© VIDEOZEUS TIPS FOR LOOKING YOUR BEST ON CAMERA Don't wear clothing with tight patterns Checks, hounds-tooth or pin stripes cause an optical illusion which makes you look bad. Busy is Bad Don't wear clothing with bold patterns or geometric shapes. The audience will watch your clothes instead of you Colors to Avoid Avoid wearing black, white, bright orange or bright reds. Even the best cameras have trouble with these colors, For dress shirts, avoid bright white if possible Solid-color shirts are best blue, beige, off-white, etc. If you wear a bright white shirt or blouse, make sure to wear a darker jacket over it. Jewelry to Avoi Avoid wearing reflective or noisy jewelry, ike bangles. Also, don't get nervous and play with the jewelry or tap your ring on a table, Audiences will hear those noises instead of you. Eyeglasses Wear them if you need them to see or if it is how people recognize you. If your lenses are very shiny, the crew may adjust their position to avoid unwanted reflections. Makeup Wear makeup to cover up blemishes and reduce perspiration. You may want to bring a handkerchief or tissues to dab perspiration during breaks. Women should avoid vivid red lipstick or gloss; stick to softer tones and dab lips with a little powder. Hair Make sure you hair will stay where you want it. You don't want to be fooling with it during the video shoot Microphone Placement Be aware that a lavaliere or lapel microphone will be attached to your clothing. Keep that in mind when choosing your outfit. Dress for a Slimming Effect Darker colors are slimming; light colors are not, + Sold colors are slimming; bold pattems are not + Asingle color from head to toe (a suit) is slimming + Vertical ines are slimming; horizontal lines are not. + The v-neck shape is slimming + Single-breasted jackets are more slimming than double-breasted + High heels are slimming; as are clothes well-tailored rather than loose or tight fitting© vVIDEOZEUS TIPS FOR SOUNDING YOUR BEST ON CAMERA Be Yourself Put all your attention on the interviewer and focus on the conversation, which should help you ignore the camera. You will want to come across as relaxed and natural sounding, Be Prepared Prior to the interview ask the interviewer for alist of “talking points” they would like you to discuss. This can help you prepare your answers, but don't try to memorize what you will say as it will make you appear stiff and unnatural. Just answer the questions as you would in a regular (off camera) conversation. Don't look at the camera When the cameras are rolling, it is recommended you direct your gaze and your answers to the interviewer and not the camera. Simply look at the interviewer in the same manner you would anyone else you were having a conversation with ‘Speak from your head, not from notes It is common for the interviewer to refer to their notes during the discussion, but you won't. The information you are offering as part of a conversation should come from your head, not prepared notes, Short answers are best Even though you may have a lot to say in response to a given question, you don't want to speak more than a few sentences at a time. This keeps the dialog going back and forth, which makes for a more interesting experience for viewing audiences. Avoid technical jargon You will connect with your audience more by avoiding technical jargon as well as avoiding terms specific to your industry. Use simple language that will be understood by a broad audience. ‘Speak Up Be sure to enunciate yourself during the interview and speak up. If you are speaking to loud, the interviewer or video crew will let you know. But by giving soft spoken answers or mumbling, you can ‘come across in a poor manner to viewing audiences. Non-swivel chairs are best Ifthe interview is being conducted in your home or office, you'll want to use chairs that do not swivel Interviewees, in particular, tend to move when they are uncomfortable and this is distracting to viewing audiences, One final thought Ifyou are able to interject some appropriate humor at an apt point or two during the interview, it can help make the conversation more enjoyable for the viewing audience. However, unless you are a comic, there is no need to go overboard on the humor. For most interviews, the idea is to keep things light. This can help at times, even if the discussion is about a serious matter. Note, “appropriate humor’ is the operative term here as well as good judgement.