The background for your recorded presentation should look professional. Consider finding a conference room you can use at your college or in a neighborhood library. If you need to record the speech at your home, be sure the setting is neat and clean. Look through the viewer to see what your audience will see. Make sure your inflatable gorilla, the pile of unwashed clothes, and half-eaten bags of chips are out of sight. Even an attractive item may create a distraction. For example, be sure that the plant or lamp you’re standing in front of doesn’t appear to be growing out of your head.34

Avoid background noises that might compete with your speech in the video. The last thing you need is to have an episode of Project Runway blaring in the background or a boisterous friend barging into your room with concert tickets. Select a time when your roommates will not be home, or be sure you can count on them not to disrupt your speech.

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The primary light source should be behind the camera operator and directed toward you. Avoid standing in front of a sunny window or a bright light; otherwise, you will be in shadow. It is generally better to have more light than less, so be sure to select a well-lit room. You can also bring in additional light if the room seems too dark.35 However, if you’re blond, beware of standing directly beneath a bright light (it might make your head appear to glow).