Camera placement matters more than camera count or resolution for actual security value — a property with four well-placed cameras typically provides better real-world protection than one with eight poorly placed ones.
Prioritize Approach Paths, Not Just Entry Points
The most valuable camera positions cover the paths someone would actually use to approach the home, not just the doors themselves — a driveway or front walkway camera captures someone's approach and gives more identification time and angle options than a doorbell camera alone, which only captures the final few feet before the door.
Cover Secondary Entry Points
Front doors get cameras by default; side gates, back doors, and garage side entries are far more commonly overlooked despite being common points of actual unauthorized entry, precisely because they're less visible from the street and viewed by an intruder as lower-risk than a front door.
Height and Angle
Cameras mounted too high (a common mistake aimed at preventing tampering) often produce a steep downward angle that makes facial identification difficult — a person's face becomes a small, foreshortened target in the frame. A camera height of roughly 8-9 feet, angled to capture faces at a natural approach angle rather than straight down, typically balances tamper resistance with usable identification footage better than mounting as high as possible.
Avoid Backlighting and Glare
A camera facing directly into a rising or setting sun, or into a bright porch light at night, produces silhouetted or washed-out footage exactly when detail matters most. Camera placement should account for the sun's path throughout the day and any exterior lighting directly in the camera's field of view, not just daytime testing conditions.
Visible Cameras as Deterrence, Hidden Cameras as Backup
Visible, obviously-present cameras at main entry points serve a real deterrent function — many break-in attempts are opportunistic and abandoned when a visible camera is noticed. A property that also includes at least one less obvious camera provides a backup that isn't defeated by someone specifically avoiding the visible cameras.
Don't Forget the Driveway and Vehicles
For homeowners concerned about vehicle theft or break-ins, a camera specifically covering the driveway with a clear view of license plates (which requires higher resolution and a more direct angle than general area coverage) is a distinct placement consideration from general property security.
The Bottom Line
Effective camera placement comes from thinking like someone trying to enter unnoticed — which paths they'd use, which points feel lower-risk to them — rather than simply pointing cameras at the obvious front door. A professional site assessment specifically evaluates a property from that perspective, which is where much of the real value of professional installation over a DIY camera placement comes from.