noise sources in the environment (on smartphones the headset is better than the built-in microphone).
6. View: Look directly into the camera and imagine you are sending your message to a person you like.
7. Dress code: Dress according to the occasion and make sure that your clothes match the background.
8. Smile: Every message is easier to take in and remember if the person sending it looks friendly and smiling into the camera.

 

In order to record an effective video, you need to be prepared for the following three areas:

 

Content – technique – appearance

To the content:

Create a communication concept

 

Every good video begins with careful preparation: What is the communication goal? Which target group do I address? And: What are my most important messages?
Write a small script or at least a keyword note with all bullet points that are important for the topic.
Think of an exciting introduction that makes you curious about the content of the video.
In the middle part of the video you should clearly present and illustrate your insights on the topic. At the end you should summarize the topic and, if necessary, summarize and classify controversial or contradictory points. At the very end you should not forget your appeal. Tell the audience what you expect or wish from them.

Argue clearly

• The viewer notices very quickly whether you are inside the topic or just want to chat along. If you present your conviction in a structured way and with some self-confidence, your arguments will be accepted by the audience or at least as a high-quality counter position.
  Put your arguments in order and pay attention to an order in which the tension for the audience increases.
• Make a checklist, which information you want to have in the video. Complete your recordings with suitable presentation slides, video clips, photos or graphics.

What added value can you provide the viewer?

The viewer should be able to see very quickly what added value he or she can get from your video. If you do not show this within the first 15 seconds, there is a high probability that they will not see the end of the video. Show only what is valuable to understand the topic. What really helps the viewer?
When watching an instructional video or interview you should always consider how it can help the viewer to better understand the topic or your position. It’s all about customer-oriented thinking and not about making a groovy video “as a cool sock”.

One video or several? Consistent formats attract viewers!

Not only since Netflix or Amazon Prime Video series are very popular with viewers. They love the recognition value, the protagonists and the always the same packaging. This can also be true for educational videos or interviews. A certain consistent series form increases the credibility of the sender and the acceptance by the viewers.

 

About the technique:

Even with simple technology, good quality pictures can be taken if you consider a few important points:

Stable camera position:
Make sure that your camera or smartphone has a good and firm stand during the recording and does not wobble. A stable tripod is ideal, but a clamp or a smartphone leaning against the bookcase will also ensure a secure stand. When choosing a camera, you should also consider how well you can operate the camera.

perspective:
Make sure that the camera films you at eye level, i.e. not from above or below. The viewer only feels really comfortable if he or she is addressed at eye level. If the camera films a person from below, he or she will appear powerful, oversized and eerie or even frightening. (Frog’s perspective) If, on the other hand, the person is filmed from above, he or she appears insignificant, small and vulnerable. In the feature film, perspective is consciously used for the design. The bad guy is often filmed from below and the victim from above, from a dominant position. For the web video, an interview or a web conference, however, one should choose a neutral perspective at eye level.

Lighting:
Your face should be evenly illuminated from the front, make sure that the background is not brighter than you are and that you don’t have backlight that dazzles the camera.
A good way to get even light is to use video lamps with a softbox or with a freezer foil. If you don’t have such a possibility, it is a good idea to use natural daylight coming through the window. In this case the camera should film from the window into the room and the person to be photographed should look towards the window. More tips can be found on our Youtube channel:

Sound:
The sound is crucial for the quality of the video! It’s best to record it with an external microphone and avoid loud noise sources in the environment (on smartphones the headset is better than the built-in microphone).
More tips can be found on our Youtube channel:

To the performance:

 

View:
Look directly into the camera and imagine you are sending your message to a person you like.
Admittedly, it is a bit unusual to look into a camera lens and tell something. Usually we talk to people or our pets and look at a face. But in the camera lens I don’t see the person opposite and that can be quite irritating. It is helpful in this situation to imagine that you are talking to a good friend. Imagine a very concrete person that you appreciate and like. This helps you to present your arguments in a friendly, exciting and authentic way.
At the end of each scene in the video, make sure you keep your eyes in the lens with a friendly smile for 2 to 3 seconds. Then you will have enough time left for the transition to the next scene.

Body language:
The viewer should recognize you in the video, so don’t disguise yourself, but pay attention to a few rules for movements in front of the camera:
Stand firmly: Stand shoulder width frontally to the camera when you speak and keep both feet evenly on the ground. Imagine you are a tree and your roots are firmly anchored in the ground up to your hips.
Upper body: You can turn your upper body slightly around the vertical axis to the right and left if you feel the need to move a little, but be sure to avoid moving forward or backward (this changes the distance to the camera) or tilting to the left and right (this is very unsteady).

Hands:
Use your hands to support your word. Try to make your hands look natural, like in a conversation with a person. A proven basic position of the hands is when they touch lightly above the belt. From this basic position they can then be raised to chest height to support your words. Never keep your hands below the belt. The audience should look into your eyes; the above hand position is distracting.
I once had an Italian board member in front of the camera who held his arms stiff at his side. That looked very unnatural and strange. I asked him about it and he told me that he had been told in Milan that he was not allowed to talk with his hands so much in Germany. I replied that it looked extremely unnatural and that I would like to do the shot with his natural “Italian” gestures. He agreed and we had a very convincing video with authentic gestures in the box afterwards.

facial expressions:
With this method it is also important to consciously emphasize the content with facial expressions, movements and gestures – leaning forward with one sentence, gesticulating with the hand the next, etc.

 

 

Voice, language:
Every opera singer and every actor and speaker warms up his voice before the performance. There are numerous exercises that relax the tongue, lips and throat area and prepare them for the performance.
A nice compilation of such exercises can be found here:

https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/top-exercises-vocal-health-63687/
https://blog.reverbnation.com/2019/07/09/vocal-warm-ups-recording/

 

Dress code:
Dress according to the occasion and also make sure that the clothes match the background. You must stand out clearly from the background so that you are the center of your video. If you are standing in front of a restless background, you should wear bright, friendly but clear colors. In any case avoid patterns, checks or stripes, these can create the so-called moirée effect and then visually irritate and distract from your content. If you record a video in the studio, you should avoid the color green when you work with greenscreen. A green suit or a green blouse would literally make your body disappear in the video.

Food and drink:
You should drink lots of water or unsweetened tea when you record videos. The vocal chords dry out when we talk a lot and the voice suffers. Also, our brain works more slowly if we are not dehydrated enough. We are less quick-witted and spontaneous. Also avoid sugary food and drink. Carbohydrates promote memory production and your pronunciation becomes “moister”. If you notice that you get unfocused or tired while shooting, take a carbohydrate-rich snack or fruit, this will give you new energy for a short time.

Smile: 

Every message is easier to take in and remember when the person sending it is looking into the camera with a friendly smile.
Try to smile during the recording. The two-dimensional camera image always makes you look more serious than you really are. If you don’t smile, you might already look irritated or grumpy in the video. If someone smiles honestly and friendly, we are unconsciously happy and are more willing to take their message.

 

Energy level:
The camera not only makes you look more serious, you also have to show more enthusiasm and energy than in a one-on-one conversation. Maybe you are a bit reserved in the beginning, but try a version where you consciously act with more energy and esprit in front of the camera. This doesn’t seem unnatural if you don’t overdo it, but simply more intoxicating and committed. If you are more committed, the audience will also be more committed to the topic. They can’t help it, that’s a natural behavior. Science speaks here of mirror neurons.

Practice, practice and practice again

How do you get really good in front of the camera? Well, imagine you wanted to play the piano, or do a gymnastics exercise, but you’ve never done it before. You will not succeed at the first go. The secret is to first know what it is all about. For example, to read a text like this if you want to make successful videos and then practice. You might be dissatisfied at the beginning, you might make promises or struggle for words. But the more you practice, the more confident you will become in front of the camera. Just like when you play the piano or practice gymnastics.
Your videos will get better with every new shot and your possible excitement will disappear more and more.

So: Let’s go!