A talking-head video setup on a budget

By Con, founder of Music Wide Selfie · Updated 22 October 2026

Short answerPhone on a stand at eye level, sit facing a window, clip-on or wireless mic, simple background with a little depth. That beats expensive gear used badly.

The setup

Stand: a tabletop phone stand or mini tripod.
Light: face a window; add a lamp in front if it’s dark.
Sound: a clip-on or small wireless mic, or AirPods.
Background: tidy, with something a metre or two behind you for depth.

What to skip at first

Expensive cameras: your phone is plenty.
Ring lights that reflect in glasses; soft window light is often better.
Green screens: they need a lot of light to look clean.

Check before you film

Record 10 seconds and listen with headphones. Fix sound first, then light, then framing.

Questions

Is a ring light worth it?

It helps in dark rooms. If you wear glasses, set it higher and off to the side to reduce reflections.

About Music Wide Selfie

An iPhone camera app for people who film themselves, coming soon to the App Store. One email when it launches.

One email when the app is ready. Nothing else.