Making Great Video Recordings

This resource is designed to help you create more professional videos using your in-computer camera.

Preparing Your Space

Create a quiet recording space and pick a location with minimal background noise.
- Avoid spaces with lots of echo.
Use a windows or household lamp to light your face and make you look like the focus of the video.
- Consider recording during daylight hours for more natural lighting.
Raise your webcam/computer to be on your eye level.
Limit visual distractions in the background.
- A neutral colored wall is ideal.
- A few content-related background decorations may add to the presentation of the video(if already present).

Make sure your webcam is clean with a dry tissue.
You can use Canvas Studio to record only your webcam, or your webcam and screen if you’re presenting slides.
Use earbuds or headphones to check the quality of your sound.
- You may do a test recording before recording your whole video to make sure both the camera and microphone are both working.
- For extra clear sound, consider using a USB microphone, if you have one.
Having your script or outline on your computer screen minimizes the need to look down.
- PowerPoint has a “teleprompter” feature.
Follow the rule of thirds to create a visually interesting shot (see the image to the left).

Try to look at the camera(the watcher) regularly.
Give a little more energy than you would normally, recorded media doesn’t always convey the natural energy of in-person communication.
- Sometimes it’s helpful to think of video recording as “performing” as opposed to being your usual self on camera.
Please don’t read from the slides directly.
- Practice a couple of times will help you feel more natural in your video.