Most guidelines we see say things like "don't wear stripes or plaids" or "avoid bright colors".  There is a technical basis for this kind of advice.  A lot of it has to do with the limitations of video cameras.

For example, let's look at dynamic range.  This is the difference between the darkest dark and the brightest bright that a camera can sense and record.  Video cameras have a much lower dynamic range than the human eye.  This means that a scene with a lot of contrast will not look the same in video as it does in real life.  So for example if you wear a very dark suit with a bright white shirt or blouse, the video would not be able to show the texture or detail of any of your clothing, even though your face looks fine.  The blacks would be crushed (the numerical value that represents the darkest black can't go lower than zero), and the whites would be blown out (the numerical value that represents the brightest white can't go higher than its maximum).  This can also happen for really bright, really pure colors.  It is best to stay away from extreme red, blue, green, orange, etc.  In addition, bright colors can cause spill, which is where light reflecting from a colored surface is basically colored light, and adds a tint to anything it touches.  If you wear a bright green shirt, your face could end up looking green in your video, especially toward the bottom where it is closest to the shirt.

Another thing that doesn't usually work well with video is tight stripes or patterns.  They often exhibit flickering or moire patterns because you run out of resolution (pixels), and it gets worse the smaller you make the display area for the video.

The next thing you need to think about is audio.  Will you be saying something, or are you just going to smile and wave?  A typical video uses a sensitive microphone to pick up your voice.  It will also pick up any sounds made by clothing or jewelery that you are wearing.  It is best to avoid jangly earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, and the fabric of your clothing should not buzz or creak as it moves.

All these considerations are part of the technical framework for planning to shoot effective video.  But they are more about don'ts, even when they are expressed as dos.  The real dos are what make your video truly effective, as opposed to just making it not suck.

It all starts with mission and purpose.  What is your video supposed to do, and who is it supposed to do it to?  Everything in your video needs to be focused to satisfy that, including your clothing.  If your video is to promote membership in your nudist colony, dressing in "business casual" will ruin the whole effect (unless you are trying to illustrate how impractical the clothes are).  Your clothes should look attractive to your audience, and not distracting, unless you have a specific, well thought-out reason.  Dress in a way that is acceptable and credible to your audience.  In some cases, you may violate some of the don'ts, for example if your business is selling jangly earrings, necklaces, and bracelets, you may consider wearing them in the video (there are ways to mitigate the noise).

Finally, dress in a way that makes you feel the most comfortable and qualified in your role on camera.  This will make the experience more enjoyable for everybody, and will increase the effectiveness of your video.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 03 February 2010 10:35 )