How to Make a Talking Head Video for Your Website

Figuring out how to make a talking head video for your website is a process that is relatively simple overall, especially if you have some working knowledge of video production to help you get started. Before you go diving into a complex video production project with multiple cameras and elaborate lighting or special effects and thinking that you can do it all on your own, it’s important to take a step back and consider the intricacies of a project with such magnitude so that you don’t ends up frustrated with the outcome! However, learning how to make a talking head video is certainly something that someone with very basic filmmaking skills can accomplish with minimal frustration.

If you’re interested in learning how to make a talking head video that includes a cinematic experience for your audience complete with b-roll footage, character arcs, and a level of visual storytelling that is to be expected of a professional filmmaker, give Beverly Boy Productions a call! We can help with all of those requests providing you with a cinematic talking head video that will represent your business or brand with top notch professionalism. 

If you’re truly focused on figuring out how to make a talking head video on your own, consider the following tips from the professionals at Team Beverly Boy.

Learn About Camera Positioning & Framing Your Subject

You’re probably already aware of the fact that you’re going to frame your subject in the center, or just off to the side of your talking head video. After all, the visual representation of your subject speaking on camera is what a “talking head video” gets its name from.  But are you aware of the camera positioning that is going to be most influential to your audience? As a business owner, if you don’t have a background in film production or another creative role such as photography, or art in general, you may not have much understanding of composition, but it’s kind of important to the production.

The art of composition basically defines the visual aspects of your talking head video including the background, where the character (your subject) is positioned in the screen while talking, and the framing of any other elements or objects contained within the visible area of the camera set while the shots are captured. It also has a lot to do with how shots are captured including things like the depth of field which represents the amount of space or distance that is actually in focus for the camera as well as the foreground or background in relation to both your camera and to your subject. 

Understanding all of these details that go into determining how to position your camera or your subject for the most suitable depth of field and the most sophisticated shots of your subject can be particularly challenging for someone new to the industry. To simplify the overall process, consider the following tips on camera positioning and framing your subject as you’re figuring out how to make a talking head video:

• Position your camera so that it either is directly in front of your subject such that they are looking right into the camera lens, or so that it is just off to the side of your subject such that they appear in observation to the side of the lens. The latter is a bit less personal while having your subject look directly at the lens can create a more intimate experience. 
• Frame your subject so that they have “head room” above their head such that the camera shot doesn’t cut off any part of the subject’s head nor does it cut off immediately above the head.
• If you opt for your subject to take a side angle view of the camera, make sure there’s adequate space between the subject’s nose and the outer edge of the frame.
• If you’re using only one camera, opt for a medium-close-up for your primary shot. If you’re lucky enough to use multiple cameras. Set one camera up for the medium-close-up and use the other for creating varied shots that incorporate more of the background, or otherwise provide a better view of the subject.

Make Sure Your Sound is Impeccable

There’s one thing that every viewer is going to notice about your talking head video if you get it wrong – the sound! If your audio isn’t impeccable, you’re going to lose the interest of your audience and you probably will not gain them back. Capturing great audio is one of the most important considerations for someone that’s learning how to make a talking head video to focus on. 

Make sure that your subject isn’t wearing clothing that will rustle or otherwise make noise as they shift or move around, and make sure that you’re using a lavalier mic to capture every word they say! DO NOT rely on your camera to capture the audio! 

Set Your Lighting in Triangle Form

Even if you are limited with the amount of lighting that you have to work with, a big portion of learning how to make a talking head video for your website is to set your lighting up. A 3 point lighting set up, one of the simplest options,  allows you create a soft, flattering diffusion of light around your subject’s face by setting your three lights in a triangular pattern. You should have:

• A key light.
• A back light.
• A fill light.

Shooting the Talking Head Video

With your camera set, your lighting in place, and your mic readily attached to your subject it’s time to shoot the talking head video. The entire process of learning how to make a talking head video is about building up to this exactly point! If you’re feeling comfortable with the idea of shooting the video, by all means give it a try! But if you’re feeling like the entire process seems out of your range and complicated or too technical, give Beverly Boy Productions a call.