Webcasting: Tips for Presenting On Camera

WHAT TO WEAR?

 

WEAR CLOTHES THAT ARE COMFORTABLE AND SUPPORT THE IMAGE MEANT TO BE PRESENTED.

SMALL PATTERNS ON ANY PIECE OF CLOTHING THAT APPEARS ON CAMERA WILL CREATE A MOIRE EFFECT. THESE PATTERNS MAKE THE VIDEO APPEAR JITTERY AND ARE A DISTRACTION TO THE VIEWERS. WHAT’S WORSE IS THAT THE ENCODED VIDEO WILL SIMPLY LOOK LOW QUALITY WHEN THE SMALL PATTERNS ARE COMPRESSED FOR VIEWING OVER THE WEB.

AVOID CLOTHES THAT ARE EXTREMELY BRIGHT OR “SATURATED”. THESE COLORS CAN INTERFERE WITH THE PICTURE’S NORMAL CONTRAST WITH DARK COLORS.

AVOID WEARING STARK BLACK OR WHITE. INSTEAD WEAR IVORY, GRAY OR MUTED PASTELS. THESE WORK WELL, ESPECIALLY WHEN COMBINED WITH DARK COLORS.

AVOID BUSY PATTERNS OR SMALL PLAIDS, STRIPES, CHECKS, AND HERRINGBONES. THESE CAN CREATE A VIBRATING EFFECT ON THE SCREEN. INSTEAD, WEAR SOLIDS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.


SHINY FABRICS, HEAVILY STARCHED FABRICS, OR JEWELRY CAN CAUSE A REFLECTION ON CAMERA, AND BE DIFFICULT TO ENCODE. VELVET AND VELOUR FABRICS ABSORB LIGHT CAUSING DETAILS TO LOOK MUDDY OR TO EVEN DISAPPEAR.

IF YOU HAVE A PALE COMPLEXION, DARK COLORS WILL MAKE YOUR SKIN LOOK EVEN LIGHTER. A DARK COMPLEXION WILL LOOK EVEN DARKER IN LIGHT COLOR CLOTHING.

NECKTIES THAT ARE SOLID OR HAVE SIMPLE PATTERNS ARE PREFERABLE.

WEARING A JACKET OR A SHIRT WITH A LAPEL PROVIDES A GOOD PLACE TO CLIP A MICROPHONE.

REMEMBER THIS MAY BE SOMEONE’S FIRST IMPRESSION ON YOU, SO YOU WANT TO LOOK YOUR BEST.

PRESENTATION TIPS

AVOID EXCESSIVE AND EXAGGERATED HAND GESTURES.

BE LIVELY! REMEMBER THAT YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE PERFECT! ACT AS IF YOU ARE SPEAKING TO COLLEAGUES. TECHNICAL CONTENT IS MUCH EASIER TO COMPREHEND WHEN DELIVERED IN AN UPBEAT MANNER.

HAVE THE OUTLINE OF YOUR PRESENTATION READY AND ALL MATERIALS ON HAND PRIOR TO STARTING THE VIDEOTAPING. THE DAY OF THE SHOOT IS NOT THE BEST TIME TO BE IRONING OUT CONTENT QUESTIONS.

REHEARSE, REHEARSE, REHEARSE! WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MINUTE TO DO YOUR WORK DOES NOT MEAN THAT YOU WILL BE OLDER AND THEREFORE WISER. THERE ARE MANY VOCAL EXERCISES THAT YOU CAN TRY SUCH AS UNIQUE NEW YORK, RUBBER BABY BUGGY BUMPERS AND RON’S FAVORITE THE HUMAN TORCH WAS DENIED A BANK LOAN. DON’T FORGET TO RECORD YOUR REHEARSALS SO YOU CAN REVIEW YOUR PERFORMANCE.

IT IS HELPFUL TO START WITH A BRIEF INTRODUCTION OF YOURSELF AND WHAT YOU’LL BE COVERING. A BRIEF CONCLUSION IS ALSO NICE.

KEEP IN MIND THAT IT’S NOT NECESSARY TO STOP FOR A MINOR VERBAL TRIP-UP. EITHER IGNORE THE STUMBLE, OR SIMPLY RESTART WITH A, “THAT IS TO SAY….”, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR.

IF YOU ARE USING A MOUSE TO CLICK THROUGH YOUR SLIDES DURING THE ON-CAMERA PRESENTATION, CLICK THE MOUSE SOFTLY, IF POSSIBLE. THE SOUND OF THE MOUSE CLICKING IS SOMETIMES PICKED UP ON YOUR MICROPHONE AND BECOMES A DISTRACTING SOUND IN YOUR AUDIO.

IF YOU NEED TO PAUSE FOR ANY REASON, RETURN YOUR GAZE TO THE CAMERA BEFORE YOU BEGIN SPEAKING. AT THE END OF YOUR PRESENTATION, STARE (AND SMILE) AT THE CAMERA FOR 5 SECONDS WITHOUT TALKING.

AND MOST OF ALL REMEMBER, “STAY CLASSY.

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