Proud Business Productions - Where Should I Look When Talking On Camera? (2024)

FAQs

Where should you look when talking to a camera? ›

Don't keeping looking at yourself in the screen. When talking directly into the camera I would recommend that you centre yourself in the frame and have your eyes placed exactly in the top third of the frame. This will draw the viewers eye towards you and help build the connection you are looking for.

You typically have two options, either you can look straight into the camera or slightly to one side. Most importantly, though, you should keep looking the same direction throughout the video.

Make eye contact with the camera (and audience, even though you can't see them), just as you would in a face-to-face conversation. Instead of watching yourself talking, look directly into the camera. Smiling while you talk will convey enthusiasm to your audience and make it easier to keep them engaged.

In a business conversation, your eye contact should be focused on the upper face, brows and forehead of the other person. For more social conversations, it's fine to focus your gaze in the mid face area of the other person, including their eyes and mouth. But remember, this is NOT a professional recommendation.

If you're speaking with an interviewer by Zoom, remember: Their image on your screen is not where your eyes should go. You need to look at the little camera on your laptop or phone in order to appear to make eye contact with the interviewer.

Camera placement

If the camera is looking down on you, you'll appear minimized in the frame; if it's looking up, you're inviting people to focus on your chin, neck, or nostrils. Most important, positioning the camera off your eye level is a distraction. Look them in the eye, even if they're miles or continents away.

Always look at the camera: Use VEED's AI eye tracker

Make it look like you're always looking at the camera, even if you're reading a script, with VEED's eye-tracking software.

Look yourself in the eyes confidently. Put a light smile on your face so that you look determined. Start talking to your reflection. Say things like “I believe in myself!”, “I can!”, “Everyday I get 1% better.”, “I know what I want and aren't afraid to get it.”

Do I look the way I do on camera? ›

The closer the camera is to our face, the more distorted our appearance can appear, which can be unflattering. The angle of the camera can also affect the way our facial features appear, which can make us look different than we do in the mirror.

To maintain eye contact with someone, you need to look at the lens of your camera. However, for you, the speaker, your eyes would have to glance over at your screen to see reactions and other cues from your audience. Your camera angle also plays a role in how people perceive you in video conferences as well.

So, in summary, it's really important (unless there's a good reason not to) that when you're being photographed or doing a selfie, work out where the camera lens is and look straight into it because that will help you to build a connection with the viewer.

Roll the camera!

Having the camera at eye level or slightly above is far more flattering than the alternative. If you've ever had the pleasure of watching a “nasal cam,” you know what we mean. If you have a webcam, positioning it on top of your computer monitor is usually best.