Since all television interviews have gone remote during social distancing, clients have been asking for tips on how best to set up their computers, cameras, and phones for television interviews from home. This memo should answer many of those questions and provide best practices to keep you looking your best on television (or your Zoom meetings).
Feel free to share this widely.
If you would like a quick “how does this look” check-in or a full virtual training session, please let me know: matt@armorystrategies.com.
Internet
The quality of the video you will be able to provide is most dependent on the speed and capacity of your internet connection. When going live for broadcast, consider the following to maximize the amount of data your connection will be able to provide:
- Close all unnecessary applications on your device.
- If you have the option of using a hardwire ethernet cable instead of wi-fi, that will provide a more stable connection.
- Ask anyone else using your internet or wi-fi to suspend or limit their internet usage for the duration of your interview
- Remember that many devices use the same connection – phones, security cameras, etc.
Camera Placement
The camera should be placed high enough so that it is at eye level. You should not have to look up or down to look directly into the camera. If you are using a laptop, this will feel unnaturally high. Get some books or boxes to elevate the camera to the correct height.
Place the camera about three feet in front of your face and adjust to it so that you are properly framed.
- Side to side, you should fill about 2/3rds of the frame.
- Top to bottom, we should be able to see the top of your head and about half way down your sternum.
- If you are using a phone or tablet, make sure it is secure. Use a music stand, car mount, or even books, boxes, and tape.
- And remember – always shoot horizontally. Your phone or tablet should be on its side.
Lighting
This is one of the most difficult elements to do well at home, and will likely require some improvisation. Ideally, there should be three sources of light for your shot:
- Background – The room should be bright. Your background should be clearly visible.
- Direct light – A straight-on light to highlight your face.
- Indirect light – This is to fill in shadows created by the direct light source. Experiment with placement. This will likely look best somewhere in front of you at an angle from the direct light source.
Some considerations:
- Try taking the shade off of a table lamp to provide direct or indirect lighting.
- Natural light works well too, but remember that a passing cloud can quickly ruin a shot.
- A desk or reading lamp can work well for a direct source.
- You can also purchase inexpensive clip-on lighting.
- IMPORTANT: Your computer screen should NOT be used as a source of light. It is way too blue and does not illuminate you well. You should dim the brightness of your laptop screen.
Audio
Often my biggest complaint about a remote interview is the quality of the audio. Typically, the biggest problem stems from an echo or other ambient noise in a room. Here are the options:
- Worst – Laptop/phone/tablet microphone. This is too far from your mouth, picks up room noise, and can amplify echo problems in your room. If this is your only option, speak loudly and project into the mic – this will help drown out background noise.
- Better – Headset. This doesn’t look great on television (especially wired headsets), but that is an acceptable trade off for the improved sound quality. Speak normally – no need to project.
- Best – Lav mic. Just like you would clip on when sitting in a television studio, these can be wired or wireless and obtained fairly inexpensively online. They will pick up your voice clearly and do not have the visual drawbacks of a headset. Speak normally – no need to project.
The room you are in will have an effect on the quality of your audio as well. Soft surfaces will help mitigate echo and ambient sound. Pick a room with carpet, drapes, soft furniture. Don’t do these interviews in a bathroom (for many reasons.)
Background
When people aren’t looking at you, they are looking at what’s behind you. Put some thought into what they will see. Generally, something visually interesting, but non-specific works best.
- Consider removing photos. The world does not need to see pictures of your family.
- If appearing in front of a bookcase, put some thought into the book titles that will be visible. Use them to complement your expertise. Remove anything potentially controversial or embarrassing.
- Art works well too, but nothing that is recognizable, controversial, or clearly valuable.
- If you are using a flag on a pole in the background, make sure it is over your right shoulder. It will appear on the left side of the screen as the viewer sees it.
- Do not use anything reflective.
- Do not use a window. It is both reflective and will cause a backlighting problem.
Interview
During the interview, look directly into the camera – not the screen.
Assume you are on camera at all times. Do not look away or move until the interview has cleared.
You can be animated and gesture, but keep your hands away from your face.
If the connection freezes, do not assume that you have been disconnected. You may find yourself suddenly on live TV cursing at your internet.
Shower, put on a clean shirt, brush your hair. You are not expected to look like you were in the chair with a pro, but you shouldn’t look like you just rolled out of bed. Consider a dusting of powder to take the shine off.
Don’t wear bold patterns, stripes, or distracting/noisy jewelry.
Other Considerations
Glasses – When using a laptop, it is common to see the reflection of the screen in your lenses. If it’s workable, consider not wearing them for the interview or reduce the brightness of your screen.
Kids – The risk of a toddler running into a shot is very real for parents working from home. If this happens, don’t panic. Just pick the kiddo up, put him or her on your lap, and continue the interview. The entire world feels your pain.
Notifications – In addition to silencing your phone and other devices in the room that could make noise, close or silence any application on your device that could interrupt or distract from the interview.
Test, test, test – The first time you attempt to set all of this up should not be 5 minutes before you are to go live. Find where your camera and mic are located on your device. Sit in the chair you plan to use. Take a screenshot and review it for lighting, placement, and background. Do a video call with a staffer, friend, or me to make sure everything is in place.
