How to Create a Good Camera Setup for Recording Public Speaking Videos
Liam Sandford
Liam Sandford is a public speaking coach, marketing leader, and 2x Best Selling Author, including the book Effortless Public Speaking. He helps introverted professionals and leaders take control of public speaking anxiety and use speaking to market themselves, build influence, and communicate with impact.
Creating professional videos online through public speaking content is one of the most effective ways to build authority, communicate ideas clearly, and increase your reach across marketing channels. A strong camera setup helps you deliver more confidently, maintain viewer attention, and create content that reflects your expertise. Whether you are recording selfie videos for Instagram, or long form YouTube videos, this article will show you how camera positioning, framing, lighting, audio, backgrounds, and workflow combine to create video content that performs across platforms.
Why Your Camera Setup Matters for Public Speaking Videos
Your camera setup has a direct effect on how your audience perceives your message and your credibility. Low production quality creates friction that distracts viewers from the idea you are trying to communicate. When your visuals and audio feel professional, viewers are more likely to trust you, complete the video, and take the action you want them to take. A reliable, repeatable setup also reduces cognitive load during recording, so you can focus on performance and message rather than technical troubleshooting. For marketers and thought leaders, the setup is not a vanity detail, it is part of the delivery that determines whether ideas land or get lost.
Good setups also increase distribution potential. Platforms reward watch time and repeat views, both of which improve when the viewer can clearly see and hear you, and when the video looks intentional. Finally, a consistent setup creates a recognisable visual style for your content. Over time, this builds brand memory, which helps with audience retention and subscriber growth. For more on how to create compelling public speaking video content that helps you build your social media audience, check out the Ultimate Guide to Public Speaking in Marketing.
The Key Elements of a High Quality Camera Setup
A reliable setup is built from a handful of components that work together. Think of the system as camera plus lens or sensor, stable support, lighting, audio, background, and workflow. Each element amplifies the others. Great video without clear audio still feels amateur. Great lighting will not rescue bad framing. The easiest way to improve your videos quickly is to audit each of these elements and make small, targeted upgrades.
Start with the camera and audio that match how you record. Add a stable tripod and set the camera at eye level. Use at least one soft light source to light up your face, and pick a background that supports your message. Finally, develop a simple pre recording checklist so you do not forget crucial adjustments. Small investments and simple habits compound into professional, repeatable output.
Choose the Right Camera for Your Needs
Selecting the right camera depends on whether you record seated, standing, mobile, or a mix. Modern smartphones shoot excellent video and are a great choice for vertical or on the move recordings. A good webcam, such as a 4K model, is brilliant for desk based recordings because it reduces setup complexity.
Prioritise a camera that is reliable, easy to use, and capable of consistent autofocus and exposure. Aim for at least 1080p resolution but 4K is preferable if you plan to crop or reframe in post. Check how the camera handles skin tones, white balance, and low light before committing. A modest investment in a camera that fits your workflow pays dividends in time saved and video quality.
Support Your Camera With the Right Tripod or Mount
A stable support system keeps your framing consistent and removes shakiness that undermines authority. Choose a tripod or mount that reaches eye level and locks securely. For mobile phone recordings, a flexible phone clamp plus a compact tripod provides both stability and portability. For hybrid setups, consider a small gimbal or stabiliser if you move around during presentations.
Stability also allows you to compose with intention. You can lock your frame, experiment with headroom, and decide whether to use tight or medium framing. Consistent composition creates a sense of professionalism that viewers associate with credible speakers.
Pick a Lens or Field of View That Feels Natural
If you use an interchangeable lens camera, choose a focal length between 24 and 50 millimetres for a natural perspective that does not distort the face. Wider lenses can create context but may introduce unflattering distortion when close. If you use a webcam or smartphone, pay attention to the field of view settings and avoid extreme wide angles.
A lens with a wider aperture helps separate you from the background, producing a gentle blur that keeps the focus on your face. However, in small rooms this can reduce depth of field too much, making focus less forgiving. Balance aperture and focal length to suit your space and preferred look.
How Framing and Composition Shape Your On Camera Presence
Framing affects how your audience connects with you. Proper composition helps convey confidence, clarity, and approachability. When you position the camera at eye level and frame from mid chest to the top of the head, viewers feel like they are in conversational proximity. Leave a small amount of headroom so the shot feels comfortable and not crowded.
Think about movement and gesture. If your content involves large gestures, give yourself more headroom and horizontal space. If you want a tighter, mailbox style delivery, crop closer but preserve shoulder width. Consider the platform too. Horizontal framing suits YouTube and LinkedIn, while vertical framing is better for Reels and TikTok. Plan your framing around where the video will live.
Centre Yourself or Use Rule of Thirds Intentionally
Centering the speaker communicates directness and authority, which suits lectures and keynote style pieces. Rule of thirds can feel more cinematic and allows space to introduce on screen graphics such as quotes or slides. Both approaches are valid but the key is to be deliberate so your visual choices support the content and not distract from it.
Keep Background Depth to Avoid Flat Looking Shots
Position yourself a few feet away from the background when space allows. This creates depth and avoids strong background shadows. Depth improves perceived production value and reduces the sense that the video is a webcam call. Adding a subtle backlight or hair light helps separate you from the background and adds another layer of professional polish.
Lighting Techniques That Improve Your Video Quality
Lighting is one of the fastest ways to make your videos feel professional. Even modest lights used well outperform expensive cameras used poorly. The aim is to create flattering, even illumination that makes facial expressions readable and reduces distracting shadows.
Prioritise three things: key light to illuminate your face, fill light to reduce harsh shadows, and background light to create separation and interest. In small setups a two light arrangement will work well; the key light gives the primary illumination and a softer fill reduces contrast. Use diffusers or softboxes to avoid hard spots.
Use Natural Light Strategically When Possible
Natural light provides flattering results when used consistently. Face a large window and avoid direct sun which creates harsh contrast. Natural light varies with time of day and weather, so use it when you can lock in consistent recording times, or combine it with artificial lights to stabilise the look.
Invest in LED Panels or Ring Lights for Consistency
LED panels are compact, adjustable, and energy efficient. They let you control brightness and colour temperature so you achieve a repeatable look regardless of external conditions. A ring light works well for close up, frontal illumination and is especially useful when filming on phone. Two LED lights positioned at roughly 45 degree angles produce the right kind of lighting set up for most public speaking style videos.
Audio Considerations That Support Your Camera Setup
Audio quality is non negotiable for public speaking content. Even small levels of background noise or poor clarity will make viewers drop off. Choose a microphone that matches your recording context and learn how to place it properly. Clean audio improves perceived expertise and makes complex ideas easier to absorb.
Consider room acoustics. Hard surfaces produce reflections and echo. Add soft materials such as rugs, curtains, or foam panels to control reverb. Always monitor levels and record a test snippet to confirm clarity and presence.
Microphone Options and What They Are Best For
USB condenser microphones provide excellent clarity for desk based recordings, are easy to use, and require minimal setup. Lavalier mics are superb for mobility and keep audio consistent while you move. Shotgun mics on booms work well when you want the mic out of frame while still capturing directional sound. Choose the type that fits your movement and platform.
Proper Microphone Placement and Gain Staging
Place microphones close enough to your mouth to capture a strong signal without being visible in frame. For lavaliers clip them central on the chest, for USB mics position them slightly off axis to reduce the boom sound you get on harsh letters like ‘p’ or ‘b’. Set gain so your loudest speech peaks around 60 to 75 percent of the recording meter. If it is too high you will hear the slightest pop in your words, and too low and you will bring up any background noise.
The Camera and Audio Setup I Use
You probably want a cost effective, easy to use set up without having lots of equipment hanging around, especially if you are recording your videos from home. This is the exact approach I take, and this is the equipment I use to record my videos:
Logitech Brio 4K Webcam - great quality for recording videos from my laptop. It is a USB plug in so make sure you have enough USB ports to be able to use it, if not a docking station would be a good idea.
Blue Yeti USB Microphone - my main desk microphone for clear voice recordings. Again it is a USB plug in, and is something that can plug in from anywhere. If I am recording in a different room, I can easily take this mic with me.
Maono USB Boom Arm Microphone - a mic attached to my desk which is useful for when I want to move my microphone during a recording. It allows flexibility while saves space by being attached to my desk with a boom arm.
Qhot Wireless Lavalier Microphone - ideal for recording videos for Instagram and YouTube Shorts direct to my phone. It enhances the audio quality of these videos, while being easy to use with the clip on functionality.
10 Inch Ring Light with Phone Holder - Natural light isn’t always the easiest, especially when I am recording during the UK winter! This provides the soft lighting that enhances the quality and has a holder for my phone if that is how I am recording. For webcam recording this is great to have just behind the screen.
How to Prepare Your Recording Environment and Workflow
Preparation prevents poor recordings. Build a pre recording checklist that includes charging devices, clearing notifications, setting camera and audio levels, checking the background, and doing a short test recording. Store consistent presets on your camera or lighting console if available, so you replicate the same look every session.
Batch your recordings when possible to maximise efficiency. Use the same setup across multiple videos to build visual consistency and reduce decision fatigue.
Test Everything Before You Record
A 10 to 20 second test clip reveals issues you might miss in a live session. Listen back with headphones, check exposure and focus, and watch for stray reflections or sound intrusions. Adjust microphone placement, exposure, or framing as needed. Testing saves time in editing and prevents wasted content.
Manage Comfort and Performance for Longer Takes
Recording public speaking videos can be physically demanding. Arrange your chair and desk for good posture, hydrate, and have notes formatted for quick glances. If you stand, ensure you have comfortable shoes and a stable surface to place prompts. Small comfort adjustments improve vocal stamina and maintain consistent energy across takes.
How to Edit and Deliver Your Final Video for Maximum Impact
Your setup continues to matter in post production. Use minimal corrective edits when possible, because a strong recording will require less post work. Tidy audio using noise reduction and normalise levels to create a consistent listening experience. Colour correct to match skin tones and maintain a consistent look across clips.
Add lower thirds, captions, and chapter markers to improve accessibility and retention. For marketing videos, include a clear call to action early and again at the end. Deliver platform specific versions, crop for vertical and horizontal formats and export at the correct bitrates to preserve quality while keeping file sizes manageable.
TL;DR: How to Create a Good Camera Setup for Recording Public Speaking Videos
Public speaking videos perform better when your camera setup is intentional, well lit, and supported by clean audio.
Choose reliable camera equipment that suits your recording environment
Frame yourself at eye level with a clean, intentional background
Use natural light or LED panels for consistent, flattering lighting
Record with a microphone that matches your filming style and placement
Test your setup with a short clip to catch issues before recording
More From Liam Sandford
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