20 micro tips to help you film brilliant selfie videos for work

Have you been asked to film a video for work? Perhaps you have an experience to share, or some knowledge that can help others – there’s lots of benefits to user-generated video especially when reflecting and recording on a focussed topic. But, using your mobile to create workplace selfie videos for the first time can be a nerve-wracking experience. The good news is it doesn’t need to be! StoryTagger has been designed to guide you so you stay on topic and create a high quality video that others will want to watch.

Selfie videos are generally a more cost-effective and agile filming option to share knowledge compared to a traditional corporate shoot. However, there’s a number of things to think about to make sure you record the best content you can.

Watch the videos

Here are 20 of our tried-and-tested tips to help you produce brilliant, value-led and authentic selfie videos for work:

What tips are included?

Here’s the transcripts to our 20 micro tips to help you film brilliant selfie videos for work:

1. Environment

When using StoryTagger to create a selfie video, find an environment you’re completely comfortable in. You may prefer to be in a quiet space with nobody around, however you might like to be in a public, casual area, like a park. Find what makes you confident!

2. Noise

Before you start recording, have a think about the noise level around you – the StoryTagger app will also check this for you too. If you’re in a loud area, use your headphone mic. Sometimes it’s fun to record in a livelier environment but it’s key that your audience can still hear you clearly.

3. Backdrop

Of course you want your selfie video to focus on you, but have a think about what’s in the background. Think about colour, whether you’re indoors or outdoors, or something interesting that frames the video and makes it stand out.

4. Practice

When self-filming for the first time, practice a bit and have a play around. One of the great things about StoryTagger is you can re-record your story parts as many times as you like, so get a feel for the app first and try out some different backgrounds, tones of voice and positions.

5. Plan

When using StoryTagger, plan what you want to say beforehand and make good use of the prompts feature. You don’t need to write a full script, but having some handy notes and pointers can really help you stay on topic and remember all the important things you need to say.

6. Time

When you’ve got a lot to say, it’s tempting to whizz through each point at super-speed, but it’s really not necessary to do that and often does reflect in your recording. Chill out, relax, plan your prompts and remember you can re-record as many times as you need. Focus on speaking clearly rather than quickly.

7. Anytime & Anywhere

If you have a great idea for part of your video but are short on time or just can’t think of what to say in the next part, don’t panic – you can record at any time, anywhere. Plan and make notes on the part you’ve got a great answer to before you forget it. Then plan and record the other video parts when you have another light bulb moment.

8. Emotion

You don’t need to be afraid to show your true feelings when making a StoryTagger video. Sharing how something genuinely makes you feel, whether that’s passionate, excited, worried or nervous, will bring your audience in and help you connect with them.

9. Position

Don’t forget that you don’t need to confine yourself to one space when filming a selfie video. Feel free to record in different locations per part. This can make it more interesting and really eye-catching. Even if it’s just in different rooms of your house or in front of a different wall, it’s great to have variety.

10. Smile

A simple tip for using the app is that when StoryTagger starts to count you down, start smiling! It can help to make you feel more relaxed and confident, and it also makes sure you capture a happy and welcoming looking thumbnail too!

11. Connection

A great tip for building a connection with your audience is to maintain regular eye contact whilst you’re filming. It’s easy to forget to do this, but when you do start looking into the camera lens it makes a big difference. StoryTagger has been designed to keep your eye-line high so you can use prompts and connect with everyone’s who’s watching.

12. Lighting

Light is important – people want to see you. Most modern smartphone cameras work well in lots of different conditions but stand in front of a window and you’ll likely be a silhouette. Equally if you’re in full sun you could end up squinting so worth thinking about this before you start. Helpfully, the Storytagger mobile app gives you pointers and will let you know if it’s too dark or too light!

13. Warming up

A slightly more unusual but really handy tip is to re-record your intro at the end of the video. If you feel your intro was a bit rushed or awkward – do it again at the end. It’s definitely worth it as this is what people will see first!

14. Gesture

Remember that filming a selfie video isn’t the same as a corporate shoot, so don’t feel like you have to stand still like a statue or read a script word-for-word! It’s good to keep your head quite still so it stays in frame but if you want to reinforce what you’re saying then don’t be afraid to use your hands and body language. It’s as easy as 1 – 2 -3!

15. Metaphor

If you’re looking to reinforce your message when self-filming, why not choose a location or backdrop that visually supports it? This might not always be possible, but it’s definitely a chance to get creative. So, if you’re talking about using your imagination you could film next to an art piece or graffiti, or if you’re talking about how things change why not film by the sea? There’s lots of possibilities!

16. Test

If you’re filming in a very busy area with street noise or in more extreme weather conditions, do a quick test video to check it sounds and looks okay. StoryTagger tells you if it’s too dark or when to use a headphone mic but if there are big gusts of wind they can take over, so test out your surroundings before you film your whole video!

17. Length

Of course, you’ll want to get all of your points across in your selfie video. Just remember that StoryTagger videos are designed to be short, snappy and valuable – so try to avoid going off on tangents, as this might lose your audience’s interest! Keep your prompts focussed and your script, if you have one, short and sweet!

18. Tone

One thing to be aware of when you’re filming is your tone of voice. When you’re reading through a script it’s easy to sound dull or even robotic, so think about this before you start speaking and give it a practice. Speak brightly and clearly so people want to watch your video to the end!

19. Story

Before you begin recording, think about the arc of your story. The Hero’s Journey is a classic narrative where a character goes on an adventure, deals with a crisis and returns transformed in a positive way. Think about how this applies to employee and student storytelling too. Every ‘lesson learned’ story uses these same principles.

20. Enjoy!

The last tip is simple: enjoy filming your selfie video! Although not everyone relishes the idea of self-filming, here at StoryTagger we aim to make it simple and fun. So relax, smile, take your time and give it your best shot!

If you’re interested in creating brilliant user-generated video simply and at scale, get in touch with our friendly team today for more information or take a look at some of the fantastic clients we’ve worked with.