PROBLEM: Items in shot.

• Laptops, books, and other items can block the view of the subjects.
• A blocked view of the subjects is distracting for the videoconference participants.

SOLUTION:

• Set camera angle higher, so that items will not be directly in front of the subjects.
• Raise chairs to a higher height.
• Set laptops further away from the subjects.
• Tilt the laptop screen.
• Share laptops.
• Lay books flat on table.

PROBLEM: Subjects are far away/small.

• Being able to see the subjects in the picture is very important.
• Having subjects spaced too far away from each other creates a poor shot. The participants on the other side can can’t see the subjects very well.

SOLUTION:

• Have the subjects move closer together, and zoom the camera closer.

PROBLEM: Subjects are NOT Centred

• The subjects are off-centre, and far away.
• Any shot should have the subjects centered, and close framed. Too much space in the frame makes conversations seem distant.

SOLUTION:

• Pan and zoom the camera so the subjects are centered tight in the frame.
• Any shot should have the subjects centered, and close into the frame.

1. The participants here are looking at the remote site through their display, but their local camera is positioned off to their right. The subjects will always look at the monitor display in a videoconference, so when the camera is not positioned onto or in front of the monitor display, it will appear as if the subjects are talking away from the camera.There is no eye contact, creating an impersonal conversation. The camera should always be positioned directly in front of the subjects.

2. When the camera is positioned too low, it creates an illusion that the subjects are being looked up at. A low camera position can also limit the use of laptops and other items. The camera should be set up as close to eye level as possible.

Good Examples for Portable Units

The following are good examples of how to layout a portable unit with a few participants. The subjects are centered with the displays and the camera is close to the remote display. In this picture, the camera is positioned between the remote display and the local display. This is a useful strategy as local participants often want to look at themselves in the local display causing them to appear to be looking to the left or the right of the remote participants.