Talking head videos: when they work and a script to film yours

Talking to camera is the simplest format there is: you, your phone and an idea told in your own words, looking into the lens. It's also called a "talking head" video. It works when what you say is valuable on its own, and it's the format most people start with because it needs nothing else.

What is a talking head video?

It's a fixed shot, usually from the chest up, where you speak directly to the viewer. You can add on-screen text, captions or a few cuts, but your voice and your face carry the video.

It's a low-effort format. You film it with the phone propped on something, in window light, and edit it by cutting the silences. That makes it a good fallback for posting consistently: in a week with no time, a talking head video is always possible.

When does talking to camera work?

It works when the content is an idea you can understand by listening:

• A specific tip: "The mistake I see most in people who start running."
• An opinion you can back up: "Why you don't need to post every day."
• The answer to a question from your audience: read the comment out and answer it.
• Something that happened to you and taught you something.

It works less well when the important part is seen, not said: a recipe, a makeover, a trick done with your hands. There it's better to show it, or to mix: talk to camera at the start and cut to the action. If you want a scene rather than a tip, the POV format tells a situation without explaining it.

Which hooks suit a talking head video?

With only a face and a voice, the first line is everything. The types of hook that fit best, out of the seven types of hook:

1. The question: "Why do your knees hurt after a run?"
2. The opinion: "Counting calories isn't the only way to eat better."
3. The list: "Three things I'd do differently if I started my business today."
4. The story: "The day I lost my best client, I learnt this."

Put the same idea in on-screen text for the first seconds: lots of people watch with the sound off. And skip the greeting: "Hi, how are you, today I wanted to tell you…" delays the idea.

A script template for talking to camera

For a thirty to forty-five-second video. Change what's in brackets:

• ✓Hook (0–3 s): [the idea in one line, as a question, an opinion or a list]. Same text on screen.
• ✓Context (3–8 s): [why it matters, in one line: who it happens to or what not knowing costs].
• ✓Body (8–30 s): [two or three short points, one per shot; cut between them].
• ✓Example (30–38 s): [one concrete case, yours or a client's, with no names].
• ✓Close (38–45 s): [a line that sums up, or a question to get comments].

A practical tip: write the script, read it out loud once, then film it in your own words without reading. People can tell when you're reading, and retention shows it.

How I'd measure it

Talking to camera is usually where you start, so your normal video is probably already made of it. What's useful is measuring what you change inside the format: the hook, the length, how much you cut.

Check the retention curve too: in this format, a steep early drop is almost always the hook, and a drop halfway usually means a point that drags.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a microphone to talk to camera?

Not to start with. Film somewhere without echo, close to the phone, and check the sound before you record several takes. A mic helps, but a good idea with phone audio works.

How long should a talking head video be?

As long as the idea takes to tell without padding. If in doubt, test two lengths on similar topics and compare with your normal video.

What if I feel awkward on camera?

That's the most common thing when you start. Record several takes and post the third or fourth: the first ones are a warm-up.

Your next step: find the question you get asked most and answer it today in a thirty-second video.