Updated October 2026 · Video podcasts and audio-first shows
Frame two people with their eyes near the upper third of the frame, similar headroom and enough space between them to avoid crowding. Place both people at a slight angle to the camera, keep the framing steady, and check the shot on a phone before recording the whole episode.
Framing is how the viewer sees the conversation. Good framing makes both people feel present and gives the viewer a clear sense of who is speaking. Poor framing crops heads, places one speaker at the edge of the frame, or leaves a large empty space that draws the eye away from the faces. The good news is that a few simple rules fix most problems.
This guide covers a two-person shot for a single camera and for a simple two-camera setup, with the checks to make before the episode starts.
The eyes are the most important part of the frame. Place each person’s eyes roughly on the upper third of the picture, with the camera lens close to eye level. If the camera is far below the eyes, faces look distorted and the viewer feels looked down upon. Raise the camera or lower the chair until the lens is about level with the speakers’ eyes.
Check that both people’s eyes sit at a similar height. A large difference in height makes one person look dominant, which may not be the effect you want.
Leave a little headroom above each head, but not so much that the frame feels empty. Leave a small space at the sides, so faces do not touch the edges. Keep the two people close enough to feel like a pair, but with enough space that they do not crowd each other. A few centimetres of separation is often enough.
Place the two people at a slight angle to the camera, facing each other rather than the lens. A side-on arrangement with the faces turned toward one another looks natural. Facing the camera directly can feel stiff, and turning both chairs too far away can make the shot look disconnected.
A two-shot shows both people from the chest or waist up. It is the safest choice, and it keeps the conversation together. A closer shot on each person works well for cutting between them, but it needs more cameras or careful editing. Start with one wide two-shot, then add close shots only when you need them.
A single camera with a two-shot is simple and cheap, and it works well for a conversation. Two cameras, one on each person, give you more choice in editing and let you cut to the speaker. Two cameras need a sync point, as discussed in the multi-camera audio post, and more time in editing. Choose the setup you can sustain.
Lock the camera on a stable mount, and avoid touching it during the episode. A slowly drifting frame is distracting and can cut off a speaker’s head. Mark the camera position on the floor or the stand, so you can return to it after a break.
People shift in their chairs over an hour, and the frame that worked at the start may not work at the end. Check the shot after the first break, and again after any change in position. A head that drifts toward the edge, or a face that sinks below the upper third, is easy to fix in the moment and very hard to fix in editing.
Ask the speakers to sit with their backs in the same place and their feet flat. A simple, comfortable seat is more stable than a chair that rolls or tilts, and it keeps the picture consistent from the first minute to the last.
Many viewers will switch to audio partway through an episode, so the framing should not be the only way the conversation makes sense. Check that each speaker is named early, and that the spoken content carries the point. A shot that shows a whiteboard or a product matters only if someone explains it in words.
Think of the picture as an addition to a good audio episode, not a replacement for one. The two should support each other, and neither should require the other to make sense.
Framing rules are guidelines, not laws. A shot that breaks them can still work if the conversation is strong. Adjust for the people in the shot, their height, their posture and the room. The aim is a comfortable, clear picture, not a perfect one.
A good frame does not help if the audio is poor. Use the Vocal Checker to check clipping, noise and level in a test recording, and use the Tunedzy Go page to see how cleaning works on a phone recording. For the lighting that goes with the framing, read the budget lighting post.
Spot clipping, noise, rumble and level problems. Runs in your browser, nothing is uploaded.
Roughly on the upper third of the picture, with the camera close to eye level.
A slight angle toward each other usually looks more natural than facing the lens directly.
Enough headroom and side space that faces do not touch the edges, without an empty frame.
No. A single two-shot works well for conversations. Add cameras only if you need the extra choice.
