The camera that captures the moment is the one positioned to see what matters. A guide to planning placement before installation.

1. Think about what you're recording

Before drilling holes, ask:

  • Faces — entry/exit points where people pause
  • License plates — entrance/exit at a slow speed, with good light
  • Property — overview of the area you want monitored
  • Specific equipment — close-up of a server rack, safe, or POS

Each goal needs a different camera type and position.

2. Entry / exit points

Doors should have a camera that captures:

  • The face of anyone approaching
  • The action of opening/closing the door
  • Not the back of someone leaving (less useful)

For maximum face capture:

  • 2-2.5m mounting height (slightly above eye level)
  • 5-7m away from the door (gives a clear face shot without distortion)
  • Not directly above the door (people look down as they enter)

3. License plate recognition (LPR)

LPR cameras have specific requirements:

  • Lens optimized for plates (often "varifocal" or "LPR" labeled)
  • Mounted in line with the road, not at a steep angle
  • Adequate lighting (IR illuminator helps at night)
  • Vehicle speed limited (chicanes, speed bumps, gates)

A general-purpose camera trying to do LPR usually fails — vehicles move too fast for the auto-exposure.

4. Overview cameras

For perimeter and area coverage:

  • Higher mounting (3-4m for outdoor) gives wider view
  • Wide-angle lens captures a broader scene
  • Trade-off: detail at distance is poor — pair with detail cameras at entry points

5. Avoid common bad positions

  • Facing directly into the sun — backlight makes faces dark
  • Looking out a window — daytime overexposure, nighttime mostly reflections
  • Behind a busy doorway — people block the view of what's beyond
  • Pointing at a wall opposite a doorway — see the back of people leaving

6. Indoor vs. outdoor cameras

Specs matter:

  • Outdoor cameras are rated IP66 or IP67 — sealed against water and dust
  • Indoor cameras without that rating fail within months outdoors
  • Some "outdoor" cameras need a separate enclosure for harsh weather

7. Night vision considerations

IR illuminators only reach so far:

  • Most cameras claim 20-30m IR range; usable distance is half that
  • IR doesn't go through glass — pointing through a window kills it
  • Bright IR LEDs near reflective surfaces (white walls, glass) wash out the image

8. Privacy and legal

Position cameras with privacy in mind:

  • Avoid pointing into neighbors' property
  • Consider what's reflected (mirrors, windows) that could show private areas
  • Bathrooms, changing rooms, and similar private areas should never be covered
  • Comply with local CCTV signage requirements

9. Cable routes

Practical considerations during install:

  • PoE cabling can run up to 100m from switch to camera; beyond that you need extenders
  • Outdoor cable runs should be in conduit or rated for direct burial
  • Future-proofing: pull spare cables to popular camera locations

10. Testing after install

After mounting:

  • Walk through the scene; check what's captured
  • Test at different times of day (lighting changes)
  • Verify night vision quality
  • Confirm at least one camera covers each critical area from a useful angle

When to ticket

Raise a ticket if:

  • You're planning a new camera install and need site survey
  • An existing camera position is producing unusable footage
  • You need a different camera type (PTZ, LPR, panoramic) for a specific need

Include a description of what you're trying to capture and a rough site plan or photo.