Guide
A talking head video is one person talking to the camera
Updated
A talking head video is one person speaking straight to the camera, usually framed from the chest up. It is used for ads, tutorials, courses and interviews, because it only needs a camera and someone who can talk.
In short
- A talking head video is one person speaking to the camera, framed from the chest up.
- Talking head videos are used for ads, tutorials, online courses, news and interviews.
- Talking head videos work well as ads, because they look like a person recommending something, not a commercial.
- Talking head videos are cheap to make: a phone, a window and someone willing to talk are enough.
- Clear sound, the camera at eye level and a real room matter more than an expensive camera.
- How a talking head video is usually framed
- Chest up
- Longest recording Cutroom accepts
- 3 min
- Credits to edit a 30-second talking head ad in Cutroom
- 110
What is a talking head video?
It is a person speaking straight to the viewer, with no set or scene built around them.
- The frame shows the person from the chest up, looking into the lens.
- There is usually one person, one room and one continuous recording.
- The name comes from TV, where it meant a close shot of a person talking.
- Because there is nothing else to look at, what the person says has to be clear and interesting.
A talking head video in a vertical frame
One person, chest up, talking to the camera, with captions on screen.
then do nothing
On camera9:16Where talking head videos are used
The format is common, because it only needs one person and a camera.
Common uses of talking head videos
| Use | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Ads on TikTok, Reels and Shorts | A founder or a customer talking about a product |
| Tutorials and online courses | A teacher explaining a topic, often with screen recordings in between |
| Interviews and podcasts | A guest answering questions, often filmed with a second camera |
| Company updates | A manager or founder speaking to staff or customers |
| News and explainers | A presenter speaking straight to the viewer |
Use: Ads on TikTok, Reels and Shorts
- What it looks like
- A founder or a customer talking about a product
Use: Tutorials and online courses
- What it looks like
- A teacher explaining a topic, often with screen recordings in between
Use: Interviews and podcasts
- What it looks like
- A guest answering questions, often filmed with a second camera
Use: Company updates
- What it looks like
- A manager or founder speaking to staff or customers
Use: News and explainers
- What it looks like
- A presenter speaking straight to the viewer
This is the whole editor
Highlight a phrase and a clip lands on those exact words. No timeline, no keyframes, no layers.
Why talking head videos work for ads
In a feed, a person talking to you looks like advice, not an advert. It is also one of the cheapest videos to make.
- You need no location, no crew and no lighting kit. A phone and a window are enough.
- A phone video of a person looks like the posts around it on TikTok and Reels.
- One recording can become several ads, each with a different opening.
- That matters because most ads do not work. In Motion's study of 550,000+ Meta ads, only 5 to 8% did really well, about 1 in every 14.
How to film a talking head video on your phone
The phone you already have is good enough. These choices matter more than the camera.
- Get the sound right first. Stand close to the phone, switch off fans and pick a room with soft furniture.
- If you buy one thing, buy a small clip-on microphone, because clear sound matters more than a better camera.
- Put the camera at eye level and face a window, so the daylight falls on your face.
- Film in a real room. A plain wall or a virtual background looks like a company video.
- Hold the phone upright if the video is for TikTok, Reels or Shorts.
- Record the whole message in one go, and start again if you trip over a line.
How much b-roll to add
B-roll is short footage shown over the speaker while the voice keeps playing. It should support the face, not replace it.
- Keep b-roll to about half the video or less, or it turns into a stock montage.
- Keep the face on screen in the opening seconds, for the main claim and at the end.
- Use b-roll to show what you mention, to prove a claim or to cover a jump where something was cut out.
- Keep each clip to a second or two, then go back to the speaker.
When a talking head video is not enough
Some ads need more than one person and a phone.
- A product demo that a phone cannot film well needs a videographer for that shot.
- An interview with two people is easier with a second camera.
- If viewers need to see the product being used, add short clips of it over the speaker.
Talking head videos in Cutroom
Cutroom is built for talking head ads. You upload the recording and get a finished ad back.
- You upload one video of yourself talking, up to 3 minutes long.
- Cutroom adds captions timed to your voice and puts b-roll on the words you pick. On Punch and Native it also shortens the pauses.
- You get a finished 9:16 MP4, with 40 caption styles to choose from.
- You change the video on its text: fix a misheard word and the caption follows, or highlight a phrase to put a clip there.
- B-roll never covers more than 52% of the video, about half, so your face is on screen for the rest. The calmer styles, Flow and Straight cut, keep it to 45% or 40%.
- If nobody wants to be on camera, Basic can turn a photo and a voice-over into a talking presenter, for 350 credits per minute.
What a talking head ad costs in Cutroom
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Edit one video | 100 credits |
| Export | 20 credits per minute of video |
| A 30-second ad | 110 credits |
| Basic plan | $39.99 a month for 2,500 credits, about 22 such ads |
| Your first video | Free, with no card, if you make it within 7 days |
Item: Edit one video
- Price
- 100 credits
Item: Export
- Price
- 20 credits per minute of video
Item: A 30-second ad
- Price
- 110 credits
Item: Basic plan
- Price
- $39.99 a month for 2,500 credits, about 22 such ads
Item: Your first video
- Price
- Free, with no card, if you make it within 7 days
Questions people ask
- What is a talking head video?
- One person speaking to the camera, framed from the chest up, with no set around them. In ads, it is usually filmed on a phone in a real room.
- Why is it called a talking head video?
- Because the frame mostly shows the speaker's head and shoulders. The term comes from TV, where it meant a person speaking straight to the camera.
- Do I need a script for a talking head video?
- Not a full one. Write the first line and the ending, then say the middle in your own words. A full script often sounds read out.
- What equipment do I need for a talking head video?
- Only a phone, a window and a quiet room. If you buy one thing, buy a small clip-on microphone, because clear sound matters more than the camera.
- How long should I record for?
- Record the whole message in one go, under 3 minutes for Cutroom. On Punch and Native the edit shortens the pauses, so the finished ad can come out a little shorter than the recording. Mistakes stay in, so record a clean take.
- Does the background matter?
- Yes. An ordinary room looks like a real person. A blank wall, a virtual background or a studio looks like a company.
- Is a talking head video the same as UGC?
- Not quite. UGC is about who makes it: a customer or a creator, not the brand. Talking head is about the shot: one person to camera. Many UGC ads are talking head videos.
Film one video of yourself talking on your phone and get a finished ad back. Your first video is free.
Try for freeYour first video is free, no card, and you have 7 days to make it. It carries a Cutroom mark; Lite at $19.99/month removes it