A security camera system is only as good as where its cameras are pointed. We see it often: a property with several cameras that still misses the one angle that actually matters. Here’s how to think about placement so your system earns its keep.

The Principle Behind Good Placement

Every camera should have a specific job — covering a door, a driveway, a cash register — rather than just adding another wide shot. More cameras aimed at the wrong spots is less useful than fewer cameras placed with intention.

Key Spots for Homes

Front door and any secondary entrances
Driveway and garage
Backyard or side-yard access points
Ground-floor windows in less-visible areas

These are the points an intruder is most likely to use, and where a delivery or visitor is easiest to identify.

Key Spots for Businesses

Main entrances and exits
Point-of-sale areas
Stockrooms and storage areas
Parking lots and loading areas

Businesses generally need a mix of identification shots near entrances and broader overview shots covering the rest of the property.

Identification Shots vs. Overview Shots

An identification shot is close and detailed enough to recognize a face or read a license plate — these work best at entrances and points of transaction. An overview shot covers a wider area to show what happened, without necessarily identifying who did it. A well-planned system balances both, rather than relying on one type everywhere.

Common Height and Angle Mistakes

Cameras mounted too high often produce a top-down view that’s great for context but useless for identification. Cameras angled directly into bright exterior light can wash out during the day and struggle at dusk. The best angle usually sits at a height that captures a clear face-level view of people passing through, without being easy to tamper with.

Don’t Forget Lighting and Night Coverage

A large share of incidents happen after dark, so a camera’s night performance and the property’s own lighting matter as much as daytime placement. Motion-triggered lighting paired with a camera’s night mode covers the hours when visibility naturally drops.

Good placement is the difference between a system that just records and one that actually protects. We assess coverage room by room — or entrance by entrance — before a single camera goes up. For broader AV needs beyond cameras, our recommended partner avgeeks.ca is a great resource. Ready for a coverage plan for your property? Call 613-691-1091.