Going in front of a camera can be nerve wracking, so being confident in your outfit choice can make all the difference in your delivery and your audience’s perception. If your video is meant to engage your audience, then your wardrobe choice should not impede that goal. When you look good on camera, your audience will be able to focus on your message instead of on what you’re wearing.

We’ve put together a few tips on putting together your attire for the big day.

1) When in doubt, stick with solid colors

When it comes to going in front of the camera, solid colors are usually always a good bet. If you wear a shirt with a big logo or large text, it’s going to draw your audience’s attention away from your face (and your message). This is also true of shirts with patterns, such as zig zags, paisley, stripes, plaid and polka dots. They can appear blurry on camera and make it difficult to hold the audience’s attention. There’s nothing wrong with showing off some style – but on the day you’re shooting, leave flashy patterns at home.

2) Think about your message

Before going in front of the camera, you should know what your overall message will be, and your outfit should complement that message. For example, wearing a suit and tie sends a very different message than wearing a simple t-shirt. Your choice of attire should also leave you feeling comfortable. A shirt or a tie that is too tight is going to leave you feeling uncomfortable, and it will come across in your performance, which can result in a sweaty forehead and nervous mannerisms. Remember, there’s no point in looking fancy in a button-down shirt and tie if you can’t breathe well.

3) Choose simple jewelry

We all love statement pieces, but just like shirt patterns can pull watchers away from your message, so can large pieces of jewelry. If you’d like to dress up a little bit for the shoot, do so with small stud earrings, rather than large hoops. Rather than a blocky chain or large jewel necklace, choose one that is simple and delicate – it’s both subtle and sophisticated. Lastly, make sure your jewelry doesn’t make any noise. Bangle bracelets are pretty, but not when they’re disrupting the audio!

4) Black isn’t always best

For many, black is their go-to color. It’s slimming, flattering and timeless. But when it comes to wearing black on camera, it can cause shadows to appear on your face, which will make any dark circles under your eyes even more pronounced in appearance. If you’re most comfortable in dark colors, then we recommend wearing navy blue instead of black, but beware that any dark color is going to cast shadows on your face and skin.

5) Your backdrop matters

The color of your backdrop is going to impact the color that you’re wearing. It can either be for the better or for the worst. A white backdrop will make your clothing appear brighter – so if you’re already wearing brighter colors – such as red, yellow or orange – keep this in mind when selecting the backdrop color. If you do decide to use a white backdrop, just ensure you keep your lighting very soft.

The rule of thumb is to always wear a color that contrasts with the background. Muted tones for backdrops, like shades of grays and blues, are generally always your best bet. These colors work well with all skin tones and allow for you to take full advantage of a wide range of wardrobe options.

Ready, set, action

It’s perfectly common to feel anxious and overwhelmed before appearing on camera. Planning your outfit ahead of time, and being mindful of how your choices will affect your appearance, the audio, and the audience are going to go a long way in helping you get your true message across. Keep in mind all of these tips, and if you’re still in doubt, Sorrentino Media offers expert media training to help you look, feel and sound your best when in front of the camera. Contact us today to learn more!