Stop doing this with your smart phone
Ifyou make videos with your smart phone there's a pretty big chance you'll be using the front facing camera to do it. But there's a problem and you may not even realise you're doing it.
But like most things there's a really easy fix and when you know the problem exists we guarantee you'll never do this again!
Making eye contact
If you and I met face to face at a meeting and I spent the whole time talking with you while looking over your shoulder there's a chance you'd think I was a bit rude. In fact you may politely cut the conversation short and walk away.
But many people do exactly that when they film a video. Eye contact is so important on video. You want to feel as if the person is talking directly to you and not looking elsewhere while they do it.
When you look at yourself while filming using the front screen on a camera, you are doing just that, you're looking over someone's shoulder. Or even worse, if you're filming in portrait mode, that will look like you're staring at their chest! This is why...
The camera lens is the viewer's window into your world. It's from that angle they see everything you're doing on screen. When you hold the camera in a landscape aspect (long across the top and short on the sides) your camera lens is off to one side of the screen. So by looking at the screen and not the lens, to the viewer it will appear that you're looking over their shoulder. And that's rude!
Turn the phone around to portrait and the lens moves to above the screen. So that would appear as if you're looking below the viewer's eyes and directly at their chest. That's even ruder!
How to fix this
Easy. Use the screen to check you look fab and make sure you're in the right position on screen. Then when you hit record, look directly at the lens. Then to your viewer it will appear as if you are making eye contact.
The result of this is huge! They will pay much more attention to what you're saying and trust you far more if you make eye contact. It doesn't matter if you're in a real world setting or on camera. The outcome is the same.
Want to learn some more?
You'll no doubt be aware that, as well as making videos, we love to teach you how to make your own.
We hold many training days where we come to you and help you learn any aspect of video making or video marketing that you need to get you to the next level.
These days are bespoke to you and you can even invite a bunch off friends or colleagues over to share the cost. Click on the button below to see how our coaching works.
