Short videos that stop the scroll
You don't need a video agency or a camera crew. Film on your phone, send me the clips, and I turn them into short, captioned reels ready for Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube Shorts.
Real work beats polished ads
For a local business, the videos that do well are rarely the expensive ones. They're the quick, real moments: a dish hitting the pass, a fade coming together, a muddy car turning glossy, a new deck before and after.
Every reel includes
- Editing from your own phone clips: cuts, pacing, best moments first
- Burned-in captions and short on-screen text
- Your logo, colours and a simple end card with your call to action
- Music from licensed, royalty-free libraries, or a version without music so you can add a sound inside the app
- Vertical 9:16 export for Reels, TikTok and Shorts
- A suggested caption and hashtags you can paste in
- One round of small changes
From your phone to posted
Get the shot list
I send a short list of clips to film for your business: what, from which angle, and for how long. Most take under a minute each.
Film on your phone
Vertical, in good light, a few seconds per shot. Don't worry about mistakes. Raw clips are exactly what I need.
Send the clips
Over WhatsApp, Google Drive or Dropbox, with a line on what the video is for: an offer, a new service, or just showing your work.
Post it
You get the finished reel plus a caption to paste. Post it yourself, pin it to your profile, or use it in an ad.
Reels that work for local businesses
A few formats I'd start with, depending on your business. Each one can be filmed in a normal working day.
| Business | Reel idea | What to film |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurant or cafe | "How we make our best seller" | Prep, cooking, plating, the first bite |
| Barber or salon | Before and after transformation | The start, two or three mid-steps, the reveal |
| Contractor or landscaper | A job in 20 seconds | Wide shot before, progress, the same angle after |
| Detailer | Satisfying clean | Foam, rinse, close-ups of paint and interior |
| Gym or trainer | One exercise, done right vs wrong | The same move twice, from the side |
| Any business | Answer a customer question | You, talking to the camera for 20–30 seconds |
More campaign ideas in my marketing campaign examples guide.
Five rules for better phone clips
Good editing can't fully fix bad footage, but these five habits fix most of it, and none of them need new equipment.
- Film verticalHold the phone upright. Reels, TikTok and Shorts are all 9:16, and sideways clips lose most of the frame.
- Face the lightStand so the window or daylight is behind your phone, shining on the subject. Dark kitchens and workshops look better near a door.
- Hold each shot for 5 secondsShort clips are hard to edit. Five steady seconds gives me room to cut at the best moment.
- Get close, then wideA close-up of the detail and a wide shot of the scene. The mix is what makes a reel feel professional.
- Wipe the lensA greasy lens is the most common reason phone video looks soft. Wipe it before every session.
What I edit, and what I don't
Included
- Editing from clips you film
- Captions, text, logo and end card
- Licensed or royalty-free music, or no music
- Formats for Reels, TikTok and Shorts
Not included
- Filming on location (I work remotely)
- Posting and managing your accounts (available with social media management, $199/month)
- Popular chart songs, which I can't license for business use; you can add trending sounds inside the app
- Longer videos, like YouTube edits, promos or testimonials: edited too, but quoted per project
Want your reels seen by more people nearby? I can turn your best reel into a Facebook & Instagram ad.
Video reels questions
How much does a short video for my business cost?
With me it's $39 per reel, edited from clips you film on your phone. Video agencies that send a crew to film usually charge much more, because filming, travel and equipment are included.
Do I need a good camera?
No. A recent smartphone is enough. Good light, holding the phone vertically and keeping it steady matter more than the camera. I send a shot list so you know what to film.
Can you use popular songs in my reels?
Not in the edited file. Business accounts can face copyright problems with commercial music, so I use licensed or royalty-free tracks, or deliver a version without music so you can pick an allowed sound inside Instagram or TikTok.
How long should a reel be?
For most local businesses, 10 to 30 seconds. Short enough to watch twice, long enough to show the work and end with what to do next.
Will you post the videos for me?
No. I edit and deliver the reels with a ready-to-paste caption, and you post them. If you want them promoted to people nearby, that's part of my Facebook and Instagram ads service.
Related pages
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