Your Camera Angle Is Undermining Trust

Most business people think camera angle is a technical decision.

Tripod height. Desk space. Whatever “works.”

But after years of filming, reviewing footage, and watching how people respond to video, I’ve learned this:

Camera angle isn’t technical, it’s psychological.

Before your viewer hears your message, before they evaluate your expertise, their brain has already formed an impression of you. And it happens fast—within milliseconds.

The angle of your camera plays a bigger role in that first impression than most people realize.

What Camera Angles Actually Communicate

We don’t consciously analyze camera angles, but we feel them. They tap into instinctive social cues we’ve been reading our entire lives.

Camera below eye level—where you’re looking down at the viewer—creates a sense of dominance. It can feel authoritative, even powerful. But it also feels intimidating.

This is the angle used for villains in films for a reason. The viewer feels small. Talked at. Slightly scolded.

Not exactly the emotional state you want if your goal is trust.

Camera at eye level feels neutral.

Peer-to-peer = safe.

There’s nothing wrong with it—but there’s also nothing especially inviting about it. It doesn’t repel, but it doesn’t pull people in either. It’s fine, and often forgettable.

Camera slightly above eye level, angled down just a touch, changes the dynamic completely.

This angle feels approachable, human, and open. The viewer feels welcomed into the conversation instead of positioned beneath it. Subtle difference = massive impact.

The Mistake I Didn’t Notice at First

I used to recommend people filmed straight on at desk height. It seemed logical. It felt “correct.”

But then I recently read an article on the subject, and watched some old footage of myself and realized that something was off.

The energy felt instructional—almost like a lecture—instead of conversational.

Nothing about the message had changed. But the experience of watching it had.

A Small Adjustment That Changes Everything

The fix is surprisingly simple:

• Raise the camera slightly above your eye line

• Angle it downward toward you (never up)

• Give your upper body and hands space to move naturally

That small shift will change how your videos feel to the people watching.

The same script suddenly feels warmer. More personal. More trustworthy.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

When people watch video, they aren’t just listening for information.

They’re asking:

• Do I trust this person?

• Do I feel comfortable here?

• Am I being talked with or talked at?

Your camera angle answers those questions before you ever speak, and adjusting it takes about 30 seconds.

Before you hit record, don’t just check your audio and lighting. Check your camera position.

It might be the reason your message isn’t landing the way it should.