Use Your Computer's Display as a Virtual Photo/Video Backdrop!

You’re reading this on a display of some type, right? Well, what if you could use that same display to level up the quality of your product photography/videography? In this video I’ll share a new technique I’ve been experimenting with that really adds an entirely new dimension to your b roll footage!
(Pro Tip: Be sure to keep your shutter speed at a standard video setting like 1/50 to avoid encountering any flickering form the display. If you do notice flickering, play around with your shutter speed settings until it goes away. 👍)
•Black Glass Stand Thingy:
geni.us/pwrAg (Amazon)
•Artlist tutorial that inspired me:
• Create AMAZING PRODUCT...
•Time Markers-
0:00 - Virtually Awesome
0:48 - The Source of Inspiration
2:10 - Basic Setup
3:19 - Framing & Composition
4:10 - Creating Backgrounds
5:00 - Lighting
6:34 - Camera Movement
8:03 - Real World Examples
8:40 - Brightness & Exposure
9:04 - Filming at an Angle
11:05 - Don't Overdo It!
» Ready to start your own podcast? Check out The Podcaster Playbook, my step-by-step DIY course to help you launch your show!
podcasterplaybook.com
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Affiliate links mean I earn a commission from qualifying purchases. This helps support my channel at no additional cost to you.
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----------- CONNECT -----------
🎯 Subscribe! bit.ly/TEPsub
Instagram & Twitter: @sodarntom
Main Site: himynameistom.com
My Podcasts: himynameistom.com/podcasts
Patreon: / tombuck
Become a Channel Member: geni.us/joinchannel
----------- MUSIC -----------
•Artlist.io (2 Extra Months Free): bit.ly/enthusiasmartlist
•Epidemic Sound (30 Day Free Trial): share.epidemicsound.com/enthus...
----------- VIDEO GEAR -----------
•Canon EOS R (main camera): geni.us/0jnes1y (Amazon)
•Sigma 24 1.4 Art (main lens): geni.us/uvi3Fy (Amazon)
•Canon RF 50 1.8: geni.us/Zw30tt5 (Amazon)
•Canon 16-35 f4 IS: geni.us/h1Ys (Amazon)
•Canon 24-105 f4 IS: geni.us/ecnKnN (Amazon)
•DJI Mavic Mini: geni.us/Eh92 (Amazon)
•ATEM Mini Video Switcher: geni.us/YDcRX (Amazon)
•ATEM Mini Extreme ISO: geni.us/CCj5xl (Amazon)
•Elgato CamLink 4K: geni.us/vddHN (Amazon)
•Ecamm Live for Streaming: geni.us/ecammtom
----------- AUDIO GEAR -----------
•Rodecaster Pro (for podcasts): geni.us/9MKJ (Amazon)
•Rode PodMic: geni.us/EHeTTM (Amazon)
•Rode Videomic NTG: amzn.to/2ZKrHTh (Amazon)
•Rode Boom Arm: geni.us/shr0 (Amazon)
•Rode Wireless Go: geni.us/LvzUSM (Amazon)
•Shure MV7 USB/XLR Mic: geni.us/shuremv (Amazon)
•Shure Super 55 Mic: geni.us/ulcA (Amazon)
•Shure SM7B: geni.us/tepsm7b (Amazon)
•Cloudlifter Signal Booster: geni.us/b26l (Amazon)
----------- LIGHTS, TRIPODS, & GRIP GEAR -----------
•Nanlite Forza 200 (Key Light): geni.us/9Ofr (Amazon)
•Aputure Light Dome Mini (for key light): geni.us/vf5O (B&H)
•Falconeyes Flexible LED Light: geni.us/j4ENw (Amazon)
•Small Nanlite RGB Tube Lights: geni.us/nanlite (Amazon)
•Big Nanlite RGB Tube Lights: geni.us/nTwBU (Amazon)
•Aputure MC RGB Light: geni.us/IuE4 (Amazon)
•Impact C-Stand for Lights: geni.us/k97w66m (Amazon)
•Manfrotto Tripod Head: geni.us/tGhCPR (Amazon)
•Manfrotto 055x Tripod Legs: geni.us/qMO2 (Amazon)
•Motorized Slider: geni.us/mQXB7BB (Amazon)
•Overhead Camera Rig: geni.us/grpT (Amazon)
•GlideGear Prompter: geni.us/7K04A (Amazon)
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- Who Am I? -
Hi! My name is Tom Buck. As a lifelong A/V nerd, I’m here to help you level up the audio and video quality of your streams, podcasts, puns, and videos. I was a high school Digital Media teacher for 11 years, and I started this channel in 2017 as a project to share my enthusiasm for digital media and teaching others while having fun along the way.
New videos are uploaded every Thursday morning, and more often when possible!
•Read my Ethics Statement about objective reviews, sponsored content, and brand partnerships:
himynameistom.com/ethics
Episode 193: Use Your Computer Display as a Virtual Photo/Video Backdrop!
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#BRoll #VideoProduction #ProductPhotography
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[@tombuck]

Time Markers- 0:00 - Virtually Awesome 0:48 - The Source of Inspiration 2:10 - Basic Setup 3:19 - Framing & Composition 4:10 - Creating Backgrounds 5:00 - Lighting 6:34 - Camera Movement 8:03 - Real World Example 8:40 - Brightness & Exposure 9:04 - Filming at an Angle 11:05 - Don't Overdo It!

[@PeterLindgren1]

Oooh that intro is so sleek! Dad jokes are on point 😂

[@tombuck]

Whoever gave me the idea for an animated logo must have been a really smart dude 👍

[@AaronAbernethy]

So, the Dis-play joke… look, I have to give that 7/10, mostly for sheer audacity.

[@tombuck]

Heather said it was “too cringe” 😬

[@OfficialNetDevil]

Totally loving the new background

[@georgedavidla]

Excellent video, man! I love the way you do your cuts and storyline.

[@tombuck]

Thanks, I really appreciate that!

[@MSladekPhoto]

Fun! Great idea and easy to customize. Love the practical lighting and tilting the glossy table tips. Gaff tape for the win!

[@tombuck]

Gaff tape has to be one of the greatest inventions of all time!

[@Touseef]

spot on , I also follow artlist channel their quick tips are great.

[@PrestonJensen]

Brilliant! I also like the neon outline on the camera!

[@tombuck]

I've really been diggign the "light pen" in Procreate 👍

[@gabumichael5284]

Very nice detailed behind the scenes advice on filming. As a film student who has just changed careers after 25 yrs working in retail and restaurants, it's really nice when I find great teachers out there. Thanks for putting in the work to show us how it's done. I was curious after watching the behind the scenes of The Mandalorian I wanted to see if I could do this with a tv monitor, or my pc monitor and lo and behold there you are.

[@tombuck]

The Mandalorian was definitely an inspiration 😁 Good luck on your new career path, it sounds really exciting!

[@gabumichael5284]

@@tombuck Thank you and I'm a fan now so I'll be following you along the way. Thank you for the work you do and sharing it.

[@heatherjustcreate]

COOL LOGO!! Love when you share the things that inspire you. Also, YOU’RE GORGEOUS!! 😘🥰

[@tombuck]

YOU inspire me!

[@AaronAbernethy]

If you guys love each other so much, why don’t you just get married, sheesh!

[@dgipson50]

Informative video. Love the channel.

[@BasicFilmmaker]

Sweet tip!! Dis-play. LOL!!!!! Love it! I kept seeing a smudge on the black glass after you cleaned it. The smudge was on MY monitor. 😂

[@tombuck]

To be fair, there was still a smudge on the black thing that I was hoping no one would notice 😬

[@peterfritzphoto]

New subscriber here, Tom. I’m really enjoying your content, and your genuine, relatable style. Your enthusiasm is infectious! Greetings from Australia. 😄👍🦘

[@tombuck]

Wow thank you Peter! It really means a lot to hear this 🙏

[@ReedEmbry]

Hey Tom! Thanks for your videos. Keep it up!

[@tombuck]

Thanks Reed!

[@AyaEgbuho]

I just love your videos! I definitely need to level up!

[@tombuck]

You can do it! It all just comes down to practice 😎

[@caaande]

Wow this is so sick! This was a great video man! 😳😳😳I just bought the A73, I’m so excited to start producinggg- finally! Thanks to you sparking that interest, you remember “way back” when😂 anyways a cool tip would be maybe when you’re using this to have the images in sync with your channel branding, so that your shots will be even more distinct !

[@tombuck]

Awesome tip, and way to go with the A73- can't wait to see what you make with it! It's such a good camera.

[@PaulFeinberg]

Cool video and sweet looks. I saw the title of this video and thought to myself he is pulling a Mandalorian on this one.....I thought I was going to be all cool and geek out in the comments on you and you mentioned it right in the beginning of your video LOL! I love Back to the Future, Marvel, and Star Wars! Can't wait for season 2 of mando......Great video non the less. Nice job!

[@tombuck]

I'm so excited for season 2! That was my favorite Star Wars related thing since Rogue One. So good!

[@PaulFeinberg]

@@tombuck agreed......so good.

[@RobGreenwood]

This was a great video with some awesome tips.

[@tombuck]

Glad it was helpful!

[@xaviertx89]

Another great video!!!!

[@tombuck]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@simplychyna2720]

Awesome 👏

[@PouyaLucky]

Thanks for this ... Really nice info and will help me in a shoot I have planned

[@tombuck]

That's great to hear! Good luck!

[@NerdAffiliated]

I love your reviews and tips! The monoprice is also on Amazon. Not sure if you make more on the direct link clicks (to their site), but you should also make a Amazon link, if you can.

[@libraproducciones]

Nice tip!! I'll defenitely give it a try

[@joshscott363]

Great video thanks for sharing the tip

[@tombuck]

No problem 👍

[@timothythompson3068]

Hey, the AE-1 Program! I still have mine. I believe that's still the best selling camera model of all time. Of course it didn't hurt they had Cheryl Tiegs advertising it in their commercials! Showing my age here. Great video & technique.

[@tombuck]

It’s a great camera and a really fun way to explore film photography! This one belonged to my grandpa who I believe purchased it in the 70’s.

[@lovemycity420]

Great video, learned a lot

[@tombuck]

I’m happy to hear it!

[@davidarvut5000]

Thank you Friend! You Great job 👏 and professional!

[@tombuck]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@randyavina8368]

Hey Buck, it's Randy Avina. CRAZY to think I accidentally found your channel looking for microphone reviews. Hope you're doing great and I'm loving the videos. Be safe out there.

[@tombuck]

Hooray for good SEO! It’s great to hear from you Randy- I hope you’re staying safe and doing really well!

[@thomaswindfeld728]

Great video; thanx

[@tombuck]

Glad it was helpful!

[@GaryStockton]

That’s a cool technique.

[@tombuck]

It's really fun! Something a bit different than the usual.

[@DragonsinGenesisPodcast]

Poster tack. It’s a sticky gum used for mounting posters without tape or pins. Dirty cheap and reusable. It would work perfect for holding a product still on a slanted surface.

[@tombuck]

Brilliant. Thank you!

[@MAGICSIX]

Another great video! Which display do you use for your MacBook setup? I have the 16 inch MacBook Pro, and was considering the LG 24inch, but for the price ($700) it just seems small lol

[@tombuck]

This is a curved 34” LG. It’s a few years old, but works really well!

[@TetraEzio]

What a vide awesome

[@dannyynnad132]

Hi i plan do similar setup with a 4k TV in few weeks for portrait and food photography. When using external flash and/or continuous lights, to avoid reflection, i am looking for anti-reflection film and a stand so i can control the angle and orientation. Is it a kind of issues or needs you had to deal with?

[@tombuck]

I use continuous lighting, so it hasn't been too much of a problem. Definitely do some tests though with the TV to make sure you don't have any strange flickering issues or anything.

[@PhillipBridgesReviews]

So... question not related to video. Was just listening to your Peter and Tom podcast. Did you record your own music intro for last weeks? Just wondering cause I like it.

[@tombuck]

We found a song on Artlist 👍

[@Touseef]

btw that glass table link aint working for me, keeps loading , maybe my internet is wierd today lol.

[@tombuck]

I just checked and it's working for me at the moment

[@GaryCantrell]

Ok Tom!!! My mind is blown now. Thanks for the tips.

[@tombuck]

Happy to help! This is a super cool trick to use.

[@BrilliantBatgirl]

Would a flat monitor work just as well for this purpose as the curved monitor that you used? I'm curious about light reflection from a flat monitor.

[@tombuck]

I'm sure it would! Especially for smaller items/products.

[@BrilliantBatgirl]

@@tombuck, how about for jewelry? It’s already enough of a challenge to photograph jewelry due to its size and highly reflective surfaces that I don’t want to also struggle with reflective surfaces from the monitor in the background.

[@maxvcollenburg]

Another idea would be to place the product on top of a flat monitor. Curious what that would look like 😋

[@tombuck]

Oooh, that would be cool! Especially if the product has any kind of reflective surfaces on it.

[@neilbird8496]

I will be live streaming a DJ set and have a large TV screen behind me with my Animated logo. I am using a Canon M50 with a sigma 1.4 lens and for the life of me cannot get all the colours on the screen as vibrant as in real life especially the gold colour that look white. The camera is just 6 feet away and looking straight at the TV. Any ideas how I can improve the colours on playback? Thanks

[@tombuck]

This is always tricky. The best solution is to experiment with the color options on your tv. It might end up looking strange in person but good on camera m

[@neilbird8496]

@@tombuck thanks Tom.

[@josephmidyett]

love your channel what state do you teach in. kids are lucky to have u

[@tombuck]

I’m in California. Thank you! I’d love to do some Motion related videos in the future!

[@mattwruff]

You clearly missed another bad joke in the editing “display” LOL - great ideas!

[@RogerAVHansen]

How did you animate your logo? 😊

[@tombuck]

Procreate and patience 👍

[@RogerAVHansen]

@@tombuck Thank you 😊 Asked the question before I watched the whole video, but now I can say, great video! I´m definitely gonna steel this idea in my videos 😊

[@BlairPurvis]

Hey Tom, have you had any experience or any thoughts on the iPad app Switcher? Perhaps you can recommend a better alternative. It looks (in theory) like a good way to get a multi camera shoot using iPhones. Just interested in your thoughts.

[@tombuck]

I used it several years ago when it first came out, and it worked pretty well! I'm sure it's been updated since (hopefully for the better), but I can't speak to it personally.

[@ItzSi]

nice intro

[@tombuck]

Thank you!

[@usernamedecentralise]

This play 😂

[@JaredSpink]

But I wanna go to dis-play 🤣

[@tombuck]

Gotta get that book deal...