Everyone is doing live video these days. I understand that people want to be authentic and share organic moments of brilliance from anywhere, but unless you want to look like some reporter on 60 Minutes is trying to conceal your identity, I suggest that you set up a professional mini studio, with audio and lighting you can control. You can easily set up studio in your office or home with professional equipment. Then when you want to be on camera, you can make yourself look like a million bucks. There is nothing worse than watching LIVE video without adequate lighting and quality audio. It can turn your viewers off. But never fear… Amazon can have you looking and sounding like Broadcast TV in no time. Here are a few suggestions for how to look great on Facebook LIVE:
Audio and Lighting Tools for Mobile Devices
Audio Mic
Earphones Cloudio J1 Noise Cancelling Earbuds with Microphone Noise Isolating Earbuds Super Bass Earbuds. These ear buds have noise cancellation/isolating and less than 1% distortion rate. High quality built-in microphone for crystal clear conversation in any environment.
Video Lighting for iPhone or Samsung Devices
Try this mini ring light with a rechargeable battery. It’s perfect for Selfie LED Camera Light for iPhone, iPad or Samsung Galaxy Phones.
Home/Office Studio Gear
When it come to setting up a studio in your business office or home, there are a few things to consider. Where can you set up your shot? Do you have a nice clean colored wall or book shelf to use as a backdrop? Do you have a stand, table or desk for your laptop that will be at eye level? (You don’t want the camera looking up your nose.) Will you have help to set this equipment up? Most of the equipment is fairly self explanatory, but you also need to make sure your computer is in the right place.
18-inch Ring Light Kit
Neewer Camera Photo Video Lighting Kit: 18 inches/48 centimeters Outer 55W 5500K Dimmable LED Ring Light, Light Stand, Bluetooth Receiver for Smartphone, Youtube, Vine Self-Portrait Video Shooting
Now I’m a firm believe in 3-point lighting which means you need at least two more lights, and if you have a backdrop, it’s best to light that too.
3 Point Lighting Kit with Soft Boxes
Fovitec (3) 20″x28″ Soft box Lighting Kit w/ 2500 W Total Output – Includes Boom, Stands, Soft boxes, Socket Heads, 11x 45W Bulbs
I like this 3 light kit because it has a boom stand that allows you to put lighting above your head which will produce a nice balanced effect. The benefits to a soft box is that it produces light which is more even than light coming from an umbrella. A soft box emulates the soft, directional lighting usually produced by natural window light. It softens and diffuses the lighting by transmitting the light through a diffusion panel.
If you would like to have a microphone that you plug directly into your computer, try this one.
USB Microphone for Mac and Windows Computers.
FIFINE Microphone is Optimized for Recording, Streaming Twitch, Voiceovers, Podcasting for Youtube and Skype chats.
Design a Professional Backdrop
Despite what you have seen, doing a video from your couch in your living room is not a good look. Tidy up your office or use a great wall with artwork. If none of that is available in your work space, you may want to have a professional graphic design firm like Kayla Creative create a nice branded backdrop for you.
Once you have a design, you can get an inexpensive backdrop printed, my favorite vendor for this is www.stickersbanners.com. Invest in a fabric backdrop, not a vinyl one as that will reflect the light in your video and become distracting. Depending on where you are in the country, they can do same day/next day delivery for FREE once you approve the artwork.
As a former TV News Producer, I hope you have enjoyed my public service announcement about these low cost resources that will have you looking like a professional for around $400.
Do you have any ideas for home studio equipment?
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