Real Estate Video
Phone Video Tips for Realtors and Small Business Owners
By Adam Ekblad · · 4 min read
Short answer
Use window light, hold the phone steady, choose the orientation for the destination, and check your audio. Give each video one idea and a clear opening. Plan a short shot list before filming, and bring in professional help when production or editing needs exceed what you can manage.
Start with one idea and a clear opening
A useful business video answers one question or shows one thing. Before recording, finish this sentence: this video helps someone understand what? For a realtor, that might be a room layout. For another business owner, it might be what happens during a first appointment.
Open with that idea rather than a long introduction. Say what the viewer is about to learn, or begin with the relevant view. Keep the hook accurate. A straightforward promise that the video actually delivers is more useful than an exaggerated opening you cannot support.
Find soft light near a window
For an about-me video, stand facing a window or turn slightly toward it. Check the preview to see whether your face is visible and the background is distracting. Avoid putting a bright window directly behind you when it makes your face difficult to see.
In a listing, look at the room before you start moving. Open window coverings where appropriate, tidy the space, and check that the view looks natural. Light changes during the day. A quick preview is more useful than assuming every room needs the same settings.
Steady shots are easier to watch
Clean the lens, hold the phone with both hands, and keep your elbows close to your body. Start with a stationary shot. If you move, take small steps and move more slowly than feels necessary. Stop recording before you turn around or reposition.
Capture separate clips instead of one long wandering take. Hold the framing briefly before and after the action so you have room to edit. If you want to explore equipment, use the gear recommendations as a starting point, not a substitute for planning and practice.
Choose vertical or horizontal before filming
Think about where the finished video will appear. Vertical framing fits phone-first social viewing. Horizontal framing gives you a wider view for other placements, including many website uses. Neither orientation fixes a weak shot; the destination and subject should guide the choice.
If you need both, plan separate takes where possible. Keep important details away from the edges and leave space for captions. Do not assume that cropping a wide room into a narrow frame will preserve the layout you wanted the viewer to understand.
Listen to the audio before the full take
Find a quiet spot and record a short sample. Listen with attention to your voice, not just the picture. Traffic, wind, air conditioning, and room echo can make a message difficult to follow even when the video looks good. Move or pause if the surroundings are working against you.
For an outdoor introduction in Tampa Bay, check wind and nearby activity before committing to the location. Speak naturally and stay close enough for clear speech. If the shot is only showing a room, record your explanation separately in a quieter place when that suits the edit.
Use a simple listing walkthrough shot list
Write the sequence before arriving so the footage has a beginning and an end. Show the exterior, the entry, a main living space, a kitchen detail, the primary bedroom, the outdoor space, and a short agent close. Keep each clip focused on its purpose.
You do not need to narrate every corner. Give viewers enough context to understand the property, then let useful details stand out. Check what may be shown and remove personal information from view. The existing seven-shot guide expands this sequence into a practical checklist.
An about-me video needs a plan too
Try a short introduction, a view of you doing relevant work, a detail that explains the service, and a closing invitation to get in touch. Use your own words. Explain who you help and what you do without trying to fit your entire background into one video.
Record the talking parts in the same quiet place, then capture the supporting clips. Review the footage before packing up. Check that the message makes sense without extra explanation. If phone shooting is new to you, Social Media 101 is a place to learn the fundamentals.
When does it make sense to hire a professional?
Bring in help when coordinating production, capturing specialized listing media, or managing editing takes more attention than you can give it. Real estate photo, video, drone, and 3D tours are different production needs. Be clear about what you need instead of expecting phone footage to cover everything.
Hashtag Cinema is Adam Ekblad's video and content studio serving Pinellas, Hillsborough, and Pasco counties. You can discuss video production and content needs with the studio. Keep filming the simple material you can manage, and ask for support where the process is getting in the way.
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