Reel IdeasViewers forgive a plain background but not a dark face or muffled voice. Light and sound are the two things worth your care.
Light
- Daylight from a window is the best free light. Stand facing it, or at an angle, and let it fall on your face or your subject.
- Avoid direct noon sun on faces: it makes harsh shadows. Soft light on a cloudy day or in shade is kinder.
- At night use a lamp in front of you, a little above eye level, and switch off other lights that colour the picture.
- Keep the light the same throughout a video so the cuts match.
Sound
- Film in a quiet room; turn off fans and televisions.
- Get close to the phone, a hand's length or two.
- Soft furniture reduces echo; bare rooms echo.
- If you need to improve it, a cheap wired or wireless clip microphone is the first thing to buy.
Test first
Record ten seconds, watch it with headphones, and fix what you hear or see. Light and sound problems are easy to fix, but only before you film the whole video. Our phone filming guide covers the other basics.
Questions people ask
Is a microphone worth it?
If you talk in your videos, clear sound is the best upgrade. Start with a simple clip-on microphone; no need to buy an expensive one.