Filming yourself with the iPhone’s back camera can feel tricky - you can’t see yourself, it’s hard to frame the shot, and lighting or sound can be off. But don’t worry! In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to vlog with iPhone back camera and make it easy and fun.
You’ll learn how to:
- See yourself with a monitor, Apple Watch, or a simple mirror
- Capture clear audio with an external mic
- Optimize your camera settings for the best video
- Light up your scene with LED lights
- Keep your shots steady with a rig or tripod
Let’s follow these steps and turn your vlogs into polished, professional videos!
Step 1: Set up a way to see yourself while vlogging with iPhone back camera
When vlogging with the iPhone’s back camera, the biggest challenge is that you can’t see yourself to check your framing, expression, or background.
Luckily, there are four simple ways to solve this problem: use a phone monitor, preview your shot on an Apple Watch, mirror your screen to another iPhone, or even place a small mirror in front of your phone. Let’s go through each method to keep your vlog perfectly framed.
✅Method 1: Use an iPhone back camera monitor for vlogging
The easiest way to vlog with the iPhone’s back camera and still see yourself clearly is to use a phone selfie monitor.
These iPhone vlog monitors connect directly to your phone and show a real-time preview of what the back camera sees, so you can check your framing, expression, and background while recording.
Many iPhone back camera monitors also offer wireless transmission and remote camera control, making it easy to check your shot and start recording even when you’re standing a bit farther away.
Here’s a video showing how the SYNCO XView M4 monitor works for iPhone back camera vlogging.
✅Method 2: Check iPhone back camera framing on Apple Watch
To use the iPhone’s back camera for vlogging, you can use an Apple Watch as a small monitor screen to check your framing easily.
Just clip your Apple Watch to the back of your iPhone and follow these steps to set it up as a rear-camera preview:
1️⃣Open the Camera Remote app on your Apple Watch.
2️⃣Tap the three-dot icon in the bottom-right corner to adjust settings such as switching cameras, turning the flash on or off, using a timer, or enabling Live Photo.
3️⃣Rotate the Digital Crown to zoom in or out.
4️⃣Long-press the shutter button to start recording video.
💡Note: You’ll need to keep your watch and iPhone within about 10 meters for a stable connection.
✅Method 3: Mirror the rear camera feed to another iPhone for a real-time preview
Another easy way to see yourself while you vlog with iPhone’s back camera is to mirror the rear-camera feed to a second iPhone. This turns the other phone into a real-time monitor so that you can check your framing and background on it.
Just note that AirPlay can’t mirror an iPhone screen to another iPhone. To do this, you’ll need to install a third-party mirroring app and connect both phones to the same Wi-Fi network.
✅Method 4: Place a mirror in front of your iPhone
If you don’t have extra devices, the simplest way to vlog with iPhone’s back camera and still see yourself is to use a small mirror. Just place a mirror or any reflective surface in front of your phone so you can see your reflection while filming.
This gives you a basic preview of your framing and posture, helping you stay centered and avoid cutting off your head or shoulders in the shot. It’s not as accurate as an external monitor or a second phone, but it’s a quick, affordable solution that works well for simple setups.
Step 2: Use an external microphone for iPhone vlogging to capture clear audio
When you vlog with the iPhone’s back camera, the second challenge is the poor audio quality of the built-in microphone.
Using an external microphone for iPhone back camera vlogging can capture richer, cleaner sound, which makes your vlogs feel more professional.
You can use an iPhone wireless lavalier microphone for hands-free, stable voice recording, or choose a mini shotgun microphone if you want more focused sound pickup. Both options are small, easy to set up, and can noticeably improve your audio quality in everyday vlogging or noisy outdoor environments.
Step 3: Adjust your iPhone back camera settings for the best vlog
To get the best-looking vlog with your iPhone’s back camera, you should set up your camera correctly. Proper settings help capture sharper footage, better colors, and smoother motion.
Go to Settings > Camera, and here are the recommended settings for vlogging with your iPhone’s back camera.
1️⃣Record Video: Set to 4K at 24fps. If you’re in Europe or other PAL regions, choose 25fps to avoid flickering under indoor lights.
- Turn on Enable Stabilization: Helps reduce shaky footage when filming handheld.
- Turn off HDR Video: Prevents extreme contrast and makes your footage easier to color-grade.
- Turn off Auto FPS: Keeps your frame rate consistent instead of changing automatically in low light.
- Turn off Lock Camera: Allows the camera to switch lenses smoothly when needed.
- Turn on White Balance: Keeps your color temperature consistent and reduces color-correction work later.
2️⃣Record Slo-mo: Set to 1080p at 120fps. 120fps gives smooth slow-motion with better quality than 240fps.
3️⃣Record Sound: Choose Mono to capture clearer vocals for talking-to-camera vlog content.
4️⃣Formats: Select “High Efficiency” if you edit on a newer computer, or choose “Most Compatible” if your editor is older.
5️⃣Turn on all Preserve Settings: Ensures your camera keeps your preferred frame rate, exposure, and lens every time you open it.
6️⃣Turn on Grid and Level: Helps you frame your shot using the rule of thirds and keep the horizon straight.
Finally, open the Camera app and select the 0.5× ultra-wide lens to capture both yourself and the environment around you.
💡Tip: Don’t pinch to zoom - tap the lens options directly (0.5× / 1× / 2×) for the best image quality.
Step 4: Use external LED lights to enhance lighting
When vlogging with your iPhone’s back camera, good lighting is essential to make your footage look bright and professional. External LED lights help illuminate your face, reduce shadows, and make colors pop, improving the overall quality of your videos.
Popular options include ring lights for soft, even light, mini LED panels for directional lighting, and clip-on LED lights for portable setups. Even a small LED can make a big difference when filming with your iPhone’s back camera.
Position the light in front of you, slightly above eye level, and adjust brightness or color temperature to match your environment.
Step 5: Use an iPhone vlogging rig to hold your phone and other gear
When you vlog with the iPhone’s back camera, keeping your shot steady is just as important as looking good on screen.
An iPhone vlogging rig helps you hold your phone securely and gives you space to mount extra accessories like a microphone, light, or monitor. The fixed vlogging setup helps reduce shaky footage and makes your vlog look more polished, especially when you’re filming on your own.
You can use a vlogging cage, a tripod, or a selfie stick, depending on your filming style:
- A tripod keeps your shot steady on a table or floor.
- A selfie stick or monopod gives you extra reach and smoother angles when you’re filming handheld.