Podcaster's Portal: presenting to camera

Presenting to camera

IN THIS ARTICLE

Consider from what platform people are viewing you
Think about video quality
See yourself as having a conversation with the viewer
What not to wear

By Jonathan Halls

Pictures tell your stories in vodcasts (VODs). Therefore, when you present a vodcast, think about what story your clothing is telling. And consider how it may either support or distract from it.

For example, your audience may be teenagers who enjoy MTV more than CNN. And your content might be more about gossip and culture than news, factual information or a corporate message.

In that case, you may consider it more appropriate for men to wear jeans and tight t-shirts and women, cargo pants with a tank top.

However, if you are vodcasting something of a more serious nature, you will probably choose to dress more conservatively. The tips below are aimed for people putting together vodcasts for news, factual or corporate productions.

There are conventions which can be broken. However, as a professional, you should always know the reason you have chosen to break the convention. You should also be able to explain how it more effectively conveys your story.

Understand how people are watching

To dress well for video, we will borrow some of the wisdom of television. However, we need to remember: VODs are not television.

VODs are a different platform to TV. They are consumed differently to television. The video content looks different and the context in which video is watched is also different from TV.

People tend to watch a VOD on their own. They don’t see their video on a big box in the corner of a living room or a large screen in a bar or pub. They see their video on a mobile device up close, or on a PC or laptop screen.

Video Quality

The picture quality of vodcasts is generally not very high. And certainly not as good as high definition television, which has just raised the bar on video quality.

However, to stream content over the internet, video has to be compressed so it has a low file size. This means the picture pixelates and a lot of your small detail will be lost. This will include clothing.

This will all change as technology develops higher bandwidth and enables us to provide more detail in compressed video files. But we’re not there yet.

Less “High End”

I hate using the term “high end” because it implies the opposite is “low end.” VODs are not “high end” but they certainly aren’t “low end” either.

Your story is the important factor in a vodcast’s success, not whether you use fancy equipment. And pictures are the principal tool for telling your story.

Because VODs use IP and not broadcast transmission, making it lower in picture quality than traditional television, you can get away with using cheaper, less fancy equipment.

It may not be good enough for TV broadcast but remember this is VOD, not the TV.

What not to wear

So when you prepare for your vodcast, what shouldn’t you wear?

Avoid vivid, bright colors as these can sometimes reflect the light. They can look as if they have been contaminated by a nuclear fallout and "glow in the dark."
Avoid tight pinstripes and patterns which can flutter on camera. This is more important for close-ups as some longer shots may not pick up the detail on the small screens – especially after the video has been compressed.
Complicated patterns such as tweeds and herringbones tend to strobe on camera. They may not come out on VODs either, unless you are in close. Then you’re in danger of the strobe effect.
Shiny jewelry reflects light and can be awfully distracting. You don’t want people looking at your jewelry. You want them focused on your face.
Avoid shiny or glossy fabrics. Especially more synthetic fabrics used in women’s blouses.

A few more comments on what to wear

Some of these comments may seem obvious. But often in the pressure of meeting deadlines and tying up all sorts of loose ends, they get forgotten.

We've listed a few specific tips for men and women to consider when they appear on a vodcast. These tips are for serious business, news and corporate presentation vodcasts.

Remember, follow these as guidelines only and use your discretion based on the context of your content and what your vodcast is trying to achieve.