Tips for recording a great video message

Updated October 4, 2026

Lighting and framing

Face a window or light source rather than having it behind you — backlighting turns faces into silhouettes.
Hold your phone at eye level rather than angled up or down.
Leave a little headroom above your head in the frame, and don’t crowd the edges.
If you’re indoors at night, a lamp facing you from behind your phone or laptop beats overhead room lighting almost every time.

Sound

Record somewhere quiet — background noise is the single biggest thing that makes a clip feel unpolished.
If you can, use earbuds with a built-in mic; it’s a noticeable upgrade over a laptop’s built-in microphone.
Soft surfaces (a couch, curtains, a carpeted room) sound better on camera than a bare room — hard, empty rooms create an echo that’s hard to undo afterward.

What to say

Keep it short and specific — a focused 15-30 second message almost always lands better than a rambling two minutes. Say the person’s name early, mention one concrete memory or detail rather than a generic compliment, and finish with a clear sentence rather than trailing off.

If you’re nervous about freezing up, say the first sentence out loud to yourself once before you hit record — you don’t need a script, just a starting point.

It’s okay to re-record

You can preview and re-record before submitting, so there’s no pressure to get it perfect on the first take. Most people need two or three takes to feel good about it, and that’s completely normal — nobody sees the takes you don’t submit.

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Recording Videos