How to Create Course Videos: 7 Formats That Work (Even If You Hate Being on Camera)

You’re ready to create your course content, but then it hits you—the video part. Maybe you’re thinking you’ll need professional equipment, a perfect studio setup, or worse, you’ll have to stare into a camera lens for hours while trying not to look awkward.

As a course creator, this is where I get stuck too. All the brilliant content is mapped out, but the creating the course videos becomes this massive mental block. 

When you’re figuring out how to create course videos (especially for your first course), you have way more options than just the traditional “talking head” style. There are plenty of effective course videos that barely show the teacher or creator at all.

The thing is your students don’t care about production value nearly as much as you think they do. They care about whether they can understand what you’re teaching. A simple screen recording that clearly demonstrates a technique is infinitely more valuable than a beautifully lit video that leaves them confused.

So, how to create course videos you ask? Or rather, how to choose the right course video (creating them is the easy part). The secret is matching the right video format to what you’re teaching and your comfort level with being on camera. 

In this post, I’m going to walk you through seven different video formats you can use in your course. Each one works differently, uses different tools, and serves a different purpose. By the end of this, you’ll have a clearer picture of which formats make sense for your content and your workflow.

How to Create Course Videos That Work

Before we dive into specific course video formats, and how to create course videos that work let me just say this: the best video format is the one that helps your students learn the material.

That’s it. Everything else is just noise (and procrastination).

The video format you choose for your course affects everything from the equipment you’ll need to how long it takes to produce each lesson. A screencast tutorial requires completely different tools than an interview-style video. A demonstration video needs different lighting than an animated explainer (obviously).

You shouldn’t be worried about making your videos look like a Hollywood production. Instead focus on choosing formats that let you teach effectively without spending weeks learning video editing software or investing in equipment you’ll only use once. Many courses use two or three different video formats depending on what’s being taught in each lesson.

Let’s look at the seven main formats course creators use, along with the practical considerations for each one.

1. Screen Recording: The Secret Weapon for Camera-Shy Creators

If you’re teaching anything that happens on a computer (like software tutorials, website building, spreadsheet work, design programs, etc.) screen recording should probably be your default format. You record everything happening on your screen while you narrate what you’re doing. Your students see exactly what you’re demonstrating, they hear your voice explaining it, and you never have to appear on camera.

Tools like Loom, Camtasia, or even the built-in screen recording on Mac and PC make this incredibly simple. You click record, do whatever you’re teaching, and click stop. Your video is ready.

Here’s what makes screen recording one of the easiest ways to create course videos: 

• Your students can follow along step-by-step
• They’re seeing your cursor move on the screen
• They’re watching you click through menus
• They’re observing your workflow in real-time

This is exactly how technical skills get transferred.

For screen recordings, you need your computer and a decent microphone. That’s it. No lighting, no camera angles, no worrying about what’s in the background of your shot. A basic USB microphone for $50-75 will give you clear audio quality.

The main technical consideration with screencasts is resolution. Make sure you’re recording at a resolution that’s clear when played back on different devices. 

TIP: Be mindful of what’s visible on your screen! Close extra browser tabs, hide desktop icons with personal information, and clear notifications so they don’t pop up mid-recording.

For camera-shy course creators, screencasts are a game changer. This format also tends to be faster to produce than other video types because there’s less setup involved. The mistake people make with screen recordings is trying to be too perfect. They restart every time they click the wrong thing or stumble over a word. Don’t do this. Your students actually benefit from seeing you make small mistakes and correct them, it helps their learning process!

2. The Classic Talking Head Video

This is probably what comes to mind when you think about course videos. You’re on camera from the shoulders up, looking directly at your audience while you explain concepts, share stories, or walk through ideas.

When you’re learning how to create course videos, talking head format is usually the easiest type of video to create. And they work well for certain types of content like:

• Personal stories, 
• Mindset work, 
• Explaining abstract concepts
• Building connections with your students

This format  benefits  your students because they can see your face and read your expressions. But if you’re teaching someone how to use Excel, they don’t need to see your face. They need to see the spreadsheet.

The technical setup for talking head videos is surprisingly straightforward, even though it might feel a little intimidating. You’ll need:

• A camera (your smartphone works perfectly fine)
• Decent lighting so your face isn’t in shadow 
• A microphone that picks up clear audio

TIP: Position yourself facing a window for natural light. That’s often all you need. If you’re recording in the evening or don’t have good window light, a simple ring light or LED panel makes a huge difference. You don’t need a complex three-point lighting setup.

You can even use your laptop’s built-in camera when you’re starting out because you’re already sitting at your desk (in front of a monitor that is giving off light). If you want to upgrade, your smartphone camera is likely better than most webcams anyway these days.

You’re the sole focus of the video, which means you need to feel comfortable speaking to a camera. Some people find this energizing. Others find it exhausting. Neither reaction is wrong.

If you hate being on camera but want to include some personal connection, here’s a good compromise: record just the intro and outro of each module on camera, then use screen recordings or other formats for the teaching portions. Your students get to see you and hear your personality, but you’re not on camera for hours of content. (This is my fave way of doing it!)

TIP: If you’re recording talking head videos, batch them. Set up your equipment once and record multiple lessons in one session. The setup and teardown time is often longer than the actual recording.

3. Demonstration Videos for Hands-On Skills

Demonstration videos show you performing the skill you’re teaching. If you’re teaching any kind of hands-on work like…

• Cooking
• Sewing
• Painting
• Crafting
• Fitness
• Music

…demonstration videos become essential. Your students need to see the physical execution of what you’re describing.

The camera setup depends entirely on what you’re demonstrating. 

• Close-up hand work like calligraphy or jewelry making needs an overhead camera angle so students can see exactly what your hands are doing. 
• Full-body movement like dance or yoga needs the camera positioned further away to capture your entire range of motion.

You can use tablet stands or phone mounts to position your camera at the right angle. The key is stability, the camera needs to stay in one position throughout the recording. Shaky footage makes your content hard to follow (and can make your students feel seasick).

You don’t need a multi-camera setup or professional equipment. A smartphone on a stable mount positioned at the right angle works perfectly. Many affordable phone tripods come with flexible arms that let you position your camera overhead, at an angle, or wherever you need it.

Audio gets trickier in demonstration videos because you’re moving around. 

• If you’re teaching something quiet like watercolor painting, you can narrate afterward and add the voiceover during editing
• If you’re teaching something loud or you’re moving a lot, consider using a wireless lavalier mic that clips to your shirt (a simple wireless lavalier mic works fine for this)

The technical piece that matters most in demonstration videos is actually lighting. Your students need to see the details of what you’re doing. Natural light from a window works, but it’s inconsistent throughout the day. A couple of affordable LED panels can give you control over your lighting and make details much clearer.

4. Interview Format Videos

Interview videos split the attention between you and a guest expert (Yay! The camera isn’t always on you). You ask questions, your guest responds, and the conversation unfolds naturally on camera. This format works well when you want to bring in different perspectives or expertise that complements what it is you’re teaching.

From a technical standpoint, interview videos need a bit more planning than solo videos. You’re managing two video feeds (yours and your guest’s), two audio sources, and potentially recording across different time zones if you’re doing remote interviews.

Tools like Zoom, StreamYard, or Riverside.fm make remote interviews manageable. They record both video feeds separately, which gives you flexibility in editing. You can show both people side-by-side, switch between speakers, or focus on whoever’s talking at any given moment.

The setup is straightforward. Both you and your guest need decent internet, a microphone, and a camera. The recording platform handles everything else. You can record the conversation, download the files, and edit them into your course.

The benefit of interview format is that while your guest is speaking, you can relax a bit. The camera isn’t solely on you. Plus, bringing in guest experts adds credibility and variety to your course content.

The main consideration with interview videos is editing time. You’ll want to cut out the rambling parts, the technical difficulties at the beginning, and any tangents that don’t serve your students. This takes longer than editing solo videos, but the variety in voices and perspectives can make it worthwhile.

5. Recorded Webinar or Event Footage

If you’ve already delivered your content as a webinar or live presentation, you can repurpose that recording for your course. Tada!  This is one of the smartest ways to create course videos because you’re not starting from scratch.

Most webinar platforms automatically record your sessions. Zoom, Demio, WebinarJam, they all have recording features built in. If you presented at an in-person event, check with the organizers to see if they captured video footage you could use.

The technical consideration here is file quality. Webinar recordings sometimes compress the video to reduce file size, which can make the playback quality lower than you’d like. Check your platform’s recording settings before you go live. Many platforms let you choose between standard and high-definition recording. Always choose high-definition if it’s available.

You’ll also want to edit out any awkward pauses, technical glitches, or the inevitable “can everyone hear me?” moments at the beginning. Basic editing software like iMovie, Descript or Camtasia can handle this easily.

The benefit of using recorded webinars is that the content is already fully developed. You’re not starting from scratch. You’re editing existing footage into lessons. Sometimes “good enough” video of great content is better than perfect video of mediocre content.

6. Tour or Location-Based Videos

Tour videos show a physical space that’s relevant to what you’re teaching.

• An interior designer might walk through a newly decorated room 
• A yoga instructor might film a peaceful outdoor setting for meditation instruction 
• A mechanic might give a tour of their shop to show students where they’ll eventually work

These videos work best when you’re showing something that photos can’t quite capture. The  flow of a room, the ambient sounds of a location, or the way something moves. These are all things that video communicates better than still images. 

To create course videos in this format, you will rely heavily on your smartphone or camera’s video capabilities and decent stabilization. Shaky footage makes people dizzy, so consider using your phone’s built-in stabilization features or investing in a small gimbal. Many newer phones have excellent stabilization built right in so you should be OK without having to buy extra equipment.

Audio is trickier in tour-style videos because you’re often in spaces with echo or background noise. A small lavalier microphone that clips to your shirt can make a huge difference in audio quality. You don’t need anything expensive, a simple wired lavalier mic works fine for this purpose.

7. Animation and Explainer Videos

Animated videos use graphics, illustrations, or animated characters to explain concepts. You can create these without ever appearing on camera yourself, though you’ll typically record a voiceover to accompany the visuals.

The technical side of animation can range from simple to complex depending on the tools you use. Platforms like Vyond, Animaker, or even Canva’s animation features let you create basic animated videos without animation experience. You choose characters or graphics, add text, set timing, and export your video.

For more sophisticated animations, you might use tools like After Effects or hire an animator. This gets expensive quickly, so most course creators stick with simpler animation tools or use animated elements sparingly alongside other video formats.

WARNING: DO NOT HIRE AN ANIMATOR just because someone else say they hired one. Don’t go on Fiverr looking for an animator unless you really have a need to have that done by a professional (e.g. you’re trying to learn how to create course videos for your job, and you have a big budget).

The main advantage of animated videos is that they can make abstract concepts visual. If you’re teaching something conceptual or theoretical, animation can help your students see what you’re describing. They work especially well for explaining frameworks, processes, or systems.

For course creators, animation typically works best as a supplement to other formats rather than your main teaching method. You might use a short animated video to explain a complex framework at the beginning of a module, then switch to screen recordings or demonstrations for the practical application.

The time investment for animation is usually higher than for other formats, especially if you’re creating custom animations rather than using templates. Consider whether the animated format actually serves your students better than a simpler option before you invest the time (and possibly money).

How to Create Course Videos Without Overthinking It

You don’t need to use all seven formats in your course. Most courses use two or three different video formats depending on what’s being taught in each lesson.

Here’s how to create course videos that are perfect for each lesson: simply ask yourself what your students need to see to understand this material:

• If they need to see software or a website, use screen recording. 
• If they need to see a physical technique, use demonstration video. 
• If they need to understand your perspective or connect with you personally, use talking head. 
• If they need to see an abstract concept visualized, consider animation. If they’d benefit from hearing different perspectives, use interview format.

The format should serve the learning outcome, not your comfort level or what you think a “professional” course should look like. 

That said, if you absolutely hate being on camera and it’s making you delay launching your course, choose formats that don’t require it. A finished course using screen recordings is infinitely more valuable than a perfect course that never launches because you’re waiting to feel comfortable on camera.

Most effective courses mix formats based on what each lesson is trying to accomplish. You might use a talking head video to introduce a new module and explain why this section matters. Then you switch to screen recording to walk through the technical steps. Then you include a demonstration video showing the end result or real-world application.

This variety keeps your students engaged and serves the content better. Some concepts need you talking through them. Some need visual demonstration. Some need you showing your screen. Match the format to what you’re teaching in that specific lesson.

Just Get Started, It Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect

The biggest mistake I see others make with their course videos is waiting until they have the “perfect” setup before they start recording. They go into groups and ask so many questions “Which camera do you use?”  “Which microphone does the guru use?” And they often shell out a lot of money.

But you can create effective course videos with a smartphone, decent lighting from a window, and a $20 microphone.

Start with the simplest format that works for your content. Record a few lessons. See how it feels. Get feedback from a beta student if possible. Adjust your approach based on what’s working and what’s slowing you down.

Your first few recordings might feel awkward, but by the time you’re recording lesson ten, you’ll have developed a workflow that works for you. The technical skills (camera positioning, audio quality, lighting, editing, etc.) all improve with practice. Don’t wait until you’re “good enough” to start. Start where you are and get better as you go.

When learning how to create course videos, remember that the format you choose matters more than the equipment you buy. You can have the fanciest camera setup in the world, but if you choose the wrong video format for what you’re teaching, your students will struggle to follow along.