5 video ideas for people who hate being on camera
If being on camera isn’t your favourite thing, take it from someone who has a complete phobia of it, you’re not alone. But hey, that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with creative social media video content! There are plenty of fun and engaging alternatives to talking on camera, that allow you to showcase your business, products or services in a way that’s more comfortable. Here are some ideas…
Voiceover existing footage
If the idea of standing in front of a camera feels daunting, how about only hearing your voice? You can film your products, services or workspace, then add a voiceover to guide viewers through what they’re seeing.
We’ve used this style before with Wright’s Baking, filming the process of making a recipe using their cake or bread mixes. Showing each step gives people something tangible to follow, while the voiceover adds context, tips and personality. It’s an easy, effective way to demonstrate how something works without the pressure of being on camera yourself.
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Showcasing products
If you’re someone who can’t even stand hearing your own voice on camera, simply prop your phone up somewhere, film the product itself and use your hands to show what matters like how it looks, how it catches the light or how it works.
We’ve done this for Arbour Landscape Solutions‘ paving products. A few quick clips were enough to capture everything we needed because you can film several angles in one go. The whole process is quick to shoot and easy to cut and edit, without needing any voiceover at all.
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Videos with text
Another option to think about is filming your products, services or your workspace, then cropping and putting those clips together and adding some text over the top – all of which can easily be done on Instagram or CapCut. It doesn’t need to be anything fancy, you can keep it simple as long as it still feels like quality content. The text can explain what’s happening in the video, offer something motivational or even just be a single word that sets the tone.
Take the below example of a reel we created for Derma Clinic Clare. This kind of reel works well for service-based businesses. Either ask a regular client if they’re happy to be on camera, or use a friend as a model.
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Before/after transformations
People genuinely enjoy seeing before and after moments, they’re great for trades companies such as landscapers, architects or builders. A quick video before and after you’ve made a change is usually all it takes, and the editing is straightforward. Just make sure your before and after videos are taken from the same angles for maximum impact.
We’ve done many videos like these over the years, one of which was shared recently for our client Sawston Carpets and Flooring, capturing how a room completely changes once the new floor is down. We simply filmed a walkaround video before it was laid, then an after video matching the before, then cropped them together and put them into one!
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Timelapse videos
If the work you’re doing takes a while, or there’s a time-consuming process you want to share, a timelapse video is an easy way to show it. It’s one of the easiest reels to put together because it’s just a single clip sped up. You can choose whether you want to be in the shot or stay out of it, and since there’s no talking involved, you can make the setup as comfortable as you like.
