So you’re going to be on camera for your company’s video. Most of the time an employee is on camera for their employer, it’s for an interview. There are some simple guidelines to follow to make sure you know what to wear on camera. If this is your first time to go on camera, check out this article. To hear Kara talk about Hair and Makeup, click here.
First, here’s what you can expect for the interview– the crew will come in and setup the lighting, camera and sound. They might put a lavelier microphone on you, which might be as simple as just clipping it on, or it might be hidden under your clothing by a sound professional. Setup will probably take longer than your actual interview.
Clothing Style
If you’re going on camera for your company, the style of clothing can be varied. Most of the time, what you wear to the office is a good starting point. For many, that’s business or business casual. Different industries have different looks. Financial industries will keep it more formal– business, suits and such. Construction might be FRP jeans and heavy shirts. Retail might be polos and golf shirts. Video makes a strong impression to the viewer about what your company is and it’s culture– what you wear needs to match what impression you want them to have.
Colors
When looking at your closet, there are some choices that are better than others. You’ll want to avoid white or bright yellows that may reflect light and make you appear washed out on camera. At the other end of the spectrum, the color black tends to absorb too much light. And it can drain the color from your face. Additionally, some bright reds can be too distracting. Speaking of Red, bright red can cause problems for cameras. Best to avoid bright red.
The colors that are best for the camera are solid colors in muted or rich jewel tones: Solid colors such as Blue, Purple, Grey, Navy, Coral, and Green. Now if your interview will be on a green screen, you will want to avoid wearing green. Or if it’s blue, avoid that color.
Patterns
It’s best to avoid busy patterns or tight patterns, such as plaids, herringbone, checks, or tight stripes that are too close together. Busy patterns on clothing, including neckties tend to play tricks with the camera causing a distracting wavy pattern on the screen. You’ll want your audience to focus on your face, not your busy wardrobe.
Options
Bring a couple of different clothing options that are professional or represent your company. Make sure you bring comfortable outfits , and choose fabrics that aren’t too heavy or cause you to get too warm under the lights on set. If you bring several options, you can have the camera operator check them out in front of the camera. Then you can decide which outfit will be best.
Avoid large shiny jewelry that could reflect light back into the camera, or earrings or bracelets that could dangle or make a rattling sound while you are talking on camera. Always make sure your clothes are ironed and ready for the camera. There may not be an iron on set or time to take care of that, so make sure you do that before you arrive.
Style your hair away from your face to avoid any shadows and just Keep everything simple and professional. For more information on makeup, check out this article.
Now that you know what to wear on camera, relax, you are talking about something you know best, YOU. And You are going to be amazing!
