Filming tips

Filming a Piece to Camera

1. Frame your shot well

  • Use the rule of thirds – position the speaker (talent) slightly off-centre
  • Keep headroom balanced (not too much space above the head)
  • Shoot at eye level for a natural connection with the audience

2. Get the lighting right

  • Light should come from in front of the subject, not behind
  • Use natural light (windows) or a simple LED light
  • Avoid strong backlighting that turns the subject into a silhouette

3. Prioritise clear audio

  • Use a wireless handheld or lapel microphone if possible
  • Film in a quiet environment
  • Always do a quick test recording before starting

Tip

Audio is worth 60% of your video. If your audio is of poor quality, people will not want to watch your video so avoid using the on-board camera microphone to capture important audio. Make sure the microphone is in relatively close proximity to the mouth of the talent if the audio is important to capture

If you don’t have access to an external mic, you can use a recording app on a smartphone as a mic.

If you have access to an audio level indicator in the camera view finder, keep the important audio between -6 & -12 decibels.

If possible, use headphones to monitor the audio recording to make sure there is no distortion or other audio distractions.

4. Stabilise the camera

  • Use a tripod or stable surface
  • Avoid handheld shake unless it’s intentional

5. Check the background

  • Keep it simple and uncluttered
  • Make sure nothing is distracting or “growing out” of the subject’s head

6. Coach the presenter

  • Speak clearly and at a steady pace
  • Maintain eye contact with the lens even after completing each section of dialogue
  • Encourage natural expression—don’t sound overly scripted

7. Allow for lead-time & lag-time

  • Start recording a few second prior to the director says “action” and starting dialogue (lead-time)
  • Stop recording a few second after the director says “cut” (lag-time)

Tip

Lead-time footage prior to dialogue and spare lag-time footage is helpful for the editor to use for potential transition effects.

Back to the tips for creating great video stories site