Why talking head videos drag
The content is often great. The problem is that nothing changes on screen for long stretches. People watch faces, but they also need a little movement and variety to stay with it.
The basics we always do
- Tight pacing. Cut pauses, repeats and filler, but keep the natural rhythm so you still sound like yourself.
- Punch-ins. Switch framing on key points. Done right, it feels like a second camera.
- B-roll and graphics with a purpose. Show what you're talking about: the screen, the product, the example.
- Captions and on-screen text. Highlight the line you want people to remember.
- Clean sound. People forgive average video. They don't forgive bad audio.
Help us help you
Record in decent light, use a proper mic, and leave a second of silence before and after each take. If you mess up a line, just say it again. We'll keep the good one. Send any links, screenshots or examples you mention so we can show them on screen.
Where it goes
The same footage can become a YouTube video, a course lesson and a stack of shorts. See long form YouTube editing, editing for coaches and turning long videos into clips. Then tell us what you're filming.