- Get a desk lamp: either point it at yourself (this is a Key light), or at a cube wall so it bounces some light onto your face (this is a Fill light). In a normal video shoot, there is the classic “3-point” lighting setup- which includes a Key-, Fill-, and Back-light to isolate the subject from the background- but in lighting for a basic webcam conference, you only really need one good light- if you use an advanced video system, you may want to invest in a more professional lighting package.
needed for our webcam presentations!
- Missed Opportunities... Now that it's blank, how can we use it?.. I like to think of that empty wall as unused advertising space- space for advertising YOU! Not sure about this one? All you have to do is flick on CNN, MSNBC, FOX, etc to see how all the major news channels interview in front of cityscapes, cool graphics, bustling newsrooms, or libraries of books. This adds a level of credibility to the speaker, and communicates even more to the audience. Take a little time to "pretty up" your area, and think about how you can make your own background advertisement out of the artifacts in your office space- diplomas, degrees, books, plants, framed art, accolades or even magazine covers.
- The Right Stuff- Don't have a web conferencing tool that will support this kind of webcam video? Check out WebEx. I know, you've heard this one before, but there's a reason for it- it works!
Don't forget to check out my post on how to have better web meetings...
- Josh