Technical Set Up

• Ensure your laptop is plugged into the mains to avoid battery power running low.
• For more stable connectivity, plug into an internet port rather than using WiFi.
• Ask other members of the household not to use the internet whilst you are live on air.
• For the best audio, use a quiet location – little if any background noise.
• Glass partitions, bare walls and other flat, reflective surfaces are bad for audio. Use a headset or a good quality microphone.
• For best video, ensure your laptop is steady and try to get the camera at eye height. A shoe box will do!

Behaviour & Body Language

• Whilst on air, assume that you’re always ‘on camera’ at all times.
• Resist the urge to mute your microphone or stop the video feed. Only mute your microphone if asked.
• Refrain from drinking or eating on camera.

What to wear

• Pastels work well on camera – and it is often best to avoid whites or blacks. Please avoid tight patterns/stripes.
• If you are wearing jewellery, please make sure it doesn’t jangle or rattle as this will be picked up on the microphone and could become distracting.

Framing your shot

• Locate yourself near a light source – preferably daylight rather than tungsten light bulbs. Where possible, try not to mix light sources as they have different colour temperatures. If daylight is your main source, incandescent bulbs will look very orange, and florescent bulbs will cast a green colour.
  Have the daylight fall onto your face – do not have it behind you as you will be a silhouette.
• Make sure the light source isn’t too strong. We don’t want you to be ‘burnt out’.
• When you set up, always check your background. Look for odd shapes growing out of your head. Never be too close to a background, as you may look uncomfortably hemmed in.
• Check your background and consider personal items that could be on display.
• Aim to have your head near the top of the frame and your chin no lower than two thirds from the top. 

Audio

• Don’t sit too far from away from your microphone. You need to hear what is being said, and be heard. If you’re taking part in a panel discussion it is essential you hear the other participants. In-ear, wired mobile phone headphone work well.
• Even better would be to use a cabled personal mic that can be plugged into your computer. Getting the mic close helps reduce background noise and minimises any room echo.
• Bluetooth headphone generally don’t work well. 

Next steps:

The above guidelines apply to you no matter what platform we end up using. Lighting, framing, background, audio, clothing, and behaviour will all play a vital part in making your video contribution a successful one.