A webcam recording often starts at the desk where you happen to be working. That position may put a bright window behind you, the camera below your face and the microphone too far away. Before buying more equipment, check what you can improve by moving your laptop and changing where you sit.
This guide covers seven parts of the setup, starting with lighting and sound. The same checks will help you prepare for a remote interview or a presenter video for your website. In the video below, Ryan demonstrates the basics.
Good webcam lighting
To make the most of natural light, sit facing a window if possible. Soft, indirect light works well. If the sun is shining directly onto your face, try a sheer curtain or move away from the window.
Add a soft LED light if you need more light on your face. Avoid filming with a window or bright light behind you, as this can leave your face in shadow. Check the background too: it should be visible without being brighter than you.
If you wear glasses, check whether the window or light reflects in the lenses and hides your eyes. Move the light slightly to one side, or change your angle to the window, then check the picture again.
Improve your audio
If possible, use an external microphone. A headset or USB microphone is a straightforward option. A microphone such as the RØDE PodMic can also work, but this XLR model needs an audio interface and XLR cable to connect to your computer.
If you’re using the built-in microphone, choose a quiet room and sit close enough for your voice to sound clear. With an external microphone, position it near your mouth and listen for breath noise or distortion. Getting the microphone closer can make your voice more prominent relative to room noise.
Before recording, check that your call or recording app has selected the microphone you intend to use. In Zoom, open Settings, then Audio, and use Test microphone to record and hear your voice back. Zoom’s audio-testing guide explains the steps.
Get your framing right
Avoid leaving too much room above your head, but leave enough space that your head isn’t touching the edge of the frame. A useful guide is to position your eyes near an imaginary horizontal line across the top third of the picture. Include your shoulders so the shot doesn’t feel too tight.
Consider your background
Look at the whole picture, including the edges of the frame. Move laundry, cables or a bright object that draws attention away from your face. A bookshelf, plant or part of your workspace can give the viewer some context without crowding the shot.
Check that a lamp or shelf directly behind you doesn’t appear to be growing out of your head. Moving your chair a little to one side is often enough to separate the two.
Set your camera at eye level
Try to set up your webcam at eye level. This gives the viewer a more natural angle than looking up from a laptop on your desk. A stable laptop stand or a stack of books can help raise the camera. Check your framing again after adjusting the height.
Look towards the camera
For a presenter video where you’re speaking directly to the viewer, look towards the camera lens. Place brief notes close to the lens so you don’t have to look far away.
For a recorded interview, agree with the producer beforehand whether you should look into the lens or at the interviewer on screen. If you’re watching the interviewer, move their video window close to your webcam. That keeps your eyeline near the camera while you concentrate on the conversation.
If being on camera feels awkward, our guide to presenting naturally on camera offers advice on preparing your message and speaking to one person.
Choose a quiet place to record
Choose a quiet room, silence notifications and let other people know you’re recording. Listen for sounds you may have stopped noticing, such as a fan, air conditioner or traffic through an open window. Close the window or switch off a noisy appliance where practical.
Finish with a 30-second test
Record a short clip in the app you’ll use for the real recording. Speak at your normal volume and glance at your notes as you would during the session. Watch it back and listen through headphones: can you see your eyes clearly, hear every word and look at your notes without an obvious turn of the head?
If something needs attention, change one thing and make another short test. For an interview, do this with the other person on the call so you can check both voices before the conversation starts.
Once the setup works, take a reference photo showing the laptop, light and microphone positions. You’ll have a starting point for the next recording, and a practical way to keep a series of videos looking consistent.
Ryan Spanger is the founder and managing director of Dream Engine, a Melbourne video production company established in 2002. Over the past two decades, he’s produced hundreds of videos for businesses, government departments, universities and healthcare organisations across Australia. Ryan specialises in helping organisations explain complex ideas through clear, engaging video content, with particular experience in corporate communications, training and education.
