Set the stage with what feels comfortable to you...
When thinking about the background for your online videos…
…stick to what feels most comfortable to you.
A couple years ago, I was recording a video for a colleague to share to promote a service the two of us were creating together.
It was a fairly quick, 2-minute message, so I figured I’d set up my camera and lights in my home office.
The background, at the time, looked very similar to this, save for a few things that got tossed into the garbage, and the addition of the color light strips on the edges of the shelving unit.
But the equipment boxes from yesteryear were there.
After a quick take - or 10 (I’m not a professional speaker, folks!) - I sent the clip over and forgot about it.
Fast-forward a couple days, and I received a message from my colleague telling me that I need to do the video over again. I figured it was a technical issue or something went screwy during the upload, which happens from time-to-time.
Turns out it wasn’t a technical issue she was pointing out.
It was an issue due to her matter of taste.
Apparently, she was not a fan of the way I had my background set up. She said it was too busy and expected me to reshoot the video against a plain wall, even though the whole point of the video was to introduce me to her audience.
At first, I was pissed.
But ultimately, I did what she asked as I didn’t want to rock the boat.
After I reshot the clip, I immediately felt resentful that I didn’t make more of a stink of it.
What’s the big deal, really?
When I look at that background full of the boxes of all the gear that I’ve bought through the years, it makes me smile.
Those aren’t just some shitty, banged up supermarket boxes meant to transport the groceries from the car to the kitchen.
They represent 15 years of being a photographer. They represent my art, life and passion. They are directly connected to me in a very personal way.
And, I can’t think of a BETTER background for my online videos and interviews than this.
I mean, yeah, I could be in a more open space like my living room and set up a bunch of lights on stands behind me and do that sorta thing.
But photographers have been doing that for years, and it feels overdone at this point…unless I were shooting a photography tutorial, which I don’t do.
And shooting on a plain wall consistently sounds like a really boring option. Good option in a pinch, on the road, with nothing else to work with…but that’s special circumstances.
That’s why every video I create at home for my DELIVER MAGIC training will use this very same background, regardless of other people’s opinions.
I know, I’m such a rebel, right?
(that’s my expression when I hear someone talking crap about my boxes! 😂)
As for you…
When shooting videos for your online content, stick to what feels right to you, what feels most aligned with your personality, style sense and brand.
A bunch of old equipment boxes work for me, what about you? What background do you prefer to use while shooting video content at home?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below.