Video Shoot Preparation Tips

Top 10 Things You Need to Know

1. What to Wear: Dress as you normally would when meeting with a client. The more relaxed and natural you are, the better you will appear on camera and people viewing your video will know what to expect at their first meeting. We recommend solid colors, as they look best on video. You may also bring a change of clothes to appear more casual in some of the shots.

2. What Not to Wear:

• Avoid wearing the same color shirt & tie, narrow stripes, or busy patterns - as the camera doesn't pick these up well.
• Try not to wear anything too bright or distracting - you want viewers to focus on what you're saying, not what you're wearing. For this reason, jewelry should also be kept to a minimum.
• Glasses can shimmer and give off light kicks, which make it difficult to light around. However, if you don't have contacts and prefer to wear your glasses then go ahead and wear them, we'll work around it.

3. Relax: Speak and move naturally. Being too formal may put too much emotional distance between you and the audience. So - just be yourself and don't rush through your shoot; using more than one take is fine.

Tip: People like to see your hands, but not overly animated. Keep them visibly in front of you to help you express your thoughts as you make your points.

4. Posture: Try to sit up straight and lean forward a bit toward the interviewer. This gives you the appearance of being engaged in the conversation. Try to avoid reclining deeply in your seat. If possible, cross your feet at the ankles or plant your feet squarely on the ground.

Tip: Make sure you're not sitting in a swivel chair. When uncomfortable you may "exercise the swivel", which shows on camera. For men wearing a suit jacket; sit on the "tail" of your coat. This will pull the jacket flat on your shoulders and avoid any collar rolls.

5. Don't Over-Prep: We do not recommend memorizing a script unless you are a vigorous and frequent speech giver. Do memorize your key messages and let us help you get the information across during the interview process. We are more than willing to work with you to get the quotes we need to make a great video.

6. Keep it Short: Short answers are optimal - no more than a few sentences long. Stick to your key messages and talking points - we'll help you get them across in your video.

7. Makeup: The lights are hot and will make you perspire - men just need a little powder. Women should wear their normal amount of makeup and not over do it. Keep a handkerchief close by for any quick dabs that are needed during the video shoot.

8. Drink Lots of Water: Make sure you stay hydrated and have bottled water available during your video shoot - the lights are hot and you may not have a chance to get up in between takes.

9. Look at the Interviewer: Don't look directly at the camera lens. You will be answering questions asked to you by an interviewer seated next to the camera. Interact and converse with the interviewer as if there isn't a camera in the room. Don't look down or away from the interviewer, always look them directly in the eye and give your response with confidence and feeling.

10. Have Fun: Try to relax & enjoy the process - it's really not so bad. We are here to help make this a productive and positive experience for you. Your preparation and willingness to listen to our advice is key to your video success!

Questions? Contact us at 866.443.4635 or email us.