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What Camera Should You Use to Film a YouTube Ad?
It's not really about the camera at all: a phone on a tripod set slightly above eye level, an arm's length away, in front of a window, is enough to film a flattering, well-lit YouTube ad.
Last updated 31 August 2026
Running time 1:25Watch it
What does this video cover?
- 01Camera angle matters most: a phone slightly above eye level looking down is generally the most flattering angle, while filming from low angles looking up, or high angles looking down too steeply, tends to distort and is unflattering.
- 02Standing roughly an arm's length from the camera is a good distance, close enough that the shot doesn't feel empty, but not so close it feels uncomfortable.
- 03Placing the camera in front of a window is a simple way to get pretty balanced, natural lighting.
Full transcript
Hi, it's Chloe from s.media, sharing three tips on where to place your camera when filming yourself for a YouTube advert. The first is camera angle: a phone on a tripod set a little above eye level, looking slightly down, tends to be the most flattering angle for filming people, whereas lower angles filming upwards, or angles too high filming downwards, can distort the shot and generally look unflattering on anybody.
The second is distance from the camera, and standing roughly an arm's length away is a good rule of thumb, close enough that the screen doesn't look empty, but not so close that it feels uncomfortable for the viewer. The third is lighting, and the simplest fix is to place the camera in front of a window, which usually gives a pretty balanced, natural light. Those are the three tips: angle, distance and light.
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