Corporate Video: Working with a Videographer See full series list
EPISODE:
Why Two Cameras Can HURT Your Presentation (But HELP Your Interview)
Two cameras sounds more professional — so it must be better, right? Not always. When your executive or leader is speaking directly to the camera, cutting to a second angle can actually break the connection you’ve worked so hard to build with your audience.
In this episode of Working with a Videographer, Eric Wylie explains when a second camera helps your video — and when it quietly undermines it — so you can make the right call for every production.
In this short episode, you'll learn:
- Why direct-to-camera delivery depends on an unbroken connection with the viewer
- How cutting to a second camera angle can disconnect your audience from your presenter
- Smart alternatives for editing a single-camera shoot — without losing that eye contact
- When two cameras genuinely add value: the interview scenario
This video series is designed to assist corporate communicators and business owners understand the video production process, the many ways video can support business processes and revenue, and how to select and work with a videographer.
In this series, video production veteran Eric Wylie of Wylie.Video shares his expertise after years as a corporate communications professional and freelance corporate videographer, editor, and voiceover artist.
TRANSCRIPT:
You're getting ready to record with your executive and you think, "I want to do that really cool thing where they use two cameras and cut away to different shots."
Well, there's a time and a place for everything. Sometimes it's appropriate to use two cameras — and sometimes it's not. That's what I'd like to talk about today.
Welcome to Working with a Videographer. I'm Eric Wylie — glad to have you here.
The One-to-One Connection
So you're getting ready for this recording with your executive and you think you want to use two cameras. Well, there's a time to use two cameras and there's a time when I think you should not use two cameras with one person in front of the camera.
Here's that scenario.
When someone looks directly into the camera lens, they're making a connection with the viewer — just like you want your leader or CEO to look into the camera and make a connection with your employees.
The more time they spend looking into the camera — maybe the shot slowly moves closer — we're getting to know each other, sharing important information about our company. When all of a sudden the editor cuts away to a different camera… we're disconnected.
They're still looking there, but you're looking at them from somewhere else. We're not connected anymore. We need that one-to-one connection when a presenter is looking directly at the camera.
You Can Still Edit — Just Not to a Second Camera
Now, you still need to be able to cut away. The person in front of the camera probably isn't going to get everything exactly right, and you'll want to trim it down or fix those mistakes. You need to be able to cut to something — but it doesn't need to be a different camera angle.
We don't want to get disconnected from that message, from the person giving the message. So here's what you can do instead:
Crop in. If you're recording in 4K or better, you can crop in during post and still produce an HD final product. A medium shot becomes a close-up — no second camera required.
Use B-roll. Cover your edit with footage that relates to what the presenter is saying. For example, if someone's talking about changes coming to your warehouses, cut to video shot inside the warehouse.
Use graphics or slides. If they're referencing statistics, KPIs, or financial information, you've probably already got a PowerPoint slide you can drop in.
There are always other things you can cut to. We just don't want to lose that eye-to-eye connection when someone is making a direct presentation to camera.
When Two Cameras DO Make Sense
So when is it appropriate to use two cameras?
In an interview scenario. In an interview, the person on camera is already looking away from the lens — toward the interviewer. They're answering questions, telling a story. Because that direct lens connection was never established, cutting to a second angle doesn't break anything. It just adds visual interest.
This is especially useful when you don't have B-roll or graphics available — when someone is simply telling a personal story. A second camera gives your editor options: cut between the two angles, or crop in on either camera to get a variety of shots.
So: two cameras for an interview, when the person on camera is looking away from the lens.
One camera when one person is directly addressing the lens.
That's my take on it. Do you want the person making a presentation to the camera to stay connected to that lens? I think that's the right way to go.
Share your thoughts and comments below. Please be sure to like, share, and subscribe so you see more content. Thanks very much for joining me — I hope to see you again next time.