As of 2020 TEDx allows us to film TEDx talks kind of anywhere - even in our homes on webcams. In this short guide you'll learn how to use gear you probably have sitting around to light yourself well, set up camera angles for easy footage editing that looks professional, and capture audio that helps your audience understand you clearly and focus on your message.
Really all that matters is you get two wide angle, high resolution cameras set up. The rest is pretty fixable. HD video resolution is passable, 4k resolution is ideal so we can cut in and use one camera angle as two cameras!
Any iPhone made in the last 5 years can shoot 4k with the main camera, any iPhone made since the iPhone 11 can shoot 4k even with the front camera (so you can film in selfie mode!)
Pick one camera to talk to like it's your audience. Connect with your audience by looking in that camera directly as you talk, just like you would look at and talk to a close friend. Imagine that it's someone you're friendly with behind the camera so you don't get weird and robotic. Don't switch cameras like a news anchor - give your whole presentation to one camera. 😂
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ilJor43oIM
That video covered 90% of what we need you to get right. Besides having a wide shot with high resolution, here are the details that'll make your talk stand out from the pack - if you get this last 10% of the details right, your talk will turn our remarkable!
There are just a few things the professionals do differently from what you'd guess that indicate to viewers that the production value is higher. This happens mostly subconsciously when you watch a professional production. We're going to tell you what those are you so you can watch out for them - and then you'll learn how to do those easily and quickly in your own home. It really comes down to three things:
Indirect/bounced lighting.
Zoom in and step back.
Make sure your get audio that sounds like you're standing next to the presenter.
Most people will setup a wide angle iPhone shot like in my demo, and they'll call it quits at that - and that's great! That is in fact enough to make a passable TEDx talk, but these details make it look like you went above and beyond without adding too much to your time and effort. For maybe an extra hour of planning and coordination, you'll have a night and day difference.
Direct lighting often casts harsh shadows. Think about a sunny day at high noon. Dark shadows, crisp shadow edges. If you try to take portraits in that environment, they often look unappealing. This is basically because we're used to seeing each other in the shade.
In the shade you have multiple, soft light sources: the blue sky, the open window, etc.
How can you replicate a nice, shady look inside your home?
The easiest way is you stand near a window and face it at 45 degrees to the window pane. A window is a huge, soft light source so long as the sun isn't shining directly through it - no need to add diffusers or anything, those will just make it darker and you need all the light you can get!
If you don't have a window you can easily face, the next best option is to bounce a bright light into a corner of your room 45 degrees away from where you're facing the camera. Either grab a tall standing lamp and take the shade off, or pick up a work light or two from home depot or two for $15 and point them at the wall. Viola. Just be careful these can get hot!