Look at the image for yourself. Can you see the issue?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Essentially it’s one of body language. In video, we unconsciously judge things like status from the position (in height) of the camera. If we want someone to look powerful and overbearing, we shoot from a lower position. If we want to make them look subservient, we shoot from above looking down. The best position is neutral, flat, eye-level, assuming we want to be taken seriously, but relatable. Anything else is sending a subconscious message to your viewer. This is decided by the height position of your webcam. So if you’re looming over your laptop webcam from above, you might want to reconsider this. In this instance, I instinctively felt Sir Lindsay was ‘looking down his nose at me’, yet the content of the interview suggested otherwise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like it or not,\nwe’re judging you. From the colour of\nyour curtains, to the books on your shelf. \nI’ve seen several TV presenters recently discuss the idea that suddenly\nwe’re seeing inside people’s homes, and it’s a revelation. <\/p>\n\n\n\n I watched Michael Gove this morning. Good quality video. Good quality sound. Still, I can’t help but judge his curtains. And they’re better lit than him.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n Imagine a blank canvas, and that whatever is behind you in shot is there deliberately to augment your image or brand. What would be there? What would you take out?The base level response seems to be a bookcase. Mostly because many of us have a home office space (come library) and that’s where our computer is, so it’s now our home TV studio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A book shelf is fine. Although I would relegate the self-help books and your copies of Harry Potter and Fifty Shades to the lower shelf out of sight. This is your chance to put all those text books you bought for work (but never read) front and centre. Think about supermarket shelves and how all the sexy stuff is right in your eye line. Do the same with your books. The good ones. Not actual ‘sexy stuff’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you don’t have a\nbook shelf, then neutral and office-like works well. If you have an old exercise bike covered in\nclothes, or some unfinished DIY, then you might want to move that to a\ntemporary new home. Remember you only\nneed to think about what’s in shot. So\ntake a screenshot with your webcam on, and zoom in to check what’s visible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your location allows, some breathing space between you and the backdrop is good too. It just helps to give a deeper perspective, and helps with depth of focus. You become less stark.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Extra tip<\/em><\/strong>. We’ve all seen the viral clip of the diplomat being interrupted by his child barging into the room mid-interview. Don’t have the door to the room in shot.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n![\"Remote_Broadcast1\"](\"https:\/\/tonycollinsfogarty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Webcam_Article_Lindsay_Voiceover.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\nYour Body Language.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Backdrop.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Remote_broadcast\"](\"https:\/\/tonycollinsfogarty.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Webcam_Article_Voiceover_Gove.jpg\")
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