What to wear for a video shoot.
At PHI, we want you to look your best. When we go shooting real people we always get asked the same question “What should I wear?” For some, I know they are looking for an excuse to go out shopping, but for most it’s a legitimate concern that sometimes is overlooked. I put the following points together and share it with people I intend to shoot. Not only does it make them feel more comfortable about the upcoming big day, it also avoids costly delays and embarrassment.
- Dress as you would normally when you have a big meeting and realize the what you wear will effect what people will think about your company. Take into account that you want to feel comfortable as if you are uncomfortable it will be communicated on camera.
-Solid colors look best on video. Think blue, yellows, greens, grey and off white. Red is also fine but depending on the camera, the hue and the texture has caused problems in the past. Best to bring a back up if you dress in red…Just in case.
-Avoid white or dark clothing and instead dress in off white and dark grey.
-Avoid wearing the same color shirt & tie as…well, you won’t see your tie!
-Try not to wear anything too bright or distracting. Wearing wild colors, distracting clothing or jewelry may take away from what you want to say.
-Avoid clothing with fine patterns (pin stripes, herring bone) as they will cause a moiré pattern (a distracting wavy effect, seen mostly when Don Cherry appears on HNC) when seen on TV. Not to say you can’t wear something with a pattern, you just need to avoid the tight, thin, contrasted lines. Below is a quick example of what the moiré pattern looks like…note that only the image is pulling back, all the other movement is an illusion but very distracting!
-Avoid clothing that displays a brand, saying, image or logo unless you have obtained advance copyright approval (in writing) or it’s your own brand or sponsor.
-Avoid clothing that is reflective or has reflective strips unless it’s part of the interview!
-Avoid clothing that makes noise. If you know you will be walking while being interview, wearing cords or wind pants that swoosh when you walk would not be a good idea. Also think about leather that creaks, jackets and jewelry that also might make noise.
-If you can, or are unsure about what to wear don’t be afraid to bring several set of clothes so the director has a choice.
-If you wear eyeglasses, you may be asked to remove them if you are comfortable without them. Remember when the optometrist offered low or non glare lenses? Non glare free type lenses cause flares (reflections of the lights) and blocks your eyes from being seen. If you can’t function without them, we have a few tricks to lighten the glare.
Other things to remember:
-Turn your cell phone off. Even it it’s on silent or vibrate it can still make noise or cause electromagnetic interference to the camera and audio gear.
-Don’t forget to get a good night sleep before the shoot. Trust us…it shows!
-Men may need a little powder to keep the skin sheen down. Don’t be embarrassed about that!
-Women should wear their normal amount of makeup and not over do it.
- If you are prone to heavy sweating, let us know. Even if you are not, it’s always a good idea to keep a handkerchief close by for any quick dabs. Consider dress shields if you perspire easily.
-Don’t wear vivid red lipstick or try out some whacky new colour…unless that’s the look you are going for!
-Make up in general should be limited to softer tones and neutral overall look.
-Avoid ball caps. They hide your face and makes lighting you very hard.
-Try and pick an outfit that we can clip a small microphone and transmitter and transmitter too, unless we have discussed other intentions.
-If you are being shot on blue or green screen it’s very important that you do not wear…blue or green!
If we have missed anything or have any other advise to share, please let us know!
SW
Scott Westerlaken
Scott Westerlaken
With over 25 years of award winning experience in marketing, television commercials, film, video, communications, web, radio, print, and events, Scott has the ability to maintain focus on the big picture and offer a wide range of solutions appropriate to the clients message and budget. He has been recognized with dozens of awards in business, communications, and filmmaking from around the world. For the client, this means a truly unique balance of hands on technical knowledge and high level strategic experience that always leads to unique and creative solutions.