Put the lens and text on nearly the same line
Raise the camera to a comfortable eye level. If you use a separate display, place it directly below or beside the lens rather than far off to one side. The closer the reading point is to the camera, the smaller the visible change in gaze tends to be.
On a phone, the lens is near the edge of the screen, so keep the active lines near that area when your setup allows it. Do not make the text so small that you squint; comfortable reading is the first requirement.
Use a text width that keeps lines easy to track
- A very wide line makes the eyes travel farther from side to side.
- A very narrow line creates frequent line breaks and can interrupt a phrase.
- Choose a middle width, then read one paragraph and adjust until your gaze moves comfortably.
Avoid the “eyes glued to the words” look
01
Read ahead in short phrases
Pick up a few words silently, then speak the idea toward the lens.
02
Use paragraph breaks as breathing points
A visual pause gives you time to lift your gaze and start the next thought clearly.
03
Review one short take
Check whether the eye movement distracts from the message. Adjust camera height or text placement before changing several settings at once.
Rehearse the eye line at your real camera distance
A cue that looks close on a desk may feel far away when you lean back to speak. Sit or stand where you will record, keep the lens and prompt in their final positions, and read a paragraph at normal volume. Review the recording at its intended viewing size. If the eyes move visibly between words, narrow the text area or move the reading window before changing your posture.
The right setup also depends on what you are showing. A product demonstration may need you to look down at an object for a moment; a direct introduction may benefit from looking at the lens for the first complete sentence. Plan those gaze changes as part of the explanation so they look deliberate rather than like you lost your place.