Record a video of yourself

This guide is for staff at R(D)SVS.

Record the video

Windows 10

From the Start menu, open the Camera app.

Click the video camera icon to switch to video mode.

Click the record button to start.

screenshot of windows 10 camera app showing location of the record video button.

The video will be saved in your Pictures > Camera Roll folder. You can open this folder from within the Windows 10 Camera app by clicking the “. . .” icon.

screenshot of windows 10 camera app showing location of open folder menu option

Mac

From the Applications folder, open QuickTime Player.

Go to File > New Movie Recording.

Click the record button to start.

When you’re done, you’ll be prompted to save or delete the recording.

screenshot of quicktime player showing record button.

Mobile devices

You can use the camera app on your phone or tablet to record a video of yourself.

Most camera apps will let you use your device’s front-facing camera to record a video. Look for an icon similar to this:

example of an icon used for switching between front- and rear-facing cameras on a smartphone.

Keep the device in landscape orientation.

Prop the device up at eye level. Hand-held video is likely to be shaky.

If you have earbuds with a built-in mic, it can be worth using these as the audio quality is sometimes better.

earbuds plugged into an iphone.

Sharing the video

Video files are large and typically you won’t be able to send them by email. We recommend using WeTransfer to send files of up to 2GB.

WeTransfer homepage (Opens in new tab)

If you recorded the video on your mobile device, you may wish to transfer the video to a computer before uploading it.

Transferring video from your phone to your computer

Advice

It’s often worth writing a script, even if you decide not to read directly from it. A script keeps your video concise and ensures that you cover everything you want to cover. It’s also useful when we add subtitles or a transcript to a finished video.

Adjust your lighting setup so that you’re not in silhouette.

Keep your webcam at eye level. If you’re using a laptop, raise it on some books before you start recording.

Reduce background noise as much as possible. If you’re outside, stay out of the wind. If you’re inside, close the window and avoid echoey rooms.

During the recording, look at the webcam rather than the preview video on your screen.

Further advice

How to Frame Your Webcam Video Like a Pro (Opens in new tab)