No matter what your creative business is, a huge part of getting your brand out there and showcasing your expertise is making video content to share with your followers. But if you’re just starting out, or you’re not a videographer, it can be hard to know how to get started and what to spend your hard-earned bucks on. Take a look at my top tips on how to film yourself like a pro.

Get yourself out there

Videos that show your work and the world around you are great, but nothing connects your followers with you like, well, you! Getting your fabulous face on camera is the perfect way to sell yourself and your business. Whether you’re showcasing a new product or sharing your expertise, don’t forget to let your personality shine through and, most importantly, have fun.

 

Share your expertise

Make sure you have a solid starting point and clear direction for every video you post. Think about what you want to say and how you want to say it – you could even write a short script or notes to keep you on track. Do some research and stay up to do date with your sector so you can talk with authority and experience about what you do – whether you’re speaking to camera or interviewing a fellow creative.

 

Big on ideas, small on budget

Knowing what you want to do and having the money to do it are two different things. When you’re starting out, investing in lots of fancy equipment is probably not an option and is unnecessary to boot. Take tripods and gimbals as an example. I regularly use the following three products to shoot video of myself, but the price range is quite wide:

• Joby Gorillapod (£129, Amazon)

This little tripod is fantastic – it has two clamps so I can connect my LED and sound recording device. I use it with my Nikon D750 or my Canon EOS R when I want to stand further back from the camera.

• DJI OSMO (£89 Amazon)

This foldable and portable gimbal is really good for filming yourself on your phone without the shaky-cam effect. And with the tracking feature, you can stay in the frame even when you’re on the move. Note that it’s now gone up in price to £95 – But I’d buy a used one.

• Velouer (£13.49, Amazon)

This cheaper option is great for setting up anywhere around the house – just clip it to a piece of furniture, slot your phone in and you’re good to go. You can also take advantage of the LED ring light with different colour temperature settings. This has dropped in price to £12.99 – I use it all around the house, wherever I can clip it is there!

Want to know more? Check out my video about these three products and how to use them.

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Look in the lens

When you’re shooting on your phone, don’t forget to look at the lens, not the screen. Although it’s tempting to check yourself out and focus on your face, looking into the camera will help your audience to engage with you and improve the quality of your phone videos, rather than your focus always being elsewhere.

 

Light me up

Equipment is important, but good lighting can make such a difference. If possible, use natural light – I like to film next to the large window in my studio. It’s a soft, north-facing light, which means there are no harsh shadows on my face.

You can also make the most of LED lights, such as ring lights, to help brighten things up, especially if you’re filming in the winter or in a darker space. Some LEDs give you the option of choosing the colour temperature or have a daylight option. If possible, try and match the colour temperature of the room you’re in.

Ready, set, shoot!

Set up your selfie videos just right with my favourite tripod and gimbal devices. Watch me test them out on my YouTube channel and subscribe for more shooting tips.

Watch the video now