Hands Off
Do the unthinkable, and give your phone to someone else. Have them center frame you at eye level and ask them to press record. With your hands off your phone, you’ll be better equipped to concentrate on delivering your message.
Mobile phone adapter mounts for tripods are also a cheap solution. Or ― if you’re really in a pinch ― a stack of books strategically placed on a piece of furniture will work just as well.
Get Your Good Side
If you don’t have an Aputure 120D key light handy, stand by an inside window and take a half-step back: you’ll be evenly lit, and softer shadows create a flattering light.
Alternatively, open up a blank text document on your computer and adjust your screen’s brightness for an instant key light.
Look Behind You
Wife in a bath towel? Small child playing with matches? Does it look like there’s a lamp coming out of your head? Make sure there’s nothing behind you that might distract from your message.
Turn It Off
If you’re capturing audio, take a moment to make sure you’re filming in a nice, quiet environment. Turn off anything that makes noise ― washing machines; dryers; radios etc. ― and don’t trust anyone who says, “Well just fix it in post!”
Stick to the Script
Be, ahh... clear? And, umm ― oh! Concise. Have a good grasp of your script ahead of time, so you can concentrate on delivering the best message for your audience.
And if you have to start over, that’s okay.
The Same Page
If multiple people are filming for your project, make sure there’s consistency across the board. Filming for an Instagram Story? Hot dog style not hamburger style. A blog post? Landscape not selfie ― you get the idea! The same goes for frame rates: an edit can quickly fall apart if that one person accidentally films themselves in slo-mo mode.