In our previous blog we talked about preparing the venue for recording your business presentation. Today we’re taking a look at how to prepare you – the presenter!
Believe it not there are rules about what and what not to wear when doing a business presentation (or any type of presentation!) in front of a camera. It’s all about impressions. While viewers may not focus exclusively on what you’re wearing, your attire does contribute to the overall effect of the way you present yourself.
When dressing for the camera, it’s important to know that the camera distorts images and captures colours and patterns differently. The next time you watch a politician, commentator or news anchor on TV, note that the colours they are wearing are deliberately chosen in order not to distract and dazzle.
Here are some guidelines to help you look your best in front of the camera:
Don’t wear all white, all black or all red
The camera finds the brightest object and makes it white, so anything white positively glows. Black needs a lot of light, making everything else look washed out, including your face. Red sometimes looks “smeary” on camera. So what should you wear? The ideal colours for video are strong pastels such as shades of rose, blue, aqua and teal, all of which work better than pale naturals.
Wear pastel solid colours
Cool blues, pastels and natural tones are best. Blue is popular because of its calming effect. Blue ties in all shades are good on men, as are blue and white striped shirts. A red tie, on the other hand, tends to bleed against neutral colours resulting in a flushed-looking face.
Avoid patterned clothing
Patterned clothing that has thin stripes, checks, houndstooth or herringbone tends to create a hologram effect on video. These details interfere with the camera’s sensor and produce a distracting, dizzying effect, making your clothes look as though they are vibrating or buzzing. Therefore solid colours work best.
Keep it simple
Don’t go overboard with a wild outfit, unless you’re a fashion model, designer or artist. Clothing should be comfortable enough to allow easy movement of the arms and upper body. And try to wear clothing with lapels or a front opening so that the microphone can be attached easily.
Make sure your glasses are glare-proof
Glasses reflect glare, so if they aren’t glare-proof, remove them when you’re in front of the camera. Also avoid tinted lenses in glasses. If you do need to wear your glasses during the presentation, it’s worth noting that whilst eyes are occasionally hidden by eyeglass reflections, adjusting the camera lens or the room lighting should solve the problem.
Ditch the glitzy jewellery
Simple jewellery is fine, but avoid anything that’s bedazzling, shiny, and noisy when you move. The shine from jewellery reflects light and will outshine you. You want the viewer to pay attention to your message, not your accessories.
Makeup matters
Women’s makeup should be subtle, with a matte foundation to reduce shine on the face. Lip gloss is not recommended as the shine tends to distract the viewer from what you’re saying. Also avoid dark eyeliner colours, dark lipsticks, and dark blusher. Clear red and salmon lipsticks look good and a moderate amount of blusher works well. Men who are balding should consider powdering their heads to avoid reflective shine.
Hair
Depending on hair length, both men and women benefit from putting some hairspray on their fingers and patting their hair down to prevent flyaway hair.
Ultimately, you want to appear professional, so choose your attire carefully. As the quote says, “web videos are like civil servants: they last forever”. The impression you make is lasting.
Let’s take a look!
Below are some ideal reel (get it?) examples of effective videos:
And here are some more you can check out!
In the meantime, we hope to see you through our lens soon!
Paul @ PaulsProductions
02 9114 9444
