{"id":830,"date":"2021-12-21T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-21T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maestrodev.wpengine.com\/?p=830"},"modified":"2023-03-09T20:04:59","modified_gmt":"2023-03-09T20:04:59","slug":"6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video for Your Next Learning Project"},"content":{"rendered":"

Video is a powerful tool for learning. It grabs and keeps learner attention, and it\u2019s a proven medium for boosting retention<\/a>, too. Plus, learners already engage regularly with video in their daily lives on apps like TikTok and Instagram, and we know that learners prefer experiences that feel intuitive and familiar<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The talking head video has become a particularly popular format for learning projects, and with good reason. A talking head video centers a single person\u2014usually a SME (Subject Matter Expert)\u2014as the main subject, talking directly to the camera. It\u2019s a simple, cost-effective format, and it adds an engaging human element to the learning experience. Especially when you\u2019re looking to influence your audience, talking heads allow you to put a familiar or credible face in front of them in order to add weight to the message you\u2019re delivering.<\/p>\n

Although the format is simple, a lot goes into creating a successful talking head video for learning. Our Media team serves as our in-house experts on creating beautiful, engaging, and strategic talking head videos that push the limits of what this format can accomplish. But it all starts with having a solid foundation for your video, and it takes more than sitting in front of a camera to get it right.<\/p>\n

Without a solid strategy, talking head videos can run the risk of turning out low quality and distracting\u2014and might even work against your learning goals. But when executed correctly, a talking head video is an engaging and impactful way to add value to the overall learning experience. Here are six tips for talking head video production.<\/p>\n

1. Shoot with the end in mind<\/h2>\n

Before diving into production, take a step back to consider the final delivery and audience for your talking head video. Consider the role it will play in the overall learning experience. Where in the curriculum will it occur? How does the video support the overall goals of the learning project.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s always a good idea to pre-plan for the script and make sure your subject is clear, concise, and engaging<\/a>. The script should also feel cohesive and attuned to the learner journey. For example, can you incorporate callbacks into your script that reference content from earlier in the course? It\u2019s also important to make sure you\u2019re striking the right tone\u2014a video that serves as the opening to the curriculum calls for a different tone than one that wraps up the course.<\/p>\n

2. Don\u2019t use green screens<\/h2>\n

Everyone\u2019s seen the dated, cringe-worthy training videos of years past\u2014don\u2019t be that video. Instead, aim to make your video feel as authentic as possible. Especially for learning projects, relatability is what will hook viewers in and keep their attention. Consider settings that will be familiar to the context of your learners\u2014can you find somewhere quiet that aligns with the subject and goals of your video?<\/p>\n

If a realistic setting isn\u2019t in the cards, opt for a clean white background, using a seamless backdrop that you light independently of your subject.<\/p>\n

Related<\/h5>

Video Length: 4 Tips That Will Help You Boost Engagement<\/p><\/path><\/svg><\/a><\/div>\n

3. Lighting is critical<\/h2>\n

Production value matters! All the benefits of using video that we covered earlier are at risk if your video comes off as low-quality or poorly made to learners. Our tips for talking head video lighting: avoid shadows, overexposure, and just plain bad lighting. Learn how to use 3-point lighting<\/a>. If that\u2019s not available, position your subject facing a nice soft natural light source, like a window. A good guideline: the spot with the most convenient lighting is often the best choice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s another tip to maximize natural light. If the sun\u2019s shining outside and throwing harsh shadows, try hanging a white blanket over the window to soften the light. If natural lighting just isn\u2019t feasible, try using white lights, not yellow<\/a>.<\/p>\n

4. A little bit of set design goes a long way<\/h2>\n

Part of the appeal of a talking head video is its simplicity, but it can easily veer into boredom. Learners will be more engaged when your content is visually interesting. Set design is an opportunity to establish the context for the video and reflect the environment of your learners as much as possible.<\/p>\n

Are there set details you can incorporate that tie into the learner context? For example, you wouldn\u2019t shoot a training video about manufacturing safety in a boardroom. You don\u2019t necessarily have to go on location to achieve an authentic set design, but even just a few props can set context in the room that supports the subject matter of your video.<\/p>\n

5. Audio is 50 percent of the video<\/h2>\n

Pay attention to this one: bad audio is the most common mistake people make when taking a DIY approach to a talking head video. Don\u2019t count on winging it with audio quality\u2014while there are some mediums where lower audio quality might be acceptable (think social media videos and user-generated content), learning videos aren\u2019t one of them.<\/p>\n

Here are a couple of tips for talking head video audio. To achieve high-quality audio, use a boom mic or a lapel mic. The built-in microphone on your camera is only for reference audio.<\/p>\n

6. Two cameras are better than one<\/h2>\n

You want your talking head video to be engaging, right? Videos with more than one angle are more dynamic and interesting, and the best way to achieve that is by using two cameras. Remember to keep your cameras on the same side of your subject, and try alternating between a wide shot and a close-up shot when editing your talking head video.<\/p>\n

Think using two cameras might be a bit advanced for you? Here\u2019s a pro tip: having two cameras actually offers a huge advantage for amateurs. You\u2019re not a pro, and that\u2019s okay\u2014using two cameras helps non-professionals cut around any mistakes that may occur, like if your on-screen talent makes a mistake. Another piece of advice if you\u2019re just getting started: shoot at a higher resolution than you need so that you\u2019ll have more flexibility to edit and reframe your shot during the editing process without losing quality.<\/p>\n

If you follow these talking head video tips, you\u2019re well on your way to creating a successful talking head video for your next learning project. But it\u2019s also good to know when to hire a professional to guarantee that your video is as impactful and creative as possible. When you get it right, talking head videos can pack a real punch for your learning outcomes, boosting learner engagement and generating real excitement about your subject matter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Video is a powerful tool for learning. It grabs and keeps learner attention, and it\u2019s a proven medium for boosting retention, too. Plus, learners already engage regularly with video in their daily lives on apps like TikTok and Instagram, and we know that learners prefer experiences that feel intuitive and familiar. The talking head video […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3309,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3869],"tags":[],"role":[3891,3890,3893],"class_list":["post-830","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-learning-experience-design","role-instructional-designer","role-learning-leader","role-visual-designer"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video | Maestro<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Talking head video is an affordable, impactful way to share a message with your audience. Try these 6 tips for your next video.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video | Maestro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Talking head video is an affordable, impactful way to share a message with your audience. Try these 6 tips for your next video.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Maestro\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MeetMaestro\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-12-21T07:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-03-09T20:04:59+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1120\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Maestro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@TeamMaestro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@TeamMaestro\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Maestro\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Maestro\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e9052a44eea18f5b90a8704b20e287dc\"},\"headline\":\"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video for Your Next Learning Project\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-12-21T07:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-09T20:04:59+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1118,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Learning-experience design\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/\",\"name\":\"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video | Maestro\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-12-21T07:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-03-09T20:04:59+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e9052a44eea18f5b90a8704b20e287dc\"},\"description\":\"Talking head video is an affordable, impactful way to share a message with your audience. Try these 6 tips for your next video.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2018\\\/10\\\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1120,\"caption\":\"7 tips for shooting a talking head video featured image\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/blogs\\\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video for Your Next Learning Project\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/\",\"name\":\"Maestro\",\"description\":\"\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/maestrolearning.com\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/e9052a44eea18f5b90a8704b20e287dc\",\"name\":\"Maestro\",\"sameAs\":[\"http:\\\/\\\/maestrodev.wpengine.com\"]}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video | Maestro","description":"Talking head video is an affordable, impactful way to share a message with your audience. Try these 6 tips for your next video.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video | Maestro","og_description":"Talking head video is an affordable, impactful way to share a message with your audience. Try these 6 tips for your next video.","og_url":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/","og_site_name":"Maestro","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MeetMaestro\/","article_published_time":"2021-12-21T07:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-03-09T20:04:59+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1120,"url":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Maestro","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@TeamMaestro","twitter_site":"@TeamMaestro","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Maestro","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/"},"author":{"name":"Maestro","@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/#\/schema\/person\/e9052a44eea18f5b90a8704b20e287dc"},"headline":"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video for Your Next Learning Project","datePublished":"2021-12-21T07:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-03-09T20:04:59+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/"},"wordCount":1118,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg","articleSection":["Learning-experience design"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/","url":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/","name":"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video | Maestro","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg","datePublished":"2021-12-21T07:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-03-09T20:04:59+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/#\/schema\/person\/e9052a44eea18f5b90a8704b20e287dc"},"description":"Talking head video is an affordable, impactful way to share a message with your audience. Try these 6 tips for your next video.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/7-Tips-for-Shooting-a-Talking-Head-Video-Website-1.jpg","width":1920,"height":1120,"caption":"7 tips for shooting a talking head video featured image"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/blogs\/6-tips-for-shooting-a-talking-head-video\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"6 Tips for Shooting a Talking Head Video for Your Next Learning Project"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/#website","url":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/","name":"Maestro","description":"","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/#\/schema\/person\/e9052a44eea18f5b90a8704b20e287dc","name":"Maestro","sameAs":["http:\/\/maestrodev.wpengine.com"]}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/830","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=830"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/830\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=830"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=830"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=830"},{"taxonomy":"role","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maestrolearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/role?post=830"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}