--- url: 'https://piktochart.com/blog/talking-head-video/' title: How to Make Your Talking Head Video Less Boring (Plus Examples) author: name: Vinnie Wong url: 'https://piktochart.com/blog/author/vinniewong/' date: '2022-06-15T06:36:15+00:00' modified: '2026-03-31T00:54:12+00:00' type: post categories: - Video tags: - piktochart video - talking head video - video creation - video editing image: 'https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/PCVid_How-to-Make-Your-Talking-Head-Video-Less-Boring-Plus-Examples.png' published: true --- # How to Make Your Talking Head Video Less Boring (Plus Examples) Of every video format available to marketers, educators, and creators in 2026, the talking head video remains the most cost-effective way to build audience trust. No actors. No animation budget. One person speaks directly to camera, and the viewer gets a face they can connect with. The numbers support the approach: viewers retain 95% of a video message versus 10% of a text-based one. Talking head content now drives engagement across TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts, and LinkedIn, making it one of the most versatile formats for reaching people where they scroll. For a related read, see our guide on [asynchronous video](https://piktochart.com/blog/asynchronous-video/). The catch? A poorly executed talking head video loses viewers in seconds. This guide walks through the different styles of talking head videos, the production and scripting fundamentals for getting them right, and how to edit your footage with [Piktochart Video](https://piktochart.com/video-editor/) so the final cut keeps people watching. ## 5 Talking Head Video Styles (and When Each One Works Best) Not every talking head video follows the same formula. The format adapts to different goals, audiences, and platforms. Here are five distinct styles worth considering for your next project. ### Solo Presenter The most recognizable talking head format: one person, one camera, a direct message. Solo presenter videos work well for thought leadership on LinkedIn, quick tips on TikTok, or educational content on YouTube. The speaker addresses the viewer without interruption, making this style ideal for building a personal brand or delivering focused tutorials. A strong solo presenter video starts with a script outline (not a word-for-word script) and relies on B-roll cutaways to break up long stretches of face-to-camera footage. ### Interview Style Two or more people on screen, with one asking questions and another responding. Interview-style talking head videos add a conversational energy a solo format cannot replicate. Shows like Hot Ones have turned this format into a cultural staple, proving you can hold millions of viewers with two people and a table. For professional use, interview-style talking head videos shine in customer testimonials, expert panels, and podcast-style content. ### Documentary Style A talking head paired with narration, B-roll footage, and archival material. Documentary-style videos weave the speaker’s perspective into a broader story. News outlets and brand storytelling teams use this format to add weight and context to a subject. ### Picture-in-Picture (PiP) The speaker appears in a smaller window overlaid on a [screen recording](https://piktochart.com/blog/instructional-video-screen-recording/), presentation slide, or product demo. PiP is the default format for software tutorials, online courses, and webinar recordings. [Piktochart Video](https://piktochart.com/video-editor/) lets you record and edit PiP-style videos without switching between multiple tools. ### AI Avatar Talking Head An emerging format where an AI-generated presenter delivers a script on camera. AI avatar videos remove the need for a physical recording setup entirely. They are useful for localized content (the same video in multiple languages) and for teams without a confident on-camera speaker. The quality of AI avatars has improved rapidly, and they now appear across corporate training, product walkthroughs, and social media ads. ### Table of contents - [What is a talking head video?](#what) - [When to use talking head videos](#when-use) - [Tips to make your talking head video more interesting and engaging](#tips-interesting-engaging)  - [How to edit the best parts of your talking head video](#edit-best-parts) ## **What is a talking head video?** A talking head video is a video of someone speaking directly in front of the camera.  It’s shot in a way that the viewer feels that the speaker is talking to them face to face. The speaker, in this case, is also called the subject or host. > This type of video typically captures the speaker’s head and some portion above the waist, so the focus remains on what they’re saying. As you may have guessed, that’s why it is referred to as “talking head”.   The subject in the video speaks while sitting or standing, talking to the camera lens directly or at an angle. Here’s [an example of a talking head video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HoC6yWX5Uk). In this video, Jarrad Morrow uses the talking head style to explain stock investing to beginners.  He has used several techniques to make his content more entertaining, such as multiple camera positions, a high-quality microphone, and speaking with energy. We’ll look into these best practices and more below.  But first, let’s cover some common scenarios where you can use a talking head video.  ## **When to use talking head videos** The use cases for a talking head video are endless; here are some typical video types where an interview-style format can help meet your communication goals.    ### 1. **Coaching and consulting videos** People have different learning styles, but the positive impact of a real person walking you through tips and tutorials is undebatable. The facial expressions, intonation, and hand gestures associated with a talking head video make the learning process more engaging. The video below is a good example. ### 2. **Explainer videos ** Some people learn better when they listen to or watch how to videos to pick up new concepts. Usually, videos explaining a product, service, or concept have a human voiceover. But having a talking head in the corner of the video or on the entire screen from time to time can add a personal touch, as shown in the example “how to” video on SEO below. ### 3. **Sales, support, or branding videos ** Videos with talking heads can help humanize customer ticket resolutions, sales messages, and [branding videos](https://piktochart.com/blog/branding-videos/). Putting a friendly face in front of customers helps your brand build a strong connection with them.  ### 4. **Customer testimonial videos ** The subject of talking head videos that feature customer testimonials is a client or customer instead of someone in your company. Having an actual customer share the story of their success with your product or service makes your message more impactful and trustworthy.  > Recommended reading: [How to Record and Edit Effective Customer Video Testimonials](https://piktochart.com/blog/video-testimonials/) ### 5. Internal communications video You can create an interview-style video to speak directly to your employees, shareholders, or partners. These types of talking head interviews help align everyone with your business goals and encourage brand advocacy. The [internal comms](https://piktochart.com/blog/internal-communications/) video by LinkedIn Talent Solutions below is a great example. ## Tips to make your talking head video more interesting and engaging  So that’s a brief rundown on what you could create a talking head video on. Here are the best practices to ensure that your talking head videos hook viewers from the outset and keep them watching.  ### 1. **Pick the right attire** You may be tempted to wear your best clothing before recording a talking head video. But fancy clothes are usually not a good idea because they can distract the viewer from your message.  For the same reason, avoid clothes with repeating patterns as they may appear weird in front of the camera.  In most cases, something simple and semi-professional is the best choice.   For example, consider [this video](https://youtu.be/SMr9UcT4R54) in which Kwesi talks about the graduate recruitment process at Metaswitch. He is wearing a simple t-shirt with no patterns or logos. As a result, the focus remains on his voice, gestures, and body movements.  ### 2. **Shoot video from a good location ** Talking head videos work best when they are shot from a location where the background shows something about the speaker.  This could be a bookshelf at home, a view of the office, a whiteboard, or even a clean slate with no objects.   This [talking head video from Inc](https://youtu.be/6MTbrLEMhZk). is a great example. Jim Kwik shares his advice for people who want to learn faster. Plus, the bookshelf in the background complements his topic well.  ### 3. **Ensure adequate lighting ** The difference between a successful talking head video and one with no views can be as simple as good lighting. Poor lighting is one of the biggest turn-offs (pun intended!) when watching a talking head video. And it makes you look unprofessional. Take advantage of natural light where possible. If you have a window with lots of natural sunlight at your location, it’s better to sit close so that you’re facing the window. But if that’s not an option, using professional studio lights is also a great alternative.  Case in point: This [video example](https://youtu.be/RhFdrIKn1QU) in which the subject explains the importance of a good camera and video gear. You can tell from the video that the speaker uses a great light source to focus on the face.  ### 4. **Do a sound check** You probably have a built-in microphone on your computer. But that may not be enough for your talking head video to have a clear and crisp sound, especially if you’re speaking from a distance. So make sure to use a high-quality microphone if required.  In addition, before you start recording, listen for any distracting sounds that may interfere with the video, such as street traffic, air conditioner, or conversations among coworkers.  For example, watch [this video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hu3U-UpqVpw) about the daily habits of successful YouTubers. You’ll see that the speaker uses a high-grade microphone to produce the best sound. And the microphone is visible in the video itself instead of being hidden somewhere nearby.  ### 5. **Position cameras at two positions ** [According to research by Nielson Norman Group](https://www.nngroup.com/articles/talking-head-video/), the most important technique to hold viewers’ attention is to frequently change what they see.  > When your talking head video looks the same from start to finish, it’s easy for viewers to get bored. Introducing some kind of change at regular intervals goes a long way in increasing engagement.  A great way to achieve this is to use two cameras while filming. One at a close range and the other at some distance, or even at a slightly different angle.  This gives you two video recordings to work with when editing the footage. And you can merge parts from both to make it look like you’re cutting between the angles after every few moments.   A great example is this [video from Expert Academy](https://youtu.be/LrjlW00kkws) on [how to start a presentation](https://piktochart.com/presentation-maker/). You can see that there are two cameras at play — one that captures only the head, and the other that captures both the head and the shoulders.  ## **How to edit the best parts of your talking head video** While the above tips will help you with creating talking head videos, there are some additional steps you can take to make it even better.  These include transcribing, [cutting unnecessary parts](https://piktochart.com/blog/youtube-shorts-dimensions), customizing the video to match your brand, and more.  [Video transcription](https://piktochart.com/blog/how-to-add-subtitles-to-a-video/), for example, is the text that conveys what’s being said in the video. And it gives people the opportunity to watch the video without the sound. The good news is you don’t need to [convert your video into text](https://piktochart.com/blog/video-to-text/) manually, or spend hours learning some complicated [video editing software](https://www.movavi.com/learning-portal/free-video-editing-software-no-watermark.html).  [Piktochart Video](https://piktochart.com/video-editor/) generates video captions automatically and lets you edit your video quickly and easily. [Transcribing interviews](https://piktochart.com/blog/how-to-transcribe-an-interview/) can also be an easy task! All you need is a computer and a webcam. With a bit of tweaking and editing, you could turn your videos of talking heads into more engaging content that drives traffic. Here’s a step-by-step guide of how Piktochart Video works. ### **Step 1: Record **or upload your video to Piktochart Video [Go to your Piktochart dashboard](https://create.piktochart.com/users/sign_in?utm_source=blog), or sign up to [create a new account](https://create.piktochart.com/users/sign_up?utm_source=blog). You can access Piktochart Video directly in your Piktochart dashboard, as illustrated below. [![screenshot of Piktochart Video in the Piktochart dashboard](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Access-Piktochart-Video-1024x315.jpg)](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Access-Piktochart-Video.jpg)*how to access Piktochart Video in your Piktochart dashboard* On the dashboard, you’ll see the different ways to upload your video: - Record from your webcam (including screen casting) - Upload a video file from your computer - Import from Google Drive  - Import a Zoom recording [![screenshot of the different ways to upload or import your video in Piktochart Video](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ways-to-upload-your-video-to-Piktochart-Video-1024x260.jpg)](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ways-to-upload-your-video-to-Piktochart-Video-scaled.jpg)*different ways to upload or import your video in Piktochart Video* If you’re creating a video from scratch, click **Start Recording**. Otherwise, you can [import a video](https://support.piktochart.com/article/348-importing-videos) from your computer, Google Drive, or Zoom recordings. ### Step 2: Pick your preferred video language  Piktochart Video allows [video transcription in different languages](https://support.piktochart.com/article/309-multi-language-transcription-support).  As you upload your video, a popup will ask you to pick the language of what’s being spoken in the video.  Choose your preferred language from the search bar or use the drop-down option.  ![screenshot of how to select-a language for your transcribed video in Piktochart](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/how-to-select-a-language-for-your-video-transcription-in-Piktochart-1024x556.jpg) Click **Select, **and your video will automatically start transcribing. You will see your transcribed video under **Projects. ** ### Step 3: Trim or delete certain parts of your talking head video Once you click **Edit** on your video under **Projects,** you’ll reach the video editor interface where your video’s already transcribed.  [![screenshot of Projects with Edit functionality in Piktochart](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/edit-projects-in-Piktochart-1024x685.jpg)](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/edit-projects-in-Piktochart-scaled.jpg) This is the part where editing your talking head video feels like magic.  Using your mouse, hold down **left-click** and drag across the transcript lines to highlight parts that you want to remove.  **Shortcut:** Hold on to the **SHIFT** key and select the text you want to remove.  After highlighting, you’ll notice the  **Remove **and **Export buttons **appear just below the last line of the highlighted text. Click **Remove.** The highlighted parts are now removed from the video. If you simply want to delete the captions while leaving the video intact, please use the **BACKSPACE** key on your keyboard to delete the words. [![screenshot of how to trim your video in Piktochart Video](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-trim-your-video-in-Piktochart-Video.jpeg)](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-trim-your-video-in-Piktochart-Video.jpeg) If you want to add new text, left-click on the part where you want to insert the text and start typing.  **Recommended reading:** [How to edit your transcript in Piktochart Video](https://support.piktochart.com/article/319-editing-the-transcript) ### Step 4: Export your edited talking head video  You can either export your video as a whole project or short bite-sized clips! If you want to **export your video as a whole**, click on the **Export **button on the top panel. You will be asked to name your project.  [![screenshot of how to export video as a whole video in Piktochart Video](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-export-video-as-a-whole-1024x338.jpg)](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-export-video-as-a-whole.jpg) If you want to **export a short clip of your video**, highlight with your cursor to select a portion of your transcript. Click on the **Export **button. You will find the exported clip under the **Clip** panel on your Dashboard. [![screenshot of how to export video as video clips in Piktochart Video](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-export-video-clips.jpg)](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/how-to-export-video-clips.jpg) That’s it. Within a few minutes, you’ll have an engaging talking head video to share with your intended audience.  The quick tutorial below shows you how to make your first talking head video clip using Piktochart Video. ## Your turn to make your unique and engaging talking head videos Let’s face it: Talking head videos are a dime a dozen. But that doesn’t mean you can’t make them unique and engaging.  When done right, they’re effective. They are also versatile – from sales and marketing to internal communication and training.  By following the tips and guidelines we have shared above, you can make your talking head videos stand out from the rest.  So start thinking about ways to utilize them for your work or business. The more talking head videos you create, the easier your video creation process will get. With the right tool, you can level up your talking head video production and streamline the process, so you’ll be knocking out great content in no time. [Try Piktochart Video today](https://create.piktochart.com/users/sign_up?utm_source=blog). ## Make the best talking head videos without downloading complicated software. With its fast and simple video transcription and editing abilities, creating unique talking head videos is a no-brainer with Piktochart Video. [ I want to try Piktochart Video ](https://create.piktochart.com/users/sign_up?utm_source=blog) ![](https://piktochart.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Piktochart-Video-Header-Image-1.jpg)