Talking-Head Framing Tips: Headroom and Eye Level (Full Transcript)

[00:00:08] Speaker 1: Now that you've chosen your camera, let's frame your shot. For most talking head content like podcasts, solo videos, webinars, and live streams, you want to be centered in the video frame from about chest height. Also, be sure to leave some headroom, that's the space between the top of your head and the top of the video frame. Be mindful of the angle of your camera as well. If the camera is too low, it will appear as if you're looking down at your audience. Too high and that will make it hard to connect as well. Try to keep the lens of your camera at eye level when framing the shot. Depending on your camera, there are many solutions for mounting and stabilizing your camera. If your mobile device is your camera, we would recommend an inexpensive tripod and phone clamp like these that you can get for $20 to $30 on Amazon. Try filming a few options, moving closer to the camera, farther away, and different amounts of crop to your face. Watch them back, which can feel uncomfortable at first but you'll get used to it, and a quick way to make sure your framing is on point is to use the rule of thirds. Split your video frame in a grid and try to keep your eyes along this top horizontal line. For a mirrorless camera or DSLR, a more substantial tripod may be necessary like this one. You can get small versions for your desk or floor-standing versions of tripods depending on your setup. If you don't have the budget or time to get a tripod, you can find items around the house to build a makeshift stand. A stack of books works well, shoeboxes, or anything that can be sturdy at the height that you need. Now that your camera and framing is on point, we'll cover lighting techniques in the next video. Oftentimes, lighting is truly the key to make or break your video quality. Thanks for watching. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe.