{"id":1955,"date":"2009-02-23T16:47:46","date_gmt":"2009-02-23T21:47:46","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/?p=1955"},"modified":"2023-09-28T20:12:29","modified_gmt":"2023-09-29T01:12:29","slug":"appearing-on-camera-what-should-you-wear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/appearing-on-camera-what-should-you-wear\/","title":{"rendered":"Appearing On-Camera:  What Should You Wear?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Deciding what to wear on camera is uppermost in the minds of folks who are about to brave the lens and appear on-camera in a video.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Deciding what the &#8220;perfect outfit&#8221; is needs to be looked at from three angles:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Technical demands of video cameras, video production and online video transmission<\/li>\n<li>Common-sense fashion tips, having good &#8220;fashion sense&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>Storytelling\/Theatrical Characterizations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Here&#8217;s a list of tips covering all three angles.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with the storytelling and theatrical considerations. How is your inner psychiatrist and amateur novelist feeling today?<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_16264\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-16264\" style=\"width: 341px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-16264\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/odd-couple-new.png?resize=341%2C231&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"actors from the new Odd Couple show\" width=\"341\" height=\"231\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/odd-couple-new.png?w=708&amp;ssl=1 708w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/odd-couple-new.png?resize=600%2C407&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/odd-couple-new.png?resize=150%2C102&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/odd-couple-new.png?resize=300%2C203&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 341px) 100vw, 341px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-16264\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The clothing selected for these characters from the TV show, The Odd Couple, says a great deal about their personality.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ask yourself:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>What image do I want to present?<\/li>\n<li>Who am I in this video?<\/li>\n<li>What &#8220;character&#8221; do I play?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You don&#8217;t have to be a space alien like this guy to consider yourself a &#8220;character&#8221; in the video.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-19323 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/wvLvfVBK6fDnye1DtUng-1-dlsp7.jpg?resize=305%2C305&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"305\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/wvLvfVBK6fDnye1DtUng-1-dlsp7.jpg?w=1024&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/wvLvfVBK6fDnye1DtUng-1-dlsp7.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/wvLvfVBK6fDnye1DtUng-1-dlsp7.jpg?resize=150%2C150&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/wvLvfVBK6fDnye1DtUng-1-dlsp7.jpg?resize=600%2C600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/wvLvfVBK6fDnye1DtUng-1-dlsp7.jpg?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 305px) 100vw, 305px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Your character might be Sally Smith, working mom, if that is who you are.\u00a0 Joe the Businessman selling widgets.\u00a0\u00a0 A hunk, bad-boy rock &#8216;n roll star.\u00a0 Who are you in the video?\u00a0 Even if the answer is you, yourself, you can still consider that a &#8220;character.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>This might seem silly analyzing it this way, but it really helps.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Now, think about what outfit your character would wear if they were going to a social event where the invitation list is the target audience for the video.<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0 The scene is as formal or informal as whatever would fulfill the expectations of the guests and create a positive atmosphere.\u00a0 Think of the scene of this get-together as your video.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-16081 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/ppl-group-028.jpg?resize=458%2C305&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"people talking\" width=\"458\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/ppl-group-028.jpg?w=600&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/ppl-group-028.jpg?resize=150%2C100&amp;ssl=1 150w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/10\/ppl-group-028.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 100vw, 458px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You want to leave this party as THE talked-about buzz of the night.\u00a0 Most of the other guests did not know you when you walked into the room, but you will be given a platform that elevates you for a moment and all attention will be drawn to you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>You now have one second to either turn the guests on, or off.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>What would you wear?\u00a0<strong><br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Giving a good answer to this question takes an advanced sense of fashion.\u00a0 Standard &#8220;Dress for Success&#8221; rules apply here.\u00a0 How to portray an image through appearance.<\/p>\n<p>Whatever that image is.<\/p>\n<p>That&#8217;s your outfit.<\/p>\n<p>There&#8217;s nothing wrong with wearing a dirty t-shirt and ripped jeans on camera if that fits your image.\u00a0 Maybe an expensive business suit is the image you need.\u00a0 Whatever you wear, if it doesn&#8217;t fit your image, nothing else matters.\u00a0 Your video will mis-communicate no matter what you say with the rest of the video.\u00a0\u00a0 If you WANT to portray a bad-boy rocker, then the expensive business suit is a no-no!<\/p>\n<p>Video and TV are all about image.\u00a0 Image is conveyed visually. I don&#8217;t necessarily like that about the world, but no doubt it is TRUE!<\/p>\n<h3>Now that the theatrics and fashion tips are out of the way, here is the technical.<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Avoid tiny patterns with a high level of contrast<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>I think this dress is absolutely adorable with the black and white polka print.\u00a0\u00a0 <strong>But on a technical level for video production, it is the WORST!<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-19517 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/morie-effect-dress-.jpg?resize=236%2C366&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"236\" height=\"366\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/morie-effect-dress-.jpg?w=334&amp;ssl=1 334w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/morie-effect-dress-.jpg?resize=193%2C300&amp;ssl=1 193w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/morie-effect-dress-.jpg?resize=97%2C150&amp;ssl=1 97w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 236px) 100vw, 236px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Think of this dress as <em>too much information.<\/em> A digital video signal will choke at the small patterns and heavy contrast.\u00a0 The video picture will glare, glow and annoy in an ugly way.\u00a0 <strong>There is an official name for this, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/topics\/physics-and-astronomy\/moire-effects#:~:text=The%20Moir%C3%A9%20Effect-,The%20moir%C3%A9%20effect%20is%20the%20mechanical%20interference%20of%20light%20by,was%20noted%20in%20ancient%20times.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Morie Effect.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Black and white is, of course, the definition of extreme contrast.\u00a0 The pattern on the dress is small.\u00a0 Both factors exacerbate the situation.<\/p>\n<p>For the exact same reasons as the dress, a black and white hounds tooth jacket is a classic no-no for video.\u00a0 The picture below is perfect example of the <a href=\"https:\/\/photographylife.com\/what-is-moire\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Moire Effect.<\/a>\u00a0 (Unless the resolution on your monitor is thousands times better than mine.) \u00a0 On my monitor, that picture glares terribly.\u00a0 Even if it does not glare, that is really too small of a pattern to look good on camera.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-19518 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/moire-effect-shirt-.jpg?resize=468%2C268&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" width=\"468\" height=\"268\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/moire-effect-shirt-.jpg?w=468&amp;ssl=1 468w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/moire-effect-shirt-.jpg?resize=300%2C172&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/02\/moire-effect-shirt-.jpg?resize=150%2C86&amp;ssl=1 150w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 468px) 100vw, 468px\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Which brings me to the subject of online video compression.\u00a0 Tiny, high contrast patterns look even worse in highly-compressed video, which is what online video is. \u00a0 So by the very nature of the beast, <em><strong>online video does not like too much digital information, which is essentially how digital video interprets tiny patterns and high contrast.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>This does not mean you can&#8217;t wear patterns.\u00a0 Some patters do fine.\u00a0 Size and contrast are what to look for.<\/p>\n<p>Dots with a six-inch diameter wouldn&#8217;t be an issue.<\/p>\n<p>If the tiny pattern was black and very dark gray, it would look better than black and white, but honestly, it still would not look good.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Large patterns with colors that blend well can look nice on camera. <\/strong> No need to avoid them.<\/p>\n<p><strong>AVOID REFLECTIVE CLOTHES AND JEWELRY<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Clothes that are shiny and reflective are something to avoid on-camera too.\u00a0 A bright glare off a shirt can throw the exposure off.\u00a0 Flashy, shiny jewelry, like metal earrings, causes glare problems too.<\/p>\n<p>The best materials to use on cameras have a dull, matte finish.\u00a0 This goes for everything, background objects too.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Extreme contrasts in color and light reflection anywhere in your picture can cause exposure issues. <\/strong> Generally, you want the amount of light bouncing off you and the background to be equal.\u00a0 Most of the time, a video camera gets the best shot when the light reflecting into it is equal in intensity all throughout the picture.\u00a0 Otherwise, your face will be darker than your shirt.<\/p>\n<p>Keep contrast in mind, and you will avoid major mistakes like wearing a white shirt with no jacket and standing in front of a black background.<\/p>\n<p><strong>FOOD FOR THOUGHT<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Describe how the clothes a person wears can form an impression in a viewer&#8217;s mind.<\/li>\n<li>In your own words, explain why thinking of what the character would wear to a social event is a good idea.<\/li>\n<li>Why do you want to avoid tiny black and white patterns when appearing on camera?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Thanks for reading <em>Video Production Tips<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Lorraine Grula<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Need some tips deciding what to wear when you make your video?  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7811,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1370,1],"tags":[1569,521,548,437,523,522,728,2600,520],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2008\/07\/green-screen-weather.jpg?fit=425%2C282&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1955"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":19519,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1955\/revisions\/19519"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7811"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1955"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1955"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.videoproductiontips.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1955"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}