1. Stabilise the phone
Shaky handheld video is the fastest way to look amateur. Lean the phone against books, a shelf or a mug, or use a cheap clamp or mini tripod. Anything that stops it moving is better than your hand.
2. Put the lens at eye level
A lens below your face films up your nose; a lens far above makes you look small. Eye level, or slightly above, looks the most natural for talking to camera.
3. Face the light
Stand or sit facing a window. Light from in front fills your face evenly. Light from behind turns you into a silhouette. At night, put your brightest lamp in front of you, slightly to one side.
4. Sort the sound
Viewers forgive soft video before they forgive bad sound. Get the phone within about an arm’s length, film in a room with soft furnishings, and turn off fans and noisy appliances. AirPods or a small clip-on mic help a lot.
5. Frame yourself
Leave a little space above your head and keep your eyes roughly a third of the way down the frame. Turn on the grid (Settings › Camera › Grid) to help.
6. Test, then film
- Record 10 seconds.
- Play it back with headphones.
- Check light, sound and framing.
- Film the real take, in short sections if you like.
Front or back camera?
The back camera is usually sharper, but you can’t see yourself. The front camera lets you check framing as you go. Start with the front camera while you learn, then try the back camera once your setup is consistent.