There has never been a better time to film yourself so that you can continue sharing your messages and updating your audience. Right now viewers are not expecting perfection and they’ll just be happy to hear what you have to say. So here are 10 steps to help you film yourself with your phone in a more professional way.
Step 1 – Create a Script
With video you can only get around 130 words into a minute so it’s important that you work out what you want to say before you start recording. So sit down and write out some bullet points or if you prefer, type up a full script and learn it off – whatever works best for you.
Step 2 - Record Excellent Sound
Studies have proven that sound quality is actually more important to viewers than the quality of the video. So find a room that’s quiet, turn off any computers, fridges or anything that makes noise, and close the windows and doors. If you have some budget then I would suggest purchasing the RODE SmartLav from Amazon at around €50 - but the mic on your phone will do the trick if the room you’re recording in is quiet enough.
Step 3 – Turn your phone
Turn your phone to the side so that the camera is filming in landscape mode. I record most of my videos in landscape as it’s more professional and it’s a more versatile format to use across all platforms. But if you’re just making Stories for social media and don’t intend to share them anywhere else then portrait is fine.
Step 4 – Light Yourself Up
Natural light is your best friend so try to film yourself near a window. If you can’t find a window to shoot near or if you have to shoot in the evening then use household lamps to light yourself up as viewers are drawn to the brightest part of the frame.
Step 5 - Stabilise Your Phone
Put your phone on a shelf or even better a windowsill. If you’re stuck you can even make a DIY tripod using something like a reusable cup. Just use a scissors to snip out two slits on opposite sides of the cup so you can slot your phone in.
Step 6 – Get the Position Right
Make sure the camera lens is at the same level as your eyes because if the camera is looking up you can seem domineering and if the camera is looking down you can appear subservient. Also make sure the camera is at least arm’s length away so you’re not too in their face. Finally make sure there isn’t too much headroom – just a small space between the top of your head and the top of the frame is perfect.
Step 7 - Clean your Lens
It’s amazing the difference that a clean lens can to the quality of your footage make so find a lens cloth and give it a rub.
Step 8 - Look the Part
Wear clothes that you’d wear if you were meeting your audience in person and try to avoid stripes and patterns as these can be distracting. Wear powder to remove shine from your face - you’ll be happy you did.
Step 9 - Look into the Lens
When we are filming in selfie mode it’s easy to get distracted by watching ourselves instead of looking at the viewer so it’s important to remember to keep looking into the lens when you’re filming. If you pretend you are speaking to someone that you have a great relationship with, this will translate to your viewers and they’ll feel more connected to you.
Step 10 - Keep Practicing
The only way to get better at presenting and filming is to keep practicing so try to make a video everyday even if you’re not uploading and sharing it with your audience. And try to get feedback from your family and friends as they’ll notice things that you might not hear or see.
If you want to start practicing some basic camera and mobile editing skills then you can sign up for free to