Solid, rich colors look best on camera. Jewel tones are great and really pop. Deep shades of blue, purple, green, pink, red are typically good choices for many people. Choose a shirt color that looks good with your hair color, skin tone, and eye color – choose the best color(s) that make you feel vibrant, youthful, and energetic.

Remember that you always want to contrast with the background, so your image pops on-camera. You do not want to blend in! So pay attention to the colors in the set (wall, curtains, couch, desk, furniture, artwork, props, etc.) and choose something that both looks nice with, and contrasts well, in that space.

Also, if we’re we’re going to be filming 2 separate videos, please choose 2 separate tops, so we can switch your top between videos. We want the viewers to know for sure that these are 2 different videos, so there’s no temptation to feel like they don’t need to watch one or the other – in other words, we don’t want them to assume they already saw that video because they see you again, in the same outfit.

Make sure that your phone’s operating system (iOS or Android) is up to date

Download the “OpenReel” app to your iPhone or Android phone

You can find the iPhone app here (must click this link on your iPhone):
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/openreel-capture/id1542979247

You can find the Android app here (must click this link on your Android Phone):
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.openreel.capture2

Make sure you have at least 5GB of storage available on your phone

If you don’t have enough space, it may be helpful to remove some larger video files from your photos library (if there are any)

For iPhone users: click on Settings >> General >> iPhone Storage (it will tell you at the top how many GB of storage space are used/remaining).

Make sure your phone battery is fully charged to 100% (PLEASE NOTE: this could take several hours to complete, so make sure you attend to this a few hours before our session starts)

Close down all other applications on your phone

Turn on “Do Not Disturb” and set it to “ALWAYS”

For iPhone users: click on Settings >> Focus >> Do Not Disturb >> Toggle Do Not Disturb On

Disable “Bluetooth”

For iPhone users: click on Settings >> Bluetooth >> Toggle to Off

Make sure that you are connected to a reliable WiFi signal

Set up your SmartPhone in your desired filming location

Place your SmartPhone in the phone tripod horizontally, with the camera on the left

Plugin your external microphone (if you’re using one)

Set up your lights (if you’re using them)

NOTE:
If we ARE going to be using the teleprompter feature for a scripted video, set up your phone so that you have the camera on the FRONT side of the phone facing you (the side with the screen), with the camera on the LEFT.

If we ARE NOT going to be using the teleprompter feature for your video, set up your phone so that you have the camera on the BACK side of the phone facing you.

From your computer’s browser, click the private link you were sent in your filming instructions email

NOTE: you must use Chrome or Firefox browser

After you click the link, you will need to:
Enter your Name
Enter the unique Session ID
Click “Allow” to access your camera and microphone
Click “Enter Session”

AFTER we log in together on your computer, I will have you open up the OpenReel app on your SmartPhone, and walk you through the steps to enter the filming session

After you open the app, you will need to:
Enter your Name
Enter the unique Session ID
Click “Enter”
Click the actual Session folder for the filming session

Make sure your computer is updated to the current operating system, if any updates are available.

If you are using a Logitech external camera, download the Logitech Logi Tune App to your computer. We will use this app to make final tweaks to the framing and look of your shot during our filming session.

You can find the app here (available for both Mac and PC):
https://support.logi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360025141734

Select your Windows or Mac operating system from the dropdown menu >> Click the “Download Now” button.

After this app is downloaded, find it on your computer (most likely in the Downloads folder, or on your Desktop) and install the app onto your computer.

Disable any personal firewalls or VPNs. These can block your connection to the OpenReel platform.

Close down all browser windows and open applications on your computer, including quitting programs that run in the background, like Zoom, Dropbox, Adobe, etc.

Clear the cache on your Chrome browser.

To do this, with your Chrome browser open, click on the Chrome menu at the top left side of the screen >> Select “Clear Browsing Data” >> Make sure “cached images and files” is checked >> Click the “Clear Data” button.

Make sure that you are connected to a reliable WiFi signal, or hard-wired directly into your internet router

Set up your Computer in your desired filming location

Plugin your external microphone (if you’re using one)

Set up and turn on your lights (if you’re using them)

From your computer’s browser, click the private link you were sent in your filming instructions email

NOTE: you must use Chrome, Firefox, or Edge browser

After you click the link, you will need to:
Enter your Name
Enter the unique Session ID
Click “Allow” to access your camera and microphone
Click “Enter Session”

NOTE: If you’re logged in, and don’t see us, please close your browser, and log in again.